Noted Odia litterateur Manglu Charan Biswal passes away

Sambalpur: Noted Odia litterateur and veteran teacher Manglu Charan Biswal passed away here this morning following prolonged illness.

He breathed his last at his residence in Baradunguri under Maneswar Block in Sambalpur district. He was 87. He is survived by wife Shailabala, 3 sons and one daughter.

Biswal had written ‘Bhukha’, the first Sambalpuri film directed and produced by Sabyasachi Mohapatra to get an International Jury Award at the Gijón International Film Festival.

Born on May 4 in 1934 in Pitapali village adjoining Hirakud Reservoir in Sambalpur district, Manglu Charan Biswal had penned many plays, poems and stories both in Odia and Sambalpuri languages. Among his major literary works, Biography ‘Hajila Dina’, poetry collection ‘Daria Parira Kabita’, ‘Manolina’, ‘Paunsa Talara Nian’, story collection ‘Astaragara Kabi’, play ‘Udla Patar Budla Danga’, ‘Hatariar Bhutiyar’, ‘Surendra Sai’, ‘Barua’, ‘Chhaili’, ‘Ulgulan’, ‘Maa Samalei’ were highly appreciated by his readers.

This apart, Biswal was also a teacher by profession. He was He was conferred with an honorary D.Litt. degree by the Sambalpur University for his contribution to literature. Besides, he had received Bharatchandra Nayak Smruti Sahitya Samman and Vyasakabi Fakir Mohan Bhasa Samman.