Humanistic Voice of Jayanta Mahapatra

Abstract

Mahapatra's strength lies in his profound understanding of the socio-cultural heritage of the land of Orissa from time immemorial to the present day. Since Orissa, both as a specific socio-cultural entity and a typical part of India, forms an integral part of Mahapatra's poetry. Orissa's two aspects seem to have had a dominant influence in shapingMahapatra's poetic sensibility. Firstly, the eventful historical past; secondly, the all-pervading presence of religion with its roots buried deep in the mysterious tribal culture and the seemingly unchanging lifestyle of the Orissa in general, which is largely dependent on agriculture. Hence, Mahapatra's poetry often encounters the permanence and changelessness, which draws sustenance from age-old tradition, myths, and legends.This paper exploresMahapatra’s portrayal of suffering, hunger, poverty, and exploitation of womanin his poetry.