london-based Odia writer and painter Prafulla Mohanti (79) has strongly opposed the move of the railway authorities to build a bridge and rail line cutting the heart of his picturesque village Nanpur in Jajpur district.
At a Press meet at his village on Friday, Mohanti said, “My riverside village is the source for my painting and writing. But now, the Government is hell-bent to destroy the serene environment.” last year, he had released his book Shunya on the photos and paintings of his village.
Born in 1934 at Nanpur, Mohanti has a lifelong love affair with his village. In his book full of photos and paintings, he has conjured up the village’s image with its dusty paths, paddy fields, mango orchards, mud walls decorated with rice paste paintings, cattle, village deity Mahima Buddha, village women, sunset, river Birupa.
Based at Sussex Street, london for over five decade, Mohanti has been visiting his village every year. Through his art and his books My Village, My life, Changing Village, Changing life and Indian Village Tales, he has carried his culture everywhere. In 1973 when he wrote first book My Village, My life in london, the literary world woke up to life in a small village in Odisha.