Thinkers’ Club

BY BARADA DAS

CUTTACK, APR 29 : 29/4. Thinkers’ Club in it’s 117th Web based meeting discussed on Manoj Das and specialty of his writings in collaboration with the Delhi based organization, “Delhi Utkal Asmita”. This meeting was on the occasion of the 5th Sradh Ceremony of the great writer.

Professor Manindra Meher, a scholar on the Manoj Das literature was the Chief Speaker. Prof Meher discussed briefly on the literary creations of Manoj Das. According to him, Manoj Das used his pen in all branches of literature. He wrote in contemporary Odiya language and some of his writings were in the English Language. His stories were vivid in description which creates a deep sense of the plot in the mind of the reader. His stories end with a dramatic ending. His story, “Shesha Basantar Chithi” is circled around a girl of teen age and focuses on feelings of the young girl, her sympathetic consideration.  Some critics have compared him with the famous ancient story teller, Pundit Vishnu Sharma. Hhe wrote 12 Novels, a good number of stories, 2 collection of poems,  travelogues and 5 essays on Indian Culture and the society.  The creations of Manoj Das are great treasures of the Odiya literature of the present time.

Principal, Chhayakanta Sadhangi was one of the speakers of the meet. He enlightened the audience on the writings of Manoj Das. As per him, Manoj Das was supporter of the leftist movement and his writings were modulated with the leftist thoughts in the early years of his writings. He joined the Pondichery Ashram in last part of his life as a Professor of English. His stay in the Ashram was a milestone in his life, which gave tremendous boost to his literary career. The writings in the later part of his life included spiritualism and the deduced summary of religious concepts. His writings incorporated higher values of human life and the established knowledge of our ancient sages and scholars. He ascribed Manoj’s writings as unique creations and comparable to great global writers.

Professor Bijayini Singhdeo was another panelist to discuss on Manoj Das with the elite audience. Prof Singhdeo, spoke on the human side of Manoj Das. According to her, there is link between a writer and his creations. A person noble in heart, loving, who takes care of values, can be a good writer and all these personal values of him are reflected in his writings. She was somewhat related to the great writer. In this capacity, she had accepted hospitality of Manoj Das several times. She narrated that, each of the visits to the great literati is a unique experience in her life. Mr Das was a courteous host and he cared all our traditional values of a host. She said, her relationship with him was a delicate one from the  standards of Odiya Culture. By virtue of the relationship, Mr Das use to cast some palatable jokes on her.   She recollected those jokes with pain as there is no other person in this mortal world, who has such finer sense of communication with near relations. She expressed her tribute to the great writer.

Dr Anita Panda, the President of Delhi Utkal Asmita spoke on the purpose of the meet at the beginning. Mr Barada Das , moderated the meet. Mr Das also spoke on Manoj Das’s participation in politics from his student days and ultimately how he became an international writer from a leftist at the beginning. 

Some poems of Manoj Das were recited in the meet. Many intellectuals participated in the meet from different corners of the country. Prof Dr Nibedita Giri, offered the vote of Thanks.