Jayant Mahapatra: A Mindmap

• Jayant Mahapatra (1928 – 2023)
  • Titles & Epithets
    • First Indian Poet to win Sahitya Akademi Award for English poetry
  • Biography
    • Born: Oct 22, 1928 (Cuttack, Odisha)
    • Family: Prominent Odia Christian family
    • Education: M.Sc. Physics from Patna University
    • Profession: Professor of Physics
    • Late Bloomer: Began writing poetry at age 40
    • Died: Aug 27, 2023
  • Major Works
    • English Poetry Collections
      • Close the Sky, Ten by Ten (1971) - Debut
      • A Rain of Rites (1976) - Includes “Dawn at Puri”
      • Relationship (1980) - Sahitya Akademi Award winner
      • Life Signs (1983)
      • A Whiteness of Bones (1992)
    • Key Poems
      • “Dawn at Puri”
      • “Hunger”
      • “Indian Summer”
      • “Listening to a Prayer”
    • Oriya Poetry Collections: 7 books
    • Short Stories: The Green Gardener
    • Essays/Memoirs: Door of Paper
  • Literary Style & Themes
    • Style
      • Meditative & Contemplative
      • Subtle Imagery & Symbolism
      • Free Verse
      • Lyrical & Poignant
      • Exploration of the Subconscious
      • Precise Observation
    • Themes
      • Landscape & Place (Odisha)
      • History & Memory
      • Faith, Doubt, & Spirituality
      • Suffering & Human Condition
      • Time & Transience
      • Social Conscience (subtle)
  • Awards & Honors
    • Sahitya Akademi Award (1981) for Relationship
    • Padma Shri (2009) - Returned in 2015
    • Jacob Glatstein Memorial Award
    • Allen Tate Poetry Prize (2009)
    • SAARC Literary Award (2009)