SITAKANT MAHAPATRA
IAS AND WRITER
“Poetry comes from the soul and it can be written in your mother tongue, because it is intimate, like a mother. And that language is Odia for me” were his words while talking to press after winning the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award. Despite authoring critical compositions in English and Hindi, his heart beats first for Odia. While pursuing his Masters in Political Science from Allahabad University, this poet made a bold promise to write poetry only in Odia, a promise which still holds true.
Sitakant Mahapatra, a renowned poet and literary critic in Odia as well as English is also an IAS officer, a further indicator to the versatility of his talents. With his mesmerizing emotional quality, Sitakant Mahapatra- A Jnanpith, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awardee, allows readers to delve deep down into the insights of his poetry, leaving them spellbound. His poems cover a range of our deepest thoughts and emotions. Alongside poetry and literature, he has also written extensively on social anthropology, and closely followed the Santhal tribal culture and ethos.
He joined the IAS in 1961 as the first Odia to top the most daunting national government service in India, the UPSC examination, and went on to hold several key posts, including Home Secretary, Government of Orissa; Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India; and President, UNESCO’s World Decade for Cultural Development.
Born in the village of Mahanga situated on the banks of Chitrotpala, Shree Sitakant Mahapatra is an incompatible choice for VARINDIA to be honoured as a Crown Jewels of Odisha because Odia flows in his mind, soul and veins.