THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JUNE 4, 2026

Odisha bid farewell to one of its most distinguished cultural luminaries as renowned poet, playwright, art historian and former bureaucrat Jagannath Prasad Das, popularly known as JP Das, passed away at his residence in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday night. He was 90.

A towering figure in Odisha’s literary and cultural landscape, JP Das leaves behind an extraordinary legacy that seamlessly bridged public administration, literature, theatre and art history. His passing marks the end of an era in Odia intellectual and creative life.

Born in Puri district on April 26, 1936, Das joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1958 and earned widespread appreciation for his dedicated relief work during the Kalahandi famine of 1965-66. In a rare and courageous move, he opted for voluntary retirement in 1984 to devote himself entirely to literature, scholarship and the arts.

As a poet, JP Das emerged as one of the foremost modernist voices in Odia literature. His celebrated collections, including Prathama Purusha, Ahnika and Parikrama, captivated readers with their philosophical depth, introspective tone and innovative style. His literary stature was recognised nationally when he received the prestigious Saraswati Samman in 2006. Earlier, he had declined the Sahitya Akademi Award, a decision that reflected his deeply held convictions and independent spirit.

His creative genius extended beyond poetry. Through experimental plays such as Suryasta Purbaru and Sundara Das, he expanded the horizons of Odia theatre, while his historical novel Desha Kala Patra demonstrated his mastery over narrative and history. As founder-president of the Poetry Society (India), a role he held for 14 years, he tirelessly championed writers and nurtured literary discourse across the country.

A gifted bilingual writer and translator, Das played a pivotal role in introducing Odia literature to international audiences through translations to and from Swedish, Urdu, French and English. His contributions to art history were equally significant. Scholarly works such as Puri Paintings (1982) and Palm Leaf Miniatures (1991) remain seminal references for students and researchers of Odisha’s rich artistic heritage.

With his death, Odisha has lost one of its most versatile and influential cultural icons — a scholar whose life embodied intellectual curiosity, artistic excellence and public service. Yet his words, ideas and scholarship will continue to inspire generations, ensuring that the legacy of JP Das endures far beyond his lifetime.