Image of Manoj Das | Source: governorap/Instagram
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Shri Manoj Das, a noted educationist, popular columnist and prolific writer.
Shri Modi said in a tweet:
“Shri Manoj Das distinguished himself as a noted educationist, popular columnist and prolific writer. He made rich contributions to English and Odia literature. He was a leading exponent of Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family. Om Shanti.”
Shri Manoj Das distinguished himself as a noted educationist, popular columnist and prolific writer. He made rich contributions to English and Odia literature. He was a leading exponent of Sri Aurobindo's philosophy. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family. Om Shanti.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 28, 2021
President Ram Nath Kovind also expressed condolences. “The passing of Manoj Das is a huge loss to the world of Odia & English writing. His towering stature as a fiction writer, his simplicity & spirituality gave him a unique identity. A Padma Bhushan, he was given many prestigious awards. My condolences to his family and admirers,” he wrote.
The passing of Manoj Das is a huge loss to the world of Odia & English writing. His towering stature as a fiction writer, his simplicity & spirituality gave him a unique identity. A Padma Bhushan, he was given many prestigious awards. My condolences to his family and admirers.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 28, 2021
Manoj Das (27 February 1934 – 27 April 2021) was an Indian author who wrote in Odia and English. In 1971, his research in the archives of London and Edinburgh brought to light some of the little-known facts of India’s freedom struggle in the first decade of the twentieth century led by Sri Aurobindo for which he received the first Sri Aurobindo Puraskar (Kolkata). His deeper quest led him to mysticism and he was an inmate of Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry since 1963 where he taught English Literature and the Philosophy of Sri Aurobindo at the Sri Aurobindo International University.
In 2000, Manoj Das was awarded the Saraswati Samman. He was awarded Padma Shri in 2001, the fourth-highest Civilian Award in India, Padma Bhusan in 2020, the third-highest Civilian Award in India for his contribution in the field of Literature & Education.