Beeja-Mantra and Other Stories

Pratibha Ray is an eminent novelist and short story writer of Orissa. In her stories she has tried to unravel the underlying mysteries of society. From romanticism she moved into the realities of life. Her interest and choice of a subject for novel or short story are varied. The innumerable strains of modern life, the alienation of individuals, hedonistic philosophy, corruption in the narrow lanes of politics and moral degradation which comprises the nucleus of her thoughts are reflected in her novels. Pratibha Ray's Yajnaseni is the best seller of Orissa and her novels have gone into several editions. The author was presented the Bharatiya Jnanpith's prestigious ninth Moortidevi Award in 1993 for her novel Yajnaseni.