Bhubaneswar: Paramita Satpathy, who has authored seven short-story collections, has been selected for the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award 2016 for Oriya. She has won the award for ‘Prapti’, a short-story collection she wrote in 2012.
‘Prapti’ has 10 stories, each with a female protagonist. It was first published by Pakshighara and has been translated into several regional languages.
Paramita is among the seven short story writers selected for the award. The others who have won the award in the category are: Chhatrapal (Dogri), Shyam Darihare (Maithili), Moirangthem Rajen (Manipuri), Asaram Lomate (Marathi), Bulaki Sharma (Rajasthani) Vannadhasan (Tamil). In all, 24 writers have been awarded for their works in their respective regional languages.
Paramita expressed her happiness over receiving the award with Orissa POST. “It feels good to receive the award after writing for so long. I am glad the jury members liked the book,” she said. The collection was her sixth.
“The book is based on the lives of women: the situations they are in, their position in their families and society, and their feelings. It talks about the lives of 10 women in 10 different stories,” she added.
Paramita is the daughter of renowned poets Pratibha Satpathy and Nityananda Satpathy. Her love and respect for her parents reflected through the brief conversation. “My parents have always been my inspiration and they encourage me to keep writing. My mother once said there will be moments when I won’t find any companion, but writing will be with me always,” she said.
Paramita, who joined Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 1989, is a commissioner with the Income Tax department at present.
“Even after joining IRS, I never gave up writing. My mother’s advice to never stop writing kept me motivated.”
‘Kurei Phula’, ‘Apathacharini’, ‘Nari Kabi O Anyamane’ and ‘Antaranga Chhala’ are some of her major works apart from ‘Prapti’.
Paramita’s writings have been translated into Hindi, English, Bengali, Telugu and Marathi.
The writer has represented Oriya literature at several literary forums within the state and across the country. Talking about her upcoming venture, she said: “I have just finished my new novel, which has been sent to press. It may be released in a few months.”
Pratibha, Paramita’s mother, was pleased with her daughter’s achievement. “The news has brought a lot of happiness in our family. Paramita has been writing since her college days and she was a published writer even then,” she said. She was contented with ‘Prapti’ getting national recognition.
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