Sitakant Mahapatra
Encyclopedia
Sitakant Mahapatra is a notable India
n poet and literary critic in Oriya
as well as English. He has also been in the Indian Administrative Service
(IAS) since 1961 until retiring in 1995, and has since held ex-officio posts such as the Chairman of National Book Trust
, New Delhi
.He is the first Oriya
to top the IAS exam.
He has published over 15 poetry collection, 5 essay collections, a travelogue, over 30 contemplative works, apart from numerous translations. His poetry collection have been published in several Indian languages. His notable works are, Sabdar Akash (1971) (The Sky of Words), Samudra (1977) and Anek Sharat (1981).
He was awarded the 1974 Sahitya Akademi Award
in Oriya
for his poetry collection, Sabdar Akash (The Sky of Words). He was awarded the Jnanpith Award
in 1993 "for outstanding contribution to Indian literature" and in its citation the Bharatiya Jnanpith noted, "Deeply steeped in western literature his pen has the rare rapturous fragrance of native soil"; he was also awarded the Padma Bhushan
in 2002, apart from winning the Soviet Land Nehru Award, Kabeer Samman and several other prestigious awards.
, Sitakant Mahapatra grew up reciting a chapter of Oriya
version of Bhagwad Gita in a traditional household. After his schooling from a Korua government high school, he was to joined IIT Kharagpur
, but instead chose to join Ravenshaw College
, Cuttack
(then affiliated with Utkal University
), where he did his B.A. in History Honours 1957, this was followed by Masters degree in Political Science from Allahabad University
in 1959. He even remained editor
of the university journal. It was here that he started writing both in English and Oriya, though later he decided to write poetry solely in his native, Oriya realising that "a poet can express himself only in the language in which he dreams", his scholastic works however are in English.
In 1969, he did a Dip. Overseas Development Studies at the Cambridge University, under the Colombo Plan Fellowship.
, before siting for Indian Administrative Service
s (IAS) examination.
He joined the IAS in 1961, and went on to hold several key post, including Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, President, UNESCO
's World Decade for Cultural Development (1994–1996); Senior Fellow of Harvard University; and Honorary Fellow of International Academy of Poets, Cambridge University. Presently, he is Chairman of National Book Trust
, New Delhi
.
He has held many prestigious positions including those of Secretary, Culture, Government of India, President, UNESCO's World Decade for Cultural Development (1994–1996); Senior Fellow of Harvard University; and Honorary Fellow of International Academy of Poets, Cambridge University. Presently, he is Chairman of National Book Trust, New Delhi and in the Board of Governors Bhaaratiya Vidya Bhavan, Bhubaneswar. He is the recipient of many awards including the Jnanpith Award, 1993; Sarala Award, 1985; Orissa Sahitya Academy Award, 1971 and 1984; and Sahitya Akademi Award, 1974 and ‘Award of the Highest Honour' by Soka University of Tokyo, 2001.
His first collection of poetry in Oriya
, Dipti O Dyuti was published in 1963, his second anthology, Ashtapadi came out in 1967, and won him the Orissa Sahitya Academy award, while his third and most celebrated anthology, Sara Akash (1971), got him the Sahitya Akademi Award
, given by Sahitya Akademi
, India's National Academy of Letters. Since then he has published over 350 poems in Oriya and about 30 publications in English on literary criticism
and culture. He spent two years studying tribals of Eastern India on a Homi Bhabha Fellowship (1975–1977). He has also two books on social anthropology
published by the Oxford University Press, these books deal with the ambivalent relationship between the old ritual based society and state-sponsored development, and explores the reason behind developmental programmes failing in tribal areas despite state efforts. Close ties with the tribals, and his fluency with the Santal tribal culture and the Santali language
has led to the publication of nine anthologies
of oral poetry
of the tribals, which he not only collected, but also translated.
Among notable works are: Ashtapadi, 1963, Shabdara akasha, 1971, Ara drushya, 1981, Shrestha kavita, 1994, (all poetry); Sabda, Svapna O nirvikata, 1990 (essays), Aneka sarata, 1981 (travelogue); Ushavilasa, 1996 (palm leaf manuscript); In English: The ruined Temple and other poems, 1996 (poetry, translation); and Unending Rhythms (Oral poetry of Indian Tribals in translation).
