Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced to institute an international literary award in memory of eminent author Manoj Das who died at Puducherry on April 27 last. Mr Patnaik also announced to set up a Museum and a library at Sankhari in Balasore district,the birthplace of the prolific writer who has to his credit several write ups both in Odia and English.
The Chief Minister said the International award will carry a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and would be presented to an Odia literature writing in English every year. Mr Patnaik said ‘’Manoj Kishore Sahitya Prativa Samman ‘’ would be presented at the high school level every year for original writing in both English and Odia. A sum of Rs one lakh each for Odia and English would be presented to create interest among the youths for both Odia and English literature. The Chief Minister said as per the proposal of the family members of Manoj Das, the government will take over the paternal house of Manoj Das at Sankhari and would declare it as the Manmath- Manoj memorial after the name of two brothers.
A library would be opened at the memorial and all books written by Prof Manmath Das (history) and Manoj Das (literature) would be kept in the library. The temple located in the premises would be conserved.
Special issues of Utkal Prasanga, Odisha Review and the Konark magazine published by Odisha Sahitya Akademi would be published in memory of Manoj Das. After the demise of Manoj Das, the Chief Minister had talked to his family members over phone, expressed his sympathies to the bereaved family members and discussed about his memorial.
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