Paramita Satpathy’s “Prapti” chosen for Sahitya Akademi Award

Bhubaneswar: Eminent writer Paramita Satpathy’s collection of stories, Prapti will receive the Kendriya Sahitya Akademi Award for the year 2016. The book features stories depicting the emotional and psychological situations and expressions of women.
“I am really glad that my book has been chosen and particularly this book since it is dedicated to women,” said the author. She said she takes inspiration from her mother Pratibha Satpathy, also a Sahitya Akademi Awardee and noted writer. Paramita had taken to creativity from early childhood. Her literary bent of mind was shaped by the atmosphere at home and extensive reading of Odia and English literature. She attributes much of her affinity to creativity to the eminent writers of India and the world. She believes that creative art in any form prepares the world for a better abode for human beings to live in.

So far, seven short-story collections, namely Bibidha Aswopna (1997), Bhashakshara (2000) Birala Rupaka (2003), Antaranga Chhala (2006), Kurei Phula (2009), Prapti (2012) and Nari Kabi O Anyamane (2015) have been published. Besides, a novel in Odia, ‘Apathacharini’ (2006) was published to her credit. Anthologies of short stories, ‘Door Ke Pahad’ (translated into Hindi) published by the Jnanpith, New Delhi in 2007 and ‘Chandan Ke Phool’ published by Vani Prakashan, New Delhi in 2015 have been widely reviewed and brought her much acclaim. Paramita’s book in English translation ‘Intimate Pretence’ is published by Rupa & Co Publishers, New Delhi in 2010 and is appreciated by the readers across the country. Paramita has written few poems which are published in different journals and are on the process of being compiled in a book.

Many of her stories are translated into other Indian languages such as – Hindi, English, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati etc. Her stories have been published in prestigious national magazines such as – Samakalin Bharatiya Sahitya, Bagarth, Hans, Akshara, Naya Jnanodaya, Gagnanchal, Sakshatakar, Indian Literature, The Little Magazine, Muse India, Vipula, Bhasha Bondhan etc and have brought her immense popularity. Her stories have also been included in various compilations of Indian writings published from different parts of the country.

Paramita has re presented Odia literature in many literary forums in Odisha, across the country and abroad. She had participated, presented discussion papers and read short stories, poems in many seminars organized by the Sahitya Academi, various literary Festivals and other socio –cultural institutions. She had represented Odia literature in the International Book Fair in Beijing, China, in the year 2010 as a part of the Sahitya Akademi delegation. She had participated in readings and discussion in Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Indian Languages, Mauritius in 2010. She attended the literary seminar of Odia Society of America, held in Dallas, USA as the guest speaker in 2011.

The plight of the modern women has been delineated with utmost perfection by Paramita in her writings. Her short stories are ridden with reality, novelties and pathos spreading over an amazingly wide canvas. They deal with almost every sphere of human life and living. Paramita’s excellence is marked through narration in controlled emotion regarding feelings and vivid picturesque description of events. Application of appropriate imagery, adeptness in blending the real with the imaginary and elasticity in style, distinguish Paramita’s stories from those of others. Her stories aspire to compete with one another on daring genuineness, intense human sensitivity and extraordinary ornamentation of language.

For her contribution to literature , Paramita has received many accolades from various Institutions and literary magazines. Prominent among those are the Odisha Sahitya Academi Award, Bharatiya Bhasa Parishad Yuva Puraskar by Birla Foundation , Kolkata; Gangadhar Rath Foundation Award , Odisha, Bhubaneswar Book Fair Award, Odisha, Seashore Srujan Samman, Odisha etc. Paramita joined Indian Revenue Service in 1989 and is presently working as Commissioner of Income Tax.

Paramita Satpathy’s “Prapti” chosen for Sahitya Akademi Award