"Jayanta Mahapatra (July 22, 1928 - 27 August 2023) is regarded as one of the leading figures in modern Indian English poetry. Mahapatra is the first Indian poet who won a Sahitya Akademi award for his English poetry in 1981. His notable books of English poetry are— Close the Sky, Ten by Ten (1971), Svayamvara and Other Poems (1971), A Father's Hours (1976), A Rain of Rites (1976), Waiting (1979), The False Start (1980), Relationship (1980), Collected Poems (2017), Random Descent (2021), Re-reading Jayanta Mahapatra: Selected Poems (2022), NOON : New and Selected Poems (2023). His poems, particularly “Indian Summer” and “Hunger”, are considered masterpieces of contemporary Indian English poetry. His poetry vividly explores the themes of human existence, the intricacies of life, and the effects of social and political issues on human beings all around the world. His poetry is widely accepted and appreciated for its profound philosophical insights, vivid language, and rich imagery. In 2009, he received the fourth-highest civilian award— the Padma Shri, but he returned the honor in 2015 in order to raise his voice against the growing intolerance in India" — Abnish Singh Chauhan
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