Basudev Sunani
Basudev Sunani (born in 1962), an award-winning writer of Odisha, is well-known for his poems, novels, short stories, essays, translations, writings on science, columns in newspapers and documentaries. Published in Odia and English, his multi-facet writings cover the life and struggles of Dalits. Some of his prominent books of poems are: Asprushya, ‘Karadi Haata’, ‘Chhi’, ‘Kaaliaa Ubaacha’, ‘Bodha Hue Bhala Paaibaa Mote Janaa Naahin’ and ‘’Mun Achhi Boli. His major novels are: ‘Padaa Podi’ and ‘Mashanee Sahara Delhi’. His essays are collected in ‘Dalit, Punjibaada O Bhumandalikaran’, ‘Dalit Sanskrutir Itihaas’, ‘Dalit Encounter’, ‘Ambedkarism: A Way of Life’ and ‘Brahmanbad O Bharatiya Nari’. His writings have been translated in English, German, Arabic, Indigenous-Australian, Hindi, Gujarati, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Tamil, Marathi and Urdu.
He has received more than seventeen national and regional awards for his writings which include Muthamizh Arignar Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi PORKIZHI AWARD, Sahitya Academy Award, Bhima Bhoi Samman and Bhubaneswar Pustakmela Puraskaar. Many Scholars of Central and State Universities have been awarded with Ph. D and M. Phil degree on his writings.
University of Delhi and Jamia Milai University, New Delhi, Dept of English have included his poetry in their Course Syllabus of under Graduate and M. Phil. Jain University, Bengaluru, Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, Pune, Jamshedpur Women’s College, Jharkhand and IGNOU has also included his poems in the M.A course syllabus in the Deptt of English.
He has visited Germany, Australia and Nepal. Delivered lecture and Presented Poems to international audience. He has presented more than 15 papers in an international and national seminars organized by different institutes and universities including Delhi University, Jamia Milia University, Central University, Hyderabad and Madras University. He has edited a volume of poems in marginalised Domb language of Schedule Caste and is sincerely promoting it in the rural areas of Odisha.