In conversation with writer Pratibha Ray -Governance Now

In conversation with writer Pratibha Ray

Puja Bhattacharjee | November 18, 2015

Pratibha Ray is an eminent Odia writer and has penned several novels, short stories and travelogues. Born in a remote village of Odisha, Pratibha believes that life and love are synonymous. As a child, she was friends with children from marginalised communities. It was their pain and sufferings that prompted her to write. She has been actively involved in social reforms and has raised voice against social injustice. Her first book Barsha Basanta Baishakha, written in 1974, was a best-seller. Her novel Aparichita was adapted into a film that won the best film story award from the state government.

Writing to me is: Writing emerges out of love and fearlessness. When you love something you become fearless. Writing is a voice for the voiceless. I write because I breathe.

Had I not been a writer I would have been: I would have been a storyteller nonetheless. Storytelling began with spoken words and evolved into writing.

My favourite pastime: Travelling, gardening, reading and spending time with my grandchildren.

My most memorable moment: There are many big and small memorable moments. I believe that memorable moments are made of both good and bad events.

My biggest challenge so far: Writing my autobiography.

I am attracted to: Dissidents and downtrodden rather than aristocrats in ivory towers.

The book I am reading now: An End to Suffering by Pankaj Mishra.

First thing I do in the morning: Household work.

My advice to aspiring writers: Nurture your inner instincts and take the obstacles as challenges.

Right now I am busy with: Working on a novel.

My biggest fear: I cannot sleep in the dark.

My biggest strength: Boldness, taking on challenges.

My biggest weakness: I trust people easily. My children call it my weakness but I do not agree with them.

My favourite writer: Gopinath Mohanty, Leo Tolstoy and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

My most cherished memory: Birth of my grandchildren.

The person I admire the most: My father.

The person I despise the most: No one. Being a writer you cannot reject anyone. There is no place for hatred, only love.

My biggest inspiration: I believe in inspiration emerging from within.

I want to be remembered as: I have never thought about it.

Spirituality to me is: Humanity. Spirituality cannot exist without humanity.

Comments

Other News

Report of India’s G20 Task Force on Digital Public Infrastructure released

The final ‘Report of India’s G20 Task Force on Digital Public Infrastructure’ by ‘India’s G20 Task Force on Digital Public Infrastructure for Economic Transformation, Financial Inclusion and Development’ was released in New Delhi on Monday. The Task Force was led by the

How the Great War of Mahabharata was actually a world war

Mahabharata: A World War By Gaurang Damani Sanganak Prakashan, 317 pages, Rs 300 Gaurang Damani, a Mumbai-based el

Budget expectations, from job creation to tax reforms…

With the return of the NDA to power in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, all eyes are now on finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s full budget for the FY 2024-25. The interim budget presented in February was a typical vote-on-accounts, allowing the outgoing government to manage expenses in

How to transform rural landscapes, design 5G intelligent villages

Futuristic technologies such as 5G are already here. While urban users are reaping their benefits, these technologies also have a potential to transform rural areas. How to unleash that potential is the question. That was the focus of a workshop – “Transforming Rural Landscape:

PM Modi visits Rosatom Pavilion at VDNKh in Moscow

Prime minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by president Vladimir Putin, visited the All Russian Exhibition Centre, VDNKh, in Moscow Tuesday. The two leaders toured the Rosatom Pavilion at VDNKh. The Rosatom pavilion, inaugurated in November 2023, is one of the largest exhibitions on the histo

Let us pledge to do what we can for environment: President

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday morning spent some time at the sea beach of the holy city of Puri, a day after participating in the annual Rath Yatra. Later she penned her thoughts about the experience of being in close commune with nature. In a message posted on X, she said: