Born :- 19-Oct-1953
Died :- 17-Feb-2022
Place of Birth :- Bikrampur, Khallikot, Ganjam

Renowned Odia poet, translator and editor Haraprasad Parichhapattanayak, a, was born on October 18, 1953 in the village of Bikrampur in the Khallikot block of Ganjam district. His father was Shivram Parichhapattanayak and mother was Golakmani Devi. He was a well-known literary critic, poet, translator, and editor of literary magazines and daily newspapers. Harprasad’s poems are mellow with human sensitivity, the idea of futility of materialistic life and intimate emotional experiences of life.

Haraprasad had his Ph.D. in English language and literature after obtaining bachelor's degree from Ravenshaw College. He started his career as an English teacher in 1955 from Kabisamrat Upendra Bhanj College at Bhanjanagar and taught at various colleges in the state, including Sundargarh Government College and BJB College, Bhubaneswar. He wrote in both Odia and English. But poetry was his addiction.

At the school level, he was enticed by the love of poetry and drew attention of his classmates as well as his teachers by his beautiful compositions. His first book, Eka Eka Sannyasi, was published in 1981. It gave him an identity as a poet and brought him accolades.

Haraprasad’s most notable works among his poetry collections include Pinky Katha, (1976), Eka Eka Sannyasi (1981), Athaya Surya (1990), Ayushman Samaya (1995), Sabu Andhar Aaji Ratire  (1996), Jeebana Jangha (2004), Aranyare Jetedina (2007) and Nasta Hoijibara Moha.  In the field of translation – he translated poetry works and stories of many illustrious writers into English as also Greek poems into Odia.  These include – Nirabatara Swara, 1978 (Odia translation of Greek poetry), Soldier in Exile, 1989 (English translation of selected poems written by poet Ramakant Rath), Hogs and Other Stories, 1990 (translation of some selected stories written by Hrushikesh Panda) Selected Odia poems (English translation of selected poems written by poet Sitakant Mohapatra and others), and Surya Trushna (Odia translation of Macedonian poems edited by Sitakant Mohapatra). He also co-authored two English poetry books, Songs for Kahna and Corals of Time, and edited Sorrow of Cosmos by Swami Arupananda.

Besides, Dr. Parichhapattanayak has successfully edited some prestigious literary magazines. They are Probitas and Vertexes (English), Abartta, 1982-84 (monthly Odia literary magazine) and literature page of Suntimes (English daily newspaper). He was continuing as editor of Sarbasadharana, Odia daily till he breathed his last on February 14 this year after suffering from a stroke and multi-organ failure.

He twice served as secretary of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi, proving his organisational and administrative mettle. He was the Registrar of Utkal Sanskrit University and Director of the Odisha State Textbook Preparation and Publication Organisation.

For his outstanding contribution to Odia literature, Dr. Parichhapattanayak was honoured with many awards and felicitations. He was presented the Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award for his poetry book Nasta Hoijibara Moha in2012. He was also honoured by the Gangadhar Rath Foundation and the Sarala Sahitya Sansad.  He was honoured with Bhanuji Rao Memorial Poetry Award as also the Sachi Rautaray Kabita Samman as well as the Gangadhar Meher Poetry Award from the Utkal Sahitya Samaj for his outstanding literary achievements.