Bhubaneswar, 04 June (H.S.): Eminent Odia poet, playwright, art historian, translator and former IAS officer, Jagannath Prasad Das, popularly known as JP Das, passed away at his residence in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday night. He was 90.
With his demise, Odisha has lost one of its most distinguished literary and cultural figures whose contributions spanned literature, public administration, visual arts and cultural scholarship.
Born on April 26, 1936, in Puri district, Das joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1958. During his administrative career, he earned widespread recognition for his effective management of relief operations as Collector of Kalahandi during the devastating famine and drought of 1965–66.
In 1984, at the peak of his bureaucratic career, Das opted for premature retirement to dedicate himself entirely to literary and creative pursuits. Over the following decades, he emerged as a towering figure in modern Odia literature, earning acclaim for his innovative writing, intellectual depth and cultural insight.
His notable poetry collections, including Prathama Purusha, Ahnika and Parikrama, are regarded as milestones in modern Odia poetry for their philosophical richness and modernist approach. In recognition of his outstanding literary contributions, he was honoured with the prestigious Saraswati Samman in 2006.
Known for his uncompromising principles, Das declined the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1990. Beyond poetry, he made significant contributions to Odia theatre through experimental and avant-garde plays such as Suryasta Purbaru and Sundara Das. His historical novel Desha Kala Patra is widely considered a landmark work in Odia fiction.
A passionate advocate for literature and writers, Das founded the Poetry Society (India) and served as its president for 14 years. As a bilingual author and accomplished translator, he introduced Odia literature to wider audiences through translations to and from Swedish, Urdu, French and English.
An accomplished painter and art scholar, Das also made seminal contributions to the study of Odisha’s artistic heritage. His works, including Puri Paintings (1982) and Palm-Leaf Miniatures (1991), remain important references for researchers and students of traditional Odishan art.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