, 1993; Sarala Award, 1985; Orissa Sahitya Academy Award, 1971 and 1984; and Sahitya Akademi Award
, 1974 and ‘Award of the Highest Honour' by Soka University of Tokyo, 2001. In 2002, he was honoured by the Government of India with a Padma Bhushan
. In 2011, he has been selected for a Padma Vibhushan
, the second highest civilian award of India.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n poet and literary critic in Oriya
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
as well as English. He has also been in the Indian Administrative Service
Indian Administrative Service
The Indian Administrative Service is the administrative civil service of the Government of India. It is one of the three All India Services....
(IAS) since 1961 until retiring in 1995, and has since held ex-officio posts such as the Chairman of National Book Trust
National Book Trust
National Book Trust, is an Indian publishing house, founded in 1957 as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education within the Government of India....
, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
.He is the first Oriya
Oriya people
The Oriya, known classically by various names , are an ethnic group of eastern India and of eastern Indo-Aryan stock...
to top the IAS exam.
He has published over 15 poetry collection, 5 essay collections, a travelogue, over 30 contemplative works, apart from numerous translations. His poetry collection have been published in several Indian languages. His notable works are, Sabdar Akash (1971) (The Sky of Words), Samudra (1977) and Anek Sharat (1981).
He was awarded the 1974 Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honor in India which Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of outstanding works in one of the following twenty-four major Indian languagesAssamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri,...
in Oriya
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
for his poetry collection, Sabdar Akash (The Sky of Words). He was awarded the Jnanpith Award
Jnanpith Award
The Jnanpith Award is a literary award in India. Along with the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, it is one of the two most prestigious literary honours in the country...
in 1993 "for outstanding contribution to Indian literature" and in its citation the Bharatiya Jnanpith noted, "Deeply steeped in western literature his pen has the rare rapturous fragrance of native soil"; he was also awarded the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
in 2002, apart from winning the Soviet Land Nehru Award, Kabeer Samman and several other prestigious awards.
Early life and education
Born in 1937 in village Mahanga, situated on the banks of Chitrotpala, a tributary of the great MahanadiMahanadi River
The Mahanadi in East Central India. It drains an area of around 141,600 km2 and has a total course of 858 km. The river flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Orissa.-Source:...
, Sitakant Mahapatra grew up reciting a chapter of Oriya
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
version of Bhagwad Gita in a traditional household. After his schooling from a Korua government high school, he was to joined IIT Kharagpur
Kharagpur
Kharagpur is an industrial city in India. It is located in the Midnapore West district of the state of West Bengal.Kharagpur was chosen as the location of the first campus of the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology . The IITs are the premier technical education institutes in India and...
, but instead chose to join Ravenshaw College
Ravenshaw College
Ravenshaw College is located in Cuttack, India.The college was established in 1878 for Thomas Edward Ravenshaw, a descendant of William Withers...
, Cuttack
Cuttack
Cuttack is the former capital of the state of Orissa, India. It is the headquarters of Cuttack district and is located about 20 km to the north east of Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa. The name of the city is an anglicised form of Kataka that literally means The Fort, a reference to the...
(then affiliated with Utkal University
Utkal University
Utkal University, Bhubaneswar is the oldest university in Orissa and the 17th oldest university in India. It is a teaching-cum-affiliating university that has produced some of the best brains in Orissa. There are at 26 post-graduate departments at the university campus for studies and research in...
), where he did his B.A. in History Honours 1957, this was followed by Masters degree in Political Science from Allahabad University
Allahabad University
Allahabad University , is a premier Central University located in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Its origins lie in the Muir Central College, named after Lt...
in 1959. He even remained editor
Editor
The term editor may refer to:As a person who does editing:* Editor in chief, having final responsibility for a publication's operations and policies* Copy editing, making formatting changes and other improvements to text...
of the university journal. It was here that he started writing both in English and Oriya, though later he decided to write poetry solely in his native, Oriya realising that "a poet can express himself only in the language in which he dreams", his scholastic works however are in English.
In 1969, he did a Dip. Overseas Development Studies at the Cambridge University, under the Colombo Plan Fellowship.
Career
He took to teaching for two years at Post-Graduate Department of Utkal UniversityUtkal University
Utkal University, Bhubaneswar is the oldest university in Orissa and the 17th oldest university in India. It is a teaching-cum-affiliating university that has produced some of the best brains in Orissa. There are at 26 post-graduate departments at the university campus for studies and research in...
, before siting for Indian Administrative Service
Indian Administrative Service
The Indian Administrative Service is the administrative civil service of the Government of India. It is one of the three All India Services....
s (IAS) examination.
