Renowned Odia poet, playwright, art historian, and former IAS officer Jagannath Prasad (JP) Das passed away at his residence in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday night. He was 90.
Born in Puri district on April 26, 1936, JP Das joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1958. He earned recognition for his relief work during the Kalahandi famine of 1965–66. In 1984, he took voluntary retirement to dedicate himself to literature and art.
Das authored acclaimed poetry collections such as Prathama Purusha, Ahnika, and Parikrama, which reflected modernist sensibilities and philosophical depth. He received the prestigious Saraswati Samman in 2006 but declined the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1990, underscoring his principled stance.
His contributions extended to theatre with experimental plays like Suryasta Purbaru and Sundara Das, and to fiction with the historical novel Desha Kala Patra. He also founded the Poetry Society (India) and served as its president for 14 years, championing the cause of writers.
A bilingual writer and translator, Das introduced Odia literature to global audiences by translating works into and from Swedish, Urdu, French, and English. His scholarship in art history produced seminal works such as Puri Paintings (1982) and Palm‑Leaf Miniatures (1991), which remain vital references in Odishan art studies.
With his passing, Odisha has lost one of its most versatile cultural voices, whose work bridged administration, literature, and art history.
