Colonial past, both internal and external

I have just returned after the release of my father's autobiography at BBSR.("Jatri", cuttack: agraduta publications, 2006. my late mother, as you know, was poet bidyut prabha devi.) i am currently working in a slighly different but related area that might indirectly answer some of the concerns your members have been voicing. i believe the roots of orissa's "backwardness" lies in its colonial past, both internal and external. recovering and dealing with this past, it seems to me, is absessential before we can effectively deal with concrete problems. i do appreciate the comments of others. as for me, it is to these aspects that i am currently devoting my attention and energies. i hope i am not misunderstood.

You may, if you wish, direct friends to read my latest book: "early women's writing in orissa 1898-1950: a lost tradition", new delhi: sage publications 2005. there are other publications including in the EPW which i am willing to pass on to interested friends. also our friends could look up www.museindia.com the latest issue is devoted to conemporary oriya lit. as their contributing editor, i have guest edited this issue. all the best to you. pls keep up the good work. there are many ways of serving the cause. mine is only one of them. Dr. Sachidananda Mohanty Professor, Department of English University of Hyderabad Hyderabad 500046 (A.P) INDIA sachimohanty@yahoo.co.in