He joined the IAS in 1961, and went on to hold several key post, including Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, President, UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
's World Decade for Cultural Development (1994–1996); Senior Fellow of Harvard University; and Honorary Fellow of International Academy of Poets, Cambridge University. Presently, he is Chairman of National Book Trust
National Book Trust
National Book Trust, is an Indian publishing house, founded in 1957 as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education within the Government of India....
, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
.
He has held many prestigious positions including those of Secretary, Culture, Government of India, President, UNESCO's World Decade for Cultural Development (1994–1996); Senior Fellow of Harvard University; and Honorary Fellow of International Academy of Poets, Cambridge University. Presently, he is Chairman of National Book Trust, New Delhi and in the Board of Governors Bhaaratiya Vidya Bhavan, Bhubaneswar. He is the recipient of many awards including the Jnanpith Award, 1993; Sarala Award, 1985; Orissa Sahitya Academy Award, 1971 and 1984; and Sahitya Akademi Award, 1974 and ‘Award of the Highest Honour' by Soka University of Tokyo, 2001.
His first collection of poetry in Oriya
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
, Dipti O Dyuti was published in 1963, his second anthology, Ashtapadi came out in 1967, and won him the Orissa Sahitya Academy award, while his third and most celebrated anthology, Sara Akash (1971), got him the Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honor in India which Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of outstanding works in one of the following twenty-four major Indian languagesAssamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri,...
, given by Sahitya Akademi
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
, India's National Academy of Letters. Since then he has published over 350 poems in Oriya and about 30 publications in English on literary criticism
Literary criticism
Literary criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often informed by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of its methods and goals...
and culture. He spent two years studying tribals of Eastern India on a Homi Bhabha Fellowship (1975–1977). He has also two books on social anthropology
Social anthropology
Social Anthropology is one of the four or five branches of anthropology that studies how contemporary human beings behave in social groups. Practitioners of social anthropology investigate, often through long-term, intensive field studies , the social organization of a particular person: customs,...
published by the Oxford University Press, these books deal with the ambivalent relationship between the old ritual based society and state-sponsored development, and explores the reason behind developmental programmes failing in tribal areas despite state efforts. Close ties with the tribals, and his fluency with the Santal tribal culture and the Santali language
Santali language
Santhali is a language in the Santhali subfamily of Austro-Asiatic, related to Ho and Mundari. It is spoken by about six million people in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan . Most of its speakers live in India, in the states of Jharkhand, Assam, Bihar, Orissa, Tripura, and West Bengal. It has...
has led to the publication of nine anthologies
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
of oral poetry
Oral poetry
Oral poetry can be defined in various ways. A strict definition would include only poetry that is composed and transmitted without any aid of writing. However, the complex relationships between written and spoken literature in some societies can make this definition hard to maintain, and oral...
of the tribals, which he not only collected, but also translated.
Among notable works are: Ashtapadi, 1963, Shabdara akasha, 1971, Ara drushya, 1981, Shrestha kavita, 1994, (all poetry); Sabda, Svapna O nirvikata, 1990 (essays), Aneka sarata, 1981 (travelogue); Ushavilasa, 1996 (palm leaf manuscript); In English: The ruined Temple and other poems, 1996 (poetry, translation); and Unending Rhythms (Oral poetry of Indian Tribals in translation).
Awards and recognition
He is the recipient of many awards including the Jnanpith AwardJnanpith Award
The Jnanpith Award is a literary award in India. Along with the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, it is one of the two most prestigious literary honours in the country...
, 1993; Sarala Award, 1985; Orissa Sahitya Academy Award, 1971 and 1984; and Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honor in India which Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of outstanding works in one of the following twenty-four major Indian languagesAssamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri,...
, 1974 and ‘Award of the Highest Honour' by Soka University of Tokyo, 2001. In 2002, he was honoured by the Government of India with a Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
. In 2011, he has been selected for a Padma Vibhushan
Padma Vibhushan
The Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian award in the Republic of India. It consists of a medal and a citation and is awarded by the President of India. It was established on 2 January 1954. It ranks behind the Bharat Ratna and comes before the Padma Bhushan...
, the second highest civilian award of India.
Further reading
- Texts And Their Worlds, by Anna Kurian. 7. Election - poem by Srikant Mahapatra Foundation Books, 2006. ISBN 817596300X. p. 142
External links
- Sitakant Mahapatra Biography and works at Library of CongressLibrary of CongressThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
- Sitakanta Mahapatra: In Conversation with Manu Dash
- Dr. Sitakant Mahapatra Mumbai MTNL