By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/ BHUBANESWAR: The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Shri Manoj Das, a noted educationist, popular columnist and prolific writer.
Modi said in a tweet:“Shri Manoj Das distinguished himself as a noted educationist, popular columnist and prolific writer. He made rich contributions to English and Odia literature. He was a leading exponent of Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family. Om Shanti.”
Eminent Writer, Editor and Columnist Manoj Das breathed his last at a hospital in Puducherry on Tuesday.He was 87. Mr.Das had been under treatment at the nursing home at Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry due to old-age related ailments and breathed his last at 8.15 PM on Tuesday, family sources said.
Born on February 27, 1934 in Shankari village in Balasore district, Das had carved a niche for himself in the field of literature over the past several decades. He wrote many short stories, novels and poems which have been highly appreciated by readers across the globe.
‘The Escapist’, ‘Tandralokara Prahari’, ‘Aakashra Isara’, ‘Amruta Phala’, ‘A Tiger at Twilight’, ‘Bulldozers and Fables and Fantasies for Adults’, ‘Cyclones’, ‘Godhulira Bagha’, ‘Kanaka-Upatyakara Kahani’ and ‘Sesha Tantrikara Sandhanare’ are some of the highly-appreciated works of the legendary writer.
He was honoured with the prestigious civilian award Padma Shri in 2001 and Padma Bhushan this year for his pioneering work in literature.He was also awarded with Saraswati Samman, and Kendra Sahitya Akademi Fellowship.
Das, the bilingual Odia writer, edited The Heritage, published from Chennai in 1985-1989. He wrote columns in The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, The Hindu and The Statesman as well.
Mr.Das had been an inmate of Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry since 1963. He was teaching English Literature and the Philosophy of Sri Aurobindo at the Sri Aurobindo International University.
