Manoranjan Das

Manoranjan Das Biography

Manoranjan Das was an eminent playwright and author, who is widely regarded as a pioneer of modernism in Odia Literature. In 1960s, he earned fame through his experimental theatre works. Kathagodha and Aranya Fasal are his highly acclaimed plays which won him Sahitya Akademi Award 1971. He was honoured with Padma Shri by Government of India in 2004, for his outstanding contributions towards Odia literature and theater. He passed away on 17 February 2013 aged 89, due to age related issues. He is also known by the name Babu.

Manoranjan Das was born on 10 March 1923 in Cuttack district of Odisha. "Patana,42-Mouza,Cuttack sadar" was his village, which is near to Cuttack. After completing his intermediate in 1942, he joined Ravenshaw College in Cuttack to study graduation. He started his professional career with All India Radio, and reached till the position of Producer Emeritus.

He published his first play, Janmamati in 1943, and the last one Nandika Kesari was published in 1985. He authored a total of 14 Odia plays. Das was known for his experimentalism and deep socio-political awareness, and his ideas well reflected in his experimental plays as well, which he authored for about 4 decades. Aranya Fasal is his celebrated play which earned him a lot of recognition as well as  Sahitya Akademi Award in 1971.

His other major plays are Jauban, August Na, Baxi Jagabandhu, Agami, Abarodha, Kathagodha and Sabdalipi. A pioneer of the modern theatre movement in Odisha, his contributions to Odia theater is immensely huge. He was awarded by Odisha Sahitya Akademi in 1964 for “Chhota naataka” (Short Play). Ten essays on poet, poetry and psychology and Smriti samlap (autobiography) are other major works.

Published: July 17, 2018

Updated: July 17, 2018