Manoj Das

Manoj Das (1934–2021) was a prolific Indian author who wrote extensively in both Odia and English, celebrated for his masterful storytelling and philosophical depth. He received numerous prestigious accolades, including the Saraswati Samman in 2000, the Padma Shri in 2001, and the Padma Bhushan in 2020, along with the Sahitya Akademi Award and its highest honor, the Sahitya Akademi Award Fellowship. An ashramite at Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry since 1963, Das also served as an English professor at the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education. His diverse works include short stories such as Mystery of the Missing Cap, novels, poetry, travelogues, and writings on history and culture, often exploring the quest for eternal truth in everyday life. He also contributed columns to major Indian dailies and edited the cultural magazine The Heritage.