Eminent literary critic and academician Prof Jatindra Mohan Mohanty died here on Tuesday night. He was 80.
Born in 1932 at Shyamsundarpur in Kendrapara district, the acclaimed academician received his early education at the famed PM Academy, Cuttack. He also studied at Ravenshaw College, Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages, Hyderabad, and Leeds University of the UK.
Mohanty started his career as a lecturer in English in Ravenshaw College and went on to teach in BJB College, Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur University and Utkal University from where he retired in 1992 as Professor of English.
A leading critic and editor, he received Central Sahitya Akademi Award for his work on Odia poetry ‘Suryashnata’ for 2003. He also authored over 20 books and 200 essays in Odia and English including works on history of Odia literature and classics.
Mohanty who also received scholarships from British Council and Fellowship from Central Institute of Indian Languages and also edited ‘Prajna’ in Odia and ‘Bhubaneswar Review’ in English. He was associated for a long time with Central Sahitya Akademi and Odisha Sahitya Akademi.
Naveen mourns: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik mourned Mohanty describing his death as a huge void for Odisha. Despite being a teacher in English, Mohanty’s contribution to Odia language and literature is unparalleled. His works have given Odia literature a new direction, the CM added.