General Knowledge - Famous Personalities - Discussion

Jayanta Mahapatra (b.1928) is one of the best known Indian English poets. He also writes in Oriya. Mahapatra was born in 1928 in Cuttack

Then, who is he? Please give some details about him.

He is the 1st ever Indian poet to win Sahitya Akademi award for English poetry. He is the author of such popular poems as "Indian Summer and Hunger" which are regarded as classics in modern Indian English literature. He is also a winner of Padma Shri award. He comes to news in last few months when he returned his award against the rising of intolerance in India.

Physicist, bilingual poet and essayist, Jayanta Mahapatra holds the distinction of being the first Indian English poet to have received the Sahitya Akademi Award (1981) for Relationship. In 2009 he was awarded by the Government of India with the "Padmashree Award", the country's most prestigious award for civilian citizens for his outstanding contribution to the field of literature.