About Dr. Gayatribala Panda

Prof. (Dr.) Gayatribala Panda is a distinguished Odia poet, fiction writer, literary critic, columnist, academician, and editor. With an impressive oeuvre of 39 published books, she was honoured with the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award (Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award) in 2022 for her Odia poetry collection Dayanadi (River Daya) and the first recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar in Odia for her poetry collection Gaan (The Village).

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Early Life

Born on April 17, 1977 in the village Sadeipur in Cuttack district (Present District Jagtsinghpur) in Odisha, India, Prof. (Dr.) Gayatribala Panda was the first child of Mr. Golak Bihari Panda and Mrs. Arunima Panda. She received her early education in Cuttack, Sadeipur and Balikuda before moving to Shailabala Womens’ College, Cuttack for higher studies. She pursued a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha and obtained a PG Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal. She furthered her education with a Master’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla and went on to earn a Ph.D in Library and Information Science from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar. She has also cleared UGC-NET in Library and Information Science.

Her academic excellence has been recognized with two Gold Medals- one for securing the highest position in M.A in Library and Information Science from Utkal University and another from the Public Relation Society of India (East Region) for securing top position in Journalism and Mass Communication.

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Published Books

    Poetry collections:

  • 2001: Ahata Pratisruti (Bruised Promises)- Vidyapuri, Cuttack
  • 2002: Aspasta Iswara (Invisible God)-Odisha Sahitya Akademi, Bhubaneswar
  • 2006: Aanayatta (Beyond control) -Apurba, Bhubaneswar
  • 2008: Gaan (Village) (First edition) -Timepass, Bhubaneswar
  • 2011: Jetiki Dishuchi Akasha (Whatever of the sky is visible) - Anyaa Publication, Bhubaneswar
  • 2012: Gaan(Village) (Second edition) -Timepass, Bhubaneswar
  • 2013: Akhi Nain Kana Nain (No eye no ear) - Anyaa Publication, Bhubaneswar
  • 2014: E Ratira Jjete Tara (The stars of this night) - Anyaa Publication, Bhubaneswar
  • 2015: Bagha (Tiger) –Pakshighara Prakashanee, Bhubaneswar
  • 2017: Dayanadi (The River Daya) -Pakshighara Prakashanee, Bhubaneswar
  • 2018: MahenzoDaro (MahenzoDaro) –Pakshighara Prakashanee, Bhubaneswar
  • 2019: NirbachitaKabita (Selected Poems)- Black Eagle Books, USA
  • 2022: Prarthanara Shabdapari (Like words of a Prayer) -Apurba, Bhubaneswar
  • 2022: Dayanadi (The River Daya) (Second edition) –Pakshighara Prakashanee, Bhubaneswar
  • 2023: Gaan(Village) (Third edition) -Timepass, Bhubaneswar
  • 2023: Streeloka (Woman) -Timepass, Bhubaneswar
  • 2024: Pakshi Purana (The Bird Purana) –Pakshighara Prakashanee, Bhubaneswar
  • 2025: Beshaghara(Greenroom) – Black Eagle Books, USA
  • 2026: Bhashagana -Pakshighara Prakashanee, Bhubaneswar

Short story collections:

  • 2015: Bisarjana (Immersion) –Pakshighara Prakashanee, Bhubaneswar
  • 2019: Nijaku Nei Sata Gapa (A True Story About Myself) –Pakshighara Prakashanee, Bhubaneswar

Novel:

  • 2016: Mummy Jaha Jane Nanhi (What Mummy Does Not Know) -Timepass, Bhubaneswar
  • 2021: Rasta (Road) - Paschima, Bhubaneswar
  • 2023: Tini Ke Tin (Three one ja three) -Apurba, Bhubaneswar
  • 2023: Mayajala (Maya jala) –Aditya Bharat, Cuttack

Essay Collection:

  • 2020: Bichara Bimarsha- Paschima, Bhubaneswar

Translation into Hindi:

  • 2006: Dhoop ko Rang -Gnanayuga Publication, Bhubaneswar
  • 2017: Kho Jaati Hai Ladkiyan-AlokparvPrakashan, New Delhi
  • 2021: Kahne Ko Kuchh Nanhi Hota- PralekPrakashan, Mumbai
  • 2021: Dayanadi- Rajkamal Prakashan, New Delhi
  • 2023: Assan Nanhi Itihaas Likhna- Pralek Prakashan, Mumbai
  • 2023: BaghUpakhyan- Rajkamal Prakashan, New Delhi
  • 2025: Jab Shabd Nanhi The- Pralek Prakashan, Mumbai
  • 2026: Streeyan - Pralek Prakashan, Mumbai

Translation into English:

  • 2018: Grandma and other poems- Authorspress, New Delhi
  • 2022: A Slice of Night- Dhauli Books, Bhubaneswar
  • 2025: Dayanadi- Kendra Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi

Poetry collection in Punjabi:

  • 2023:Dayanadi- Kendra Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi

Poetry collection in Sanskrit:

  • 2023: Dayanadi- Kendra Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi

Poetry collection in Rajasthani:

  • 2025:Dayanadi- Kendra Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi

Poetry collection in Dogri:

  • 2025:Dayanadi- Kendra Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi

Short story collection in English:

  • 2022: My Truth My Story- Black Eagle Books, USA

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About her Poems

The anguish of a woman, social injustices and inequalities are the most dominant theme of her poetry. Her language is eloquent but simple, making it appealing both to the masses and the intelligentsia. She is an extremely sensitive poet whose keen social concern and vision of realism take on the dimension of a rebellion. Contemporary social reality forms the basis of her poetry. While she represents the cruelty and heartlessness she experiences in society with extraordinary frankness, she also constructs the unexplored territories of feminine consciousness through powerful symbols and images. What makes her a unique voice is her originality in the use of images and poetic diction. Rigorous selection of only the most telling detail from a plethora of themes and issues often form the basic material of her writing. Implicating them through history and myths is her hallmark. Her poems appear simple, but the simplicity achieved the hard way, with painstaking artistry. Her tone is clear and articulation discreet. An unusual fusion of rapture and contemplation, revolt and pity, her poetry is a constant search for the reality and truth of human life beyond its horror, boredom and ugliness.

