Oriya writer Manoj Das has been selected for the NTR National Literary Award for 2013. The award carrying Rs. One lakh in cash and a gold medal will be presented to the bilingual writer here on May 28, the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister and versatile actor late N.T. Rama Rao.
Manoj Das was chosen for the award by a jury comprising Elluri Siva Reddy, Vice-Chancellor of Telugu University, litterateur Ketu Viswanatha Reddy and Sachidananda Mohanty of University of Hyderabad.
Announcing the award here on Saturday, chairperson of NTR Vigyan Trust Lakshmi Parvathi and executive chairperson K.V. Ramana Chary said the jury had selected Mr.Das for the award in recognition of his immense contribution to the field of literacy. Many of his short stories written in Oriya were later translated into Telugu. Manoj Das was already honoured with Sahitya Akademi Award, Padma Shri and Saraswati Samman awards.
The NTR literary award was instituted in 2007, Mr. Ramana Chary stated.