Mayadhar Mansingh (13 November 1905 – 11 October 1973) was an Indian poet and writer who wrote in Odia. He received the

Padma Shri Padma Shri ( IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conf ...

, the fourth-highest civilian award in

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

, in 1967.

Personal life

Mansingh was born in Nandala village, Krushnaprasad Tahasil of

Puri district Puri district is a coastal district of the Odisha state of India. It has one sub-division, 11 tahasils and 11 blocks and comprises 1722 revenue villages. Puri is the only municipality of the district. Konark, Pipili and Nimapara are the thre ...

Odisha Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of ...

. He was married to Hemalata and had 5 children. From oldest to youngest, "Lalatendu, Lalitendu, Labanyendu (deceased) and Nivedita and the youngest daughter, Sanghamitra(deceased)." His second son was a former diplomat, Foreign Secretary of India, a former High Commissioner of India to the UK, and a former

Ambassador of India to the United States The Indian Ambassador to the United States of America is the chief diplomatic representative of India to the United States, housed in the Embassy of India, Washington, D.C. The current ambassador is Taranjit Singh Sandhu who succeeded Harsh Var ...

Lalit Mansingh Lalit Mansingh (born 29 April 1941) is a former Indian diplomat. He was the Foreign Secretary of India from 1999 to 2000, and Indian Ambassador to the United States from 2001 to 2004. Prior to this, he was Indian High Commissioner to the United ...

Career

Mansingh's literary contributions include essays, poetic plays and long narrative poems. He also authored several research articles on the History of Odisha.He also worked as Head of the Jnankosh Project of Utkal University. His poetic style is profuse with the use of romantic and erotic metaphor, for which he has earned the appellation "Prēmika kabi" (Lover poet) in

Odia literature Odia literature is literature written in the Odia language, mostly from the Indian state of Odisha. The modern Odia language is mostly formed from Tadbhava words with significant Sanskrit (Tatsama) influences, along with loanwoards from Desaj ...

. He wrote books like The Saga of the Land of Jagannatha (English) which portrays vividly the ancient history of Odisha. He also wrote books in Odia like Mahatabani, Geeta Mahatmya and Sarbajanina Geeta, which were published by J. Mohapatra & co (Now Mass Media Pvt Ltd), Cuttack. The Saga of the Land of Jagannatha is published by Mass Media Pvt Ltd. Some of his notable works include poems ''Krushna'', ''Kamalayana'', ''Kōṇārka'' and ''Ēi sahakāra taḷē''. Mansingh authored several research articles on the history of Odia literature, a subject in which he had abiding interest. He also authored a history of the Odia language, documenting the general use of the language, as also the development of

. The treatise, ''Ōḍiā Sāhitẏara Itihāsa'' (History of Odia language), was published in 1962. Mansingh has also introduced some works of

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

into Odia literature. He has translated Shakespeare's ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

'' and '' Othello'' into Odia.Changing the Terms, Translating in the Postcolonial Era
''Sherry Simon and Paul St-Pierre''. 272 pages . 6 × 9 (November 2000). pp. 77

Literary contribution

Poetry

* Dhũpa * Sadhaba bohu * Jema * Malayana * Konark * Pujajemi * Rūpadēbatā * Dūrē raha * Hemasasya * Hemasaspa * Palīsandhẏā * Mahānadīrē jẏōtsnā bihāra *

Essay

* ''Ōḍiā Sāhitẏara Itihāsa'' ("History of Odia language") (1962)Mansingha, Mayadhar (1962) ''History of Oriya literature'' Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi Saraswati Fakiramohan (Biography of Fakirmohan Senapati) Sikshabitra Gatha ("Story of an Educationist")

Translation

He translated famous ''

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

'' tragedy ''

'' and '' Othello'' in Odia.

Dr Mayadhar Mansingh Memorial High School

Dr Mayadhar Mansingh Memorial High School is established in the year 1982 in Nandala Village of Krushnaprasad.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mansingh, Mayadhar 1905 births 1973 deaths People from Odisha Odia-language writers Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature & education