Kishori Charan Das

Kishori Charan Das
Born1924 (2024-12-20UTC16:18:11)
Cuttack, Odisha
Died17 August 2004(2004-08-17) (aged 79–80)
Occupationwriter, poet
LanguageOdia
NationalityIndian
Notable awardsSahitya Akademi Award : 1976
Odisha Sahitya Academy Award : 1976

Kishori Charan Das (born 1924; died 17 August 2004), also known by his short name K.C. Das, was an eminent Indian writer and translator of the Odia and English language.[1] Known for his master interpretation of choices, disillusionment, and insecurities of the Odia middle class. His stories showcases realities of everyday life and do not delve into preaching morals or convey messages. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1976 for his short story collection Thakura Ghara. He was also awarded with the Sarala Puraskar in1985 and Bishuva Puraskar in 1992. [2]

Biography

Das was born in 1924 in Cuttack, Odisha. He worked as Additional Deputy comptroller and Auditor General of India and Director of Audit, Indian Accounts, Washington D.C., 1961-1964.[1]

He died on 17 August 2004.[3]

Writing Style

Das published several collections of short stories, novels, essays, poems.[4] He was one of the exponents of modernism in Odia literature. The characters of his fictions come from urban setting, with disrupted dreams, inner-conflict and existential anguish.[5] Writing about the Odia society and the challenges of modern day life in post independence India where the middle class is aspirational and sometimes impatient. Although his stories begin on a simple note, they eventually reach their culmination in unexpected and surprising ways. He maintained that writing 'expresses a writer's relationship with various emotions' and 'no writing can belong to any class or community', but 'it belongs to the whole world'.[3] He has also translated writings by other Oriya authors.

Books

Short story

  • Bhanga Khelana (1961)
  • Ghara Bahuda (1968)
  • Laksha Vihanga (1968)
  • Manihara (1970)
  • Thakura Ghara (1975)
  • Gaman (1980)
  • Khelara nam ranga (1982)
  • Bhinna Paunsha (1984)
  • Death of an Indian (1984)
  • Shita Lahara (1986)
  • Trango Mryutu (1987)
  • Nija Sanja (1992)
  • The Midnight Moon and other Stories (1993)

Poetry collection

  • Faces in the Dark (1980)
  • Mana Kamana (1983)

Novels

  • Satoti Dinara Sati (1993)
  • Neta O Netramani (1997)

Honours

He was awarded the Odisha Sahitya Academy Award in 1976, Sarala Puraskar in 1985 and Bishuva Puraskar in 1992.[1] He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1976 for his short story collection Thakura Ghara.[5]

The Kishori Charan Smruti Sansad was established in his honour which gives an award named Kishori Charan Das Sahitya Purashkar to an Odia writer annually since 2007.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Kishori Charan Das, 1924-". Library of Congress. 11 January 2016.
  2. ^ Datta, Amaresh (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo. Sahitya Akademi. p. 870. ISBN 978-81-260-1803-1.
  3. ^ a b Saudamini Bhuyan (2004). "Kishori Charan Das". Indian Literature. 48 (6): 135–137. JSTOR 23345866.
  4. ^ Beyond the Roots: An Anthology of Oriya Short Stories. National Book Trust India. 1996. p. 300. ISBN 978-81-237-2246-7.
  5. ^ a b c Patnaik, Lalmohan (3 March 2013). "Odia literature's modern man". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 23 March 2021.