The Seven Colours of Love

Sanjay Bhatt 

Once upon a time, in the quaint village of Dingeswar, nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of Jagatsinghpur district, a boy named Bibhuti Pattnayak was born on 25th October 1937. His father, a revered school teacher and valiant freedom fighter, instilled in him the values of knowledge and liberty. Little did they know that this boy would one day become one of the greatest Odia fiction writers of all time.

From a tender age, Bibhuti exhibited an insatiable hunger for words and stories. He devoured books, filling his mind with tales of distant lands and grand adventures. As he matured, his passion for the Odia language and literature deepened. His journey as a professor of Odia language and literature began, and he devoted his life to nurturing young minds and fostering a love for storytelling.

In an era when love remained a mysterious enigma, particularly within the confines of college campuses where it was often deemed forbidden, Bibhuti Pattnayak emerged as a guiding light for an entire generation. He not only taught them how to love profoundly but also how to articulate that love through the art of clandestine letters. His stories mirrored the hidden desires and emotions of the youth who yearned for love yet found it perpetually beyond their grasp.

Bibhuti Pattnayak's writing was a revelation—a source of solace and inspiration for countless Odia youths who felt adrift in a world seemingly devoid of love. Through his masterfully crafted narratives, he unveiled the secret joy of storytelling and transported his readers to a realm where love was both a tangible experience and a cherished dream.

For four decades, Bibhuti Pattnayak reigned as the undisputed king of popular literature in Odisha. His novels—Naikaara Nama Srabani, Badhu Nirupamaa, Premikaa, and Chapala chandaa—flew off the shelves, becoming bestsellers. With each word he penned, he ignited the hearts and minds of his readers, leaving an indelible mark on Odisha’s literary landscape.

Within the pages of his books, the ink of his secret love letters, and the depths of his characters’ emotions, Bibhuti Pattnayak left behind a legacy of love and storytelling. His works continue to enchant and inspire generations of readers, serving as a beacon of hope and a testament to literature’s enduring power to capture the essence of life and love in all its complexities.