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Career

She began her career in Journalism, gaining experience in both field reporting and desk work. After some years in the profession, she turned to editing and publishing, launching the widely acclaimed literary quarterly ‘ANYAA’, which became a significant platform for literary discourse. Her passion for writing started at an early age, around six and by 2001, her works were consistently featured in leading Odia journals. Over the years, she has established an impressive and diverse literary legacy, authoring 39 books, including 31 poetry collections, four novels, three short story collections, and one collection of essays, all published by renowned publishing houses in India.

Present Position

She is working as Professor & Head, PPRACHIN (SOA Centre for Preservation, Propagation and Restoration of Ancient Culture and Heritage of India), Siksha O Anusandhan Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

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Participation

As a poet, distinguished literary figure, and influential cultural voice, she has been invited to numerous prestigious literary conferences and festivals, both internationally and across various regions of India. Among the notable events in which she has actively participated are:

    International
  • 2008- SAARC Young Writers’ Meet
  • 2010- CommonWealth Writers’ Meet
  • 2019- 39th World Congress of Poets
  • 2022-FOSWAL Literature Festival
    National
  • 2004- Orientation programme for Young Writers by Central Institute of Indian Languages
  • 2005- Sahitya Akademi Writers Travel Grant Programme (Assam)
  • 2010- Creative writing workshop for Young Students Poets.
  • 2012- Bharatiya Kavita Bimb Programme of Hindi Akademi (New Delhi)
  • 2012- Bhubaneswar Literature Festival
  • 2013- Hyderabad Literature Festival
  • 2013- Sahitya Akademi Young Poets’ Meet (New Delhi)
  • 2013- Assam Literary Festival
  • 2013- Sahitya Akademi North East and Eastern Young Writers’ Meet (Bhubaneswar)
  • 2014- Bangalore Literature Festival
  • 2015- “National Symposium of Poets” organized by All India Radio, New Delhi.
  • 2015- 'Writers in-residence' programme at the Rashtrapati Bhavan
  • 2015- Sahityotsav organised by Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India
  • 2016- Utkal Literature Festival
  • 2016- Bhubaneswar Poetry Festival
  • 2017- Sahitya Akademi workshop on ‘Feminism in Odia literature’ (Bhubaneswar)
  • 2017- Kandhamal Literature Festival
  • 2017- Kalinga Literature Festival
  • 2018- Sahitya Akademi Symposium on ‘The Challenges to Women’s Freedom Today ’ (New Delhi)
  • 2019- 39thWorld Congress of Poets
  • 2020- Tata Steel Bhubaneswar Literary Meet
  • 2020-SOA Literary Festival, Bhubaneswar
  • 2020- Sahitya Akademi Poets’ Meet
  • 2022-Odisha Art and Literature Festival
  • 2022-Bahubhashi Kavi Sammelan, New Delhi
  • 2023- SOA Literary Festival, Bhubaneswar
  • 2023-Women Achievers of Odisha, Bhubaneswar
  • 2023-Biswa Odia Bhasha Sammilani
  • 2024- Sahitya Akademi Festival of Letters (New Delhi)
  • 2025- Sahitya Akademi Festival of Letters (New Delhi)
  • 2025-Women Achievers of Odisha, Bhubaneswar
  • 2025- SOA Literary Festival, Bhubaneswar

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About her Poems

The portrayal of rural Odisha in the stories testifies to Gayatribala Panda’s talent in the art; the characters turn alive with her incising vision. The stories carry the author’s philosophy of life, amid its misery and compassion. The subject of child psychology and child labour is a major concern in many stories. The stories are readable and humble; leading the reader along the collective incompleteness, chaos and ugliness to the realities and ultimate truth of life. This writer is a champion celebrator of life in its myriad possibilities. The collection will affect the readers, I am sure. - Bibhuti Patnaik, Eminent writer

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Early life

Born on 17th April 1977 in village Sadeipur of District Cuttack (Present District Jagtsinghpur) in Odisha(INDIA)

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Published Books

She has to her credit thirty nine books including thirty one poetry collections, four novels, three short story collections and one collection of essays.

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Awards and Honours

With an impressive oeuvre of 39 published books, she was honored with the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award in 2022 for her Odia poetry collection Dayanadi (River Daya) and was the first recipient of the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar in 2011 for her poetry collection Gaan (The Village).

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About her Poems

The anguish of a woman, social injustices and inequalities are the most dominant theme of her poetry.

team img

Career

She began her career in Journalism, gaining experience in both field reporting and desk work. After some years in the profession, she turned to editing and publishing, launching the widely acclaimed literary quarterly ‘ANYAA’, which became a significant platform for literary discourse.

team img

Participation

As a poet she has been invited to literary conferences and festivals in various parts of India.

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About her Stories and Novels

The portrayal of rural Odisha in the stories testifies to Gayatribala Panda’s talent in the art; the characters turn alive with her incising vision. The stories carry the author’s philosophy of life, amid its misery and compassion. The subject of child psychology and child labour is a major concern in many stories. The stories are readable and humble; leading the reader along the collective incompleteness, chaos and ugliness to the realities and ultimate truth of life. This writer is a champion celebrator of life in its myriad possibilities. The collection will affect the readers, I am sure.
- Bibhuti Patnaik, Eminent writer

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