Bhubaneswar-based Gitanjali Mohanty has been writing poems for more than five decades now. She has to her credit more than 200 poems, most of which are a reflection of his love of children and rural life. Gitanjali, who also writes devotional songs, has won several awards. Gitanjali shares her journey as a poetess with Orissa POST.
Born to Dharmanand and Santilata Ray at Khairagarh, Jagatsinghpur, Gitanjali was inclined towards writing since childhood. Her penchant for writing initially took her to penning her thoughts on paper, which gradually became a habit.
“I started writing when I was in primary school but at that time I had no idea about poetry. When I came to know about poetry, I became more interest and started expressing my thoughts in a lyrical format. I still remember the day when my first poem Sunyata was published in a magazine. Soon, another of my poems, Triranga, was published in a newspaper,” says Gitanjali.
However, the big moment came when three of her poems were published in Odia daily Dharitri ahead of Ratha Yatra. “That gave my confidence a boost and I started try to devote more time to reading and writing poetry. Most of my poems revolve around my village. I also love children and a large number of my poems are on children. In fact, my first book, Lalpari, was a compilation of 28 poems and all were on kids. I owe a lot of my success to poet Pratibha Panda and my family, who have been a continuous source of inspiration,” she says.
Gitanjali completed her primary education from her village school before going to Alanahata High School. Later, she completed her bachelor degree from Sailabala Women’s College. “I start writing in 1979 when I was in high school. Studies were a priority and I was a meritorious student. However, I was more popular among teachers and students because of my poems. My poems would often get published in college magazines,” says the poet.
That said, Gitanjali was unsure if she would be able to continue writing after marriage. However, her doubts were cleared after her husband and in-laws encouraged her to take writing seriously. “I owe a lot to my husband. He has been a driving force,” she adds.
Her second book of poems, Barnila Barnali, was launched earlier this year and has generated good response. The book was launched on the 75th foundation day of Alanahata High School. “Each of the poems talks about my village, the simple lifestyle, rituals and lives of farmers. I have a very simplistic approach when it comes to expressing my thoughts on paper. That is what even the readers prefer,” says Gitanjali.
Although Gitanjali also writes devotional songs and essays, poetry is her first love. “I always try to come up with something different. I grew up in a small village and love the village life — the evenings, festivals, traditions, cowherds and everything about life in a village. I try to talk about all these things in poems,” she says.
Gitanjali efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. She has won more than 20 awards including Odisha Bhasa Prachar Samiti’s Saraswata Samman in 2005. In 2007, she won the Manaswini Prjnamayee Samman. Besides she has also won Manaswini Swayanprava Samman, Utakalika Samman, Baradashree Samman, Abhipsa Kabi Ratna Samman and Sridhara Smruti Samman.
BRATATI BARAL, OP