ଅମୃତ ଫଳ

by Manoj Das

Manoj Das' ଅମୃତ ଫଳ ("Amruta Phala", meaning Divine Fruit) is easily one of the best novels in contemporary Odia (Oriya) literature for which Das bagged the prestigious Saraswati Samman in 2001. The novel is based on a tale that perfectly blends history, legend, mystery, magic and realism.

The novel sees two parallel stories in motion. One contextualizing existential suffering faced by King Bhartruhari of Ujjain due to getting an "Amruta Phala" (a divine magical fruit) in ancient times. The second & main story takes place in the current age, where a suave & successful businessman goes through similar existential dilemma. The way these two stories proceed together logically entwined, makes the book an engrossing read.

Genres: India

200 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Manoj Das, a prolific author, is among India's foremost short story writers. He writes both in Oriya (Odia) and English, and is a Professor of English at the Sri Aurobindo International University, Pondicherry.

Manoj Das was born in a small coastal village named Shankari in Balasore district, Orissa State. Since 1963, he has been an ashramite at Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. He is presently concentrating on writing novels.

Manoj Das is perhaps the foremost bilingual Oriya writer and a master of dramatic expression both in his English and Oriya short stories and novels. He says that:

"Characters follow the theme of a story, and the words are merely added by author to represent the thoughts of the character."

That is the precise reason why Das's characters in fiction are from so many varied backgrounds, and display many different dimensions of human nature. He is a philosopher, a thinker-writer whose works can be defined as a quest for finding the eternal truth in everyday situations.

Reviews

[Biswajit · Rating 5 out of 5]

ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଦିବ୍ୟତାର ପରିସ୍ଫୁଟନ ପାଇଁ ଇନ୍ଧନ ଯୋଗାଇ ଦେବା ନିମନ୍ତେ ମନୋଜ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଲେଖନୀ ମୂନ ସଦା ସଜାଗ ରହି ଆସିଛି । ତାଙ୍କର ପ୍ରାୟୋପନ୍ୟାସ “ଅମୃତ ଫଳ” ଦେଖାଇଛି ମଣିଷର ଯାବତୀୟ ଦୁର୍ବଳତା ଓ ଅଶୁଦ୍ଧତା ମଧ୍ୟ ଦେଇ ଏକ ମହତ୍ତର ଜୀବନ ଦିଗରେ ଆତ୍ମାର ଏକ ଦୁଃସାହସିକ ଯାତ୍ରା । ତାହାର ପରିପ୍ରକାଶର ନିଆରା ଶୈଳୀ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ପାଠକଟିଏ କରି ଚାଲିଥିବ ନିତ୍ୟନୂତନ ଆବିଷ୍କାର । ସତେ ଯେପରି ଭର୍ତ୍ତୁହରି ତଥା ଅମରନାଥଙ୍କ ଚେତନା ସହ ସମ୍ମିଳିତ ହୋଇ ତା’ର ବି ଆରମ୍ଭ ହୋଇଛି ଉର୍ଦ୍ଧ୍ଵ ଦିଗରେ ଅନନ୍ତ ଏଇ ଯାତ୍ରା ।

[Sachi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What i think about this book is that people should learn Oriya just to read and understand this wonderfully self-reflecting fiction.

[Debashish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not really willing to do any review so to speak.
I read this book once every 5 months.
It is fun, challenging, mysterious and something more.

[Debasish Dash · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the beginning to the end, this was one hell of a thrilling roller coaster ride of history+fantasy. If not the best work of Manoj Das yet. The story is intriguing and the characters are very well presented.

[Lopamudra Mohapatra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explains many things or everything you can say. From living a luxurious life to living like a monk, from spirituality to science, all kind of emotions we feel, good deeds, bad deeds, the theory of karma, etc are painted nicely.

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second read of Shri Manoj Das's work. The first being "Sesha Tantrika ra Sandhana re", I had hoped for a similar stirring experience, a resonance that would linger within me. Needless to say, I was delivered more than I was expecting. It does something to you, his work I believe. Something like you feel after visiting Kashi or Puri. It's divine.

My exposure to literature is limited and with my limited knowledge I would like to say it created ripples in my being and even after finishing the book days back I keep thinking about it. I will never get enough of the mysticism this book holds. A must read.

[Pratap Mishra]

A brilliant book by the master story teller. It is based on the mythological story of king Bhartuhari and a magical fruit that he got from a mystic. As usual the language is rich and the descriptions are nice. A very good reaf.

[Archanamallick · Rating 5 out of 5]

na

[Prabhuram Panda]

Nice books

[Shaurya Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can I get the hindi version of this masterpiece?

[Ashish Swain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can anyone tell me how to read book by using this app?

[Jagadish Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

[Amarjyoti Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

ମନୋଜ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଅସାଧାରଣ ଦର୍ଶନ ଏବଂ ଅଦ୍ଭୁତ ଲେଖନ ଶୈଳୀ ଚିତ୍ତାକର୍ଷକ ଏବଂ ଶିକ୍ଷଣୀୟ ଅଟେ। ଜୀବନରେ ଥରୁଟେ ହେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଏ ଉପନ୍ୟାସକୁ ସମସ୍ତେ ପଢ଼ିବା ଉଚିତ।
ନିଶ୍ଚିତ ପଢନ୍ତୁ ।

[SIBA DUTTA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good experience

[Smruti Ranjan Jena · Rating 4 out of 5]

ଆଧ୍ୟାତ୍ମିକ ଚେତନା ରେ ଭରପୁର ଏଇ ବହି....ଲାଗିଲା ମନୋଜ ଜେଜେ ନିଜ ବିଷୟରେ ବହୁତ ଗୁଡ଼ାଏ କଥା ଲେଖିଛନ୍ତି।

[Samira Nag · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the milestones in Odia Literature. Every time I read i get a new meaning, a new perception of the world outside and within.
Classic

[Mehetab · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surpassed my expectations. Anchoring on a mythical tale, the author tries to draw similarities with the current times, making the reader go through some really thought-provoking ideas and philosophy of life.

If you should read only a handful of Odia books, this one is a must.

[S P · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books! Amazing language of Sir Manoj Das, each word seems like carefully chosen and delicately connected! Love the analogy between old times and new times. After reading the book from an acquaintance, I bought my own copy and read again, just to have my own copy! It is amazing!

[Hemanta Meher]

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