Bengali author Amar Mitra awarded O. Henry prize for 45 year old story

Bengali author Amar Mitra was awarded this year's O. Henry prize for his short story 'Gaonburo', written 45 years ago.

Bengali author Amar Mitra was awarded with this year’s O.Henry prize for a short story he wrote 45 years back. The short story titled 'Gaonburo' is a Bengali short fiction written in 1977.

Mitra was born in Kolkata and is a well known writer of Bengali literature. He spent some of his childhood in districts of Bengal where he came across the Adivasi culture and their struggle. This is the background to Mitra’s award-winning story.

While talking to India Today, Mitra said, "it's a wonderful moment for me. When I wrote this story I didn't know this could happen. But I believe the story has some 'force' in it, which is why a Mexican writer who is younger than me loved this story. An American editor liked it too."

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Mr Mitra shares his thoughts about his story which won the award: "It's a story of an old man who had many problems in his life. It's a story of his journey. Actually, he was looking for an almighty who could give some solution to his suffering and he failed to meet him."

"It's a political story which fits into today's world. I believe that is the reason the selection committee liked it so much", he added.

Mitra was awarded the Sahitya Academy award in 2006.