Author: Pratibha Ray
Profile: Pratibha Ray is a renowned Indian fiction writer by choice and an academic by profession in contemporary India. She was born in Alabol a remote village in Jagtsinghpur district of Odisha state. In the year 1991, she became the first woman to win the Moortidevi Award. She completed her education at Ravenshaw College and Ravenshaw University, Cuttack. Through her translated works she is a household name in many parts of India and in Odisha.
She began her career as a school teacher, taught in Government colleges for 3 decades, published research articles and joined as Member, Public Service Commission of Odisha after retiring as Professor of Education from State Government Service.
Writing style: Pratibha Ray writes short stories and novels in Odia, her mother tongue. From a tender age of 9 she penned work related to social order based on integration, peace, love and equality. She believes herself to be a humanist and that women and men have been created differently so that society functions in a healthy way. She is also of the belief that women endowed with specialties need to be nurtured further.
Published Texts:
Novels
1974 – Barsa Basanta Baishakha
1977 – Aranya
1978 – Nishiddha Prithivi
1979 – Parichaya
1979 – Aparichita
1979 – Punyatoya ‘the story of village girl Meghi’
1980 – Meghamedura
1980 – Ashabari
1981 – Ayamarambha
1981 – Nilatrishna
1982 – Samudrara
1983 – Shilapadma
1984 – Yajnaseni
1986 – Dehatita
1988 – Uttaramarg
Adibhumi
1998 – Mahamoha
2004 – Magnamati
Travelogue
1990 – Maitripadapara Shakha Prashakha
1999 – Dura Dwividha
2000 – Aparadhira Sweda
Short Stories
1978 – Samanya Kathana
1979 – Gangashiuli
1980 – Asampata
1981 – Aikatana
1983 – Anabana
Ghasa O Akasa
1984 – Chandrabhaga O Chandrakala
1984 – Shreshtha Galpa
1986 – Abyakta
1987 – Itibut
1989 – Haripatra
1991 – Prthak Isvara
1991 – Bhagavanara Desa
1992 – Manushya Swara
1994 – Sva-nirvachita SreshthaGalpa
1996 – Sashthasati
1996 – Moksha
1998 – Ullaghna
2000 – Nivedanam Idam
2002 – Gandhinka
2006 – Jhotipaka Kantha
Awards and Acknowledgements:
1985 – ‘Odisha Sahitya Academi Award
1990 – Sarala Award
1991 – Moortidevi Award
2000 – Sahitya Akademi Award
2006 – Amrita Keerti Puraskar
2007 – Padma Shri Award
2011 – Jnanpith Award
2013 – Odisha Living Legend Award (Literature)