Dr. Archana Nayak was born 16th july, 1947 at Balugaon, near Chilika Lake of Odisha. Her father late Kshetra Mohan Nayak was a government servant posted in cuttack. So she could obtain her education from the renowned Ravenshaw Girls High School, Sailabala Womens College and Ravenshaw College situated inthe city of Cuttack. She was quite meritorious as a student and an academician par excellence during her school and college times. She started her carrer as a lecturer of Odia literature. She earned Govt. Colleges of the state. She earned her Ph.D degree from Uktal University for the different Govt. Colleges of the state. She earned her Ph.D from Uktal University for her well researched thesis on ’Shiva in Odiya Kavya’ in the year 1994. She has attended as participant and Chairperson in number of National Seminars organized by Central Sahitya Academy and University grants Commission in New Delhi, Shanti Niketan and different places within the state.
Three research scholars have obtained Ph.D degree on Odia Literature from Uktal University under her guidance and supervision.
She is a revered short story writer, novelist, dramatist, essayist, Literary critic and lyricist in oriya lauguage and also a prolific orator. She is admired by her readers and literary circle for selection of sensitive humanistic themes, portrayal of characters, forceful language and lucid style of expression. The themes of her creativity range from real life experiences to history and mythology and from the rich of imagination to spiritualism.
Her oustanding works are Sata Padmara Dipa(Novel) and story collection like Aranya, Abhisar, Sramanar Prahari, Kalpanika Satya, Swapna Godhli, Sakshi Thakurani, Naxtrar Bhasa and Hansa Prahari etc. Her essay collections like Odia Kavyara Siva, Nirbachita Prabandh and Sri Aurobindo O Nutan Prithivi are well recognized in academic circle of odisha. Till now she has to her credit forty books including novel, short story. One-act plays, essay translation and lyric collections.
She is also a recognized dramatist. She has written a series of drama scrits, which were published in eminent literary magazines. To her credit she has four collections of drama and one-act play. Her much acclaimed three hour duration drama ‘Ambapalli’ was staged in Kala Vikas Kendra, Cuttack the renowned theatre of the state. Number of plays were telecasted by television and broadcasted by all india radio. She was honoured many times for her significant and gifted contributions to the field of script writing.
Archana’s Liteary works have been widely read and analysed by literary critics. Infact two research have already been awarded Ph.D. degree working on different aspects of her short stories. Presently a number of scholars carrying out research work leading to Ph.D. degree on her contribution to Odia literature under different Universities.
She is an ardent follower of Yogi Sri Aurobindo and The Mother of Pondicherry. She is highly considered as a renowned scholar on Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy, spiritualism, integral yoga and intergral educaton. she has written number of articles and published books on the above said subjects.
She is the editor of ‘SAVITRI’ a prestigious literary magazine and she is also the chief editor of ‘Aspruha’ a high standard spiritual magazine based on Sri Aurobindo’s Vision.
She is an authorized lyricist of All India Radio, Cuttack, Odisha. A number of eminent singers have chosen her lyrics to sing in radio and television. Three lyric books have been published to her credit. Three music CDs are released and ae much in demand, specially for her devotional lyrics of high order.
| Sl. No. | PUBLISHED BOOKS | PUBLISHERS | YEAR OF PUBLICATION |
SHORT STORY COLLECTION
| 1 | KETE DRUSHYA | ORISSA BOOK STORE, CUTTACK | 1991 |
| 2 | ARANYA ABHISAR | BIDYAPURI, CUTTACK | 1995 |
| 3 | ANYA NAYIKA | LEKHAKA SAMABAYA SAMITI, BHUBANESWAR | 1997 |
| 4 | KUHUDI PAKSHI | SRADHA PRAKASHANI, CUTTACK | 1997 |
| 5 | SRAMANARA PRUTHIBI | GRANTHA MANDIR, CUTTACK | 1998 |
| 6 | BHUL THIKANARA CHITHI | ORISSA BOOK STORE, CUTTACK | 2001 |
| 7 | SWAPNA GODHULI | PRACHI PRAKASANI,BHUBANESWAR | 2001 |
| 8 | KALPANAIKA SATYA | GRANTHA MANDIR, CUTTACK | 2006 |
| 9 | ARCHANA NAYAKANKA KATHA BICHITRA | GRANTHALAY, BHUBANESWAR | 2007 |
| 10 | SAKSHI THAKURANI | CUTTACK STUDENTS STORE, CUTTACK. | 2009 |
| 11 | NAXTRAR BHASA | PASCHIMA PRAKASHANI, BHUBANESWAR | 2011 |
| 12 | ARCHANA NAYAKANKA SMARANAIYA GALPA | PRACHI PRAKASHANI, CUTTACK | 2012 |
| 13 | ANYANAYIKA O’ANYANA KATHA | CUTTACK STUDENTS STORE CUTTACK | 2013 |
| 14 | HANSA PRAHARI | GRANTHA MANDIR, CUTTACK | 2013 |
| 15 | GANDHARB BEENA | GRANTHA MANDIR, CUTTACK | 2016 |
| 16 | MANI SANDHAN | PRACHI PRAKASANI, BHUBANESWAR | 2019 |
| 17 | SUMANI CHAURA | LEKHA LEKHI, BHUBANESWAR | 2018 |
NOVEL
| 1. | SATA PADMAR DIPA | GRANTHA MANDIR, CUTTACK | 2010 |
| 2. | RANI SHYAMAVATI (HISTORICAL NOVEL) | CUTTACK STUDENTS STORE, CUTTACK | (UNDER PUBLICATION) |
| Sl. No. | PUBLISHED BOOKS | PUBLISHERS | YEAR OF PUBLICATION |
DRAMA/ONE-ACT-PLAY/LYRICS
| 1 | ACHINHA AKASH | NALANDA CUTTACK | 1989 |
| 2 | AMBAPALI | DIBYADULA PRAKASHANI, CUTTACK | 1990 |
| 3 | NILAPARI:O ANYANA AKANKIKA | FRIENDS PUBLISHERS, CUTTACK | 1995 |
| 4 | JAKSHINI SAMBAD | SASWATI PRAKASHANI, BHUBANESWAR | 2004 |
| 5 | JANHA RATI BARSA RATI(LYRICS) | ANYANYA PRAKASHANI, BHUBANESWAR | 1999 |
| 6 | KAINEE PHULAR GEETI(LYRICS) | SASWATI PRAKASHANI, BHUBANESWAR | 2009 |
| 7 | GEETI PRANATI(LYRICS) | ASPRUHA PRAKASHANI, PARADIP, CUTTACK | 2009 |
ESSAY: LITERARY CRITICISM / COMPILATION
| 1 | ODIA KABYARE SIBA(NIBANDHA) | ORISSA BOOK STORE, CUTTACK | 1995 |
| 2 | SAMIKHYASANCHAYAN | PRACHI SAHITYA PRATISTAN, CUTTACK | 1997 |
| 3 | NIRBACHITA RACHANABALI:BISWANATH KAR | KENDRA SAHITYA ACADEMI, NEW DELHI | 1999 |
| 4 | KUNTALA KUMARI CHAYANIKA | KENDRA SAHITYA ACADEMI, NEW DELHI | 2003 |
| 5 | KUNTALA KUMARI CHAYANIKA | KENDRