Noted litterateur Padma Shri Binapani Mohanty passed away

Cuttack:24/4/22; Noted litterateur Padma Shri Binapani Mohanty passed away today evening here. She was 85. She was also honoured with Atibadi Jagannath Das award, Sahitya Akademi Award and Sarala Samman.

A professor in Economics, Mohanty has more than 100 books to her credit. She was the younger sister of eminent doctor Nirupama Rath and advocate Sachinadanda Mohanty, both of whom have passed away.

She has conferred with Padma Shri in Literature and Education category in 2020 and received the prestigious ‘Atibadi Jagannath Das Samman’. Besides, she was also honoured with Sahitya Akademi Award and Sarala Samman.

Binapani Mohanty has carved a niche for herself in the field of Odia fiction writing. Her literary career as a storyteller began with the publication of ‘Gotie Ratira Kahani’ in 1960.

Some of her best known stories are Pata Dei, Khela Ghara, Naiku Rasta, Bastraharana, Andhakarara, Kasturi

Mohanty received the Sahitya Akademi award in 1990 for her collection of short stories entitled ‘Pata Dei and other stories.’  ‘Patadei’ was published as ‘Lata’ in Femina in 1986. Its Hindi dramatisation ‘Kashmakash’, telecast on Doordarshan, in the late 1980s was a hit. She wrote three novels and translated Russian folktales to Odia. Many short stories of Binapani Mohanty have been translated into different languages such as English, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, Urdu, Telegu and Russian. A film was made on her story ‘Andhakarara Chhai’ and has been highly appreciated by the audience. She has also penned three novels: Sitara Sonita, Manaswini and Kunti, Kuntala, Shakuntala, and a one-act play entitled Kranti. She has translated Russian folk tales from English to Odia, among other translations.

Condoling her death, Governor Ganeshi Lal said she enriched Odia literature in many ways.

Pained by the passing away of noted writer Binapani Mohanty Ji. She made monumental contributions to Odia literature, especially fiction writing. Her works have been translated in various languages and attained great popularity. Condolences to her family and admirers. Om Shanti.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 24, 2022

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief, saying it was an irreparable loss for the Odia literature world.

“She will always remain in the hearts of the people for her literary works. I express my condolence to the bereaved family members,” he said.Mr Patnaik said that her funeral will be held with full state honours.