Binapani Mohanty

Binapani Mohanty is an eminent literary figure of Odisha and carved a niche for herself in the field of Odia fiction writing. Her literary career as a story-teller 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 Murga O Sabuja Aranya and Michhi Michhika. It was the collection of short stories entitled 'Pata Dei and other Stories', that won the 1990 Sahitya Akademi.[1] She was awarded the Padma Shri in 2020.[2][3]

Binapani Mohanty

Pata Dei was published as Lata in Femina in 1986. In 1987, its Hindi dramatisation was telecast in Doordarshan's Kashmakash programme winning accolades and appreciation from all parts of India.

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 stort " 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.