Noted dramatist Bijay Mishra and Santali poet Arjun Charan Hembram have been chosen for the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award- 2013.
While Mishra’s book Vanaprastha is selected for award, Hembram’s Santali poetry book Chandabonga is adjudged for the honour. The award in the form of a casket containing an engraved copper plaque, a shawl and a cheque of Rs 1 lakh will be presented to the authors at a special function to be held on March 11, 2014 in New Delhi during the Festival of letters organised by Sahitya Akademi.
Mishra, born in 1936, started writing for professional theatre groups, but after the closure of the commercial theatre, he associated with amateur groups. After a few plays in traditional style like Janani in 1960, an adaptation of Nihar Ranjan GuptaRs s novel Maya Mriga in 1960, Ashantagraha in 1964, and Timira Tirtha in 1965, he switched over to continuous experimentations.
MishraRs s Sababahakamane (Pallbearers) in 1968 opened new horizons for Odia drama. This was a play of mental conditions where the colourless, unmasked, eternal human has been dissected before a corpse. MishraRs s Tata Niranjana (Banks of Niranjana) in 1978, Jane Raja Thile (There Was a Raja) in 1982, Badshah (Sovereign) in 1983 and Parasuram in 1984 explored newer themes and methods.
Middleclass helplessness, ailments and failure, along with contemporary hypocrisy and double-dealing form the subject matters of MishraRs s works. Odia film Rajanigandha was Mishra’s directorial debut. Besides, he has scripted dialogues for many Odia films and Tele serials. His brief but meaningful, even philosophical, dialogues always convey a special flavour.
Arjun Hembram, born in Baripada in 1952, is a well-known figure in Santali literature. He is also founder-editor of Santali literary magazine Chai Champa. Recently, he brought out a fortnightly Santali magazine, Bahabonga. His other two poetry collections are lade Sarjom and Chiki Gaban. His two books lade Sarjom and Chandabonga are included in the courses of the North Odisha University and the UPSC.