Amrapalli and Other Stories

Translating Surendra Mohanty is a unique experience for various reasons. Many literary critics have unanimously agreed that Surendra Mohanty is at his creative best when he pens down his short stories. The most admirable qualities that his short stories possess is that they are not restricted
to any particular theme or area; rather, they encompass an extensive variety of subject matters including history, mythology, modernity, the evolving society and the changing individual etc. The varied spectrum of themes, areas and concerns that he introduces in his stories provide him wide recognition, fame and acceptability as a writer amongst the audience. Mohanty seems to have developed a particular interest in Buddhism and its history for which he has penned some of his stories like "Pita Putra" ("Father and Son") and "Mahanirvana" ("The Salvation") and in my estimation, some of Mohanty's finest stories are in fact his stories based on Buddhism and its history.