Shri Manoj Das, a great sadhak, litterateur, story teller, teacher and above all, a perfect gentleman, passed away on 27th April 2021 in Pondicherry. Memories of his affectionate association will be cherished by all associated with the Centre and the School. Born on 27 February 1934 in a remote coastal village of Odisha, Sri Manoj Das exhibited his literary qualities right from an young age. He was a revolutionary youth leader in his college days, General Secretary of the Students Federation. After serving as a lecturer in English at Cuttack for four years, he, along with his wife, Pratijna Devi, joined the Sri Aurobindo Ashram at Pondicherry in 1963 which became their permanent abode. He was one of the most famous Indian writers writing in English and Odia received a number of awards among which are prestigious awards like the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award (twice), the Sarala Award, the Sahitya Bharati Award, Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad (Kolkata) Award, BAPASI (Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India) Award, the Atibadi Jagannath Das Samman, the Saraswati Samman, the Utkal Ratna and D.Litt. from Utkal and Ravenshaw Universites. He had led the Indian Writers’ delegation to China in 2000. The President of India decorated him with the Padma Shri Award in 2001 and then Padma Bhushan in 2019. He shall be recognized as a competent interpreter of India’s literary and spiritual heritage. (Picture of Sri Manoj Das and content courtesy : Overman Foundation, Kolkata)