On Deerback to a Sunset Unknown

Hrusikesh Panda (b. 1955) has been publishing his writing since 1980. His short stories (over 100), novels (nine) and plays (four) have been published regularly since 1980. He writes in Odia, his mother tongue and a classical language. His writings were unusual and different from the kind of writing of those days in terms of concern, content, structure, language and plot, yet he had a devoted readership. He writes about people, nature and phenomena he is familiar with.He took the annual examination for Indian Administrative Service conducted by Union Public Service Commission of India and was the topper of the examination in 1979. His almost annual change of school across the State of Odisha, and later his annual transfers as a government servant from one end to the other of the State, his travel across India and to many parts of the world enabled him to see lives across civilisations. These movements have changed his perspective and concern as a writer. He is primarily a writer who writes about something which moves him enough. He has also made eight films of different durations where he has written the story, screenplay and song, composed the music and directed. The writings of Hrusikesh have been awarded by the State Sahitya Academy, the Indian Sahitya Academy, and by National Drama Festivals for his plays, Book fair awards for novels and play and the prestigious Sarala Puraskar. His creations have been in educational syllabi at school, college and University levels. His works have been translated into several other Indian languages.In his work life he has mostly worked for amelioration of the conditions of increasingly impoverished disadvantaged people. Displacement of disadvantaged people from their ancient places of living by government has affected him deeply throughout his career.

Lipipuspa Nayak is an academic, translator and freelancer based in Bhubaneswar, India. Known for her English translations of difficult Odia classics, she is credited with fourteen works of translation (Odia-English) and an edited collection of essays on post-1980s Odia drama. An empanelled translator and book reviewer for Sahitya Academi and Muse India, with two short films, Lipipuspa has bagged National Culture Fellowship, Govt of India. Her maiden novel Carry on Ms Caretaker has been published by Vanguard Press, UK, November 2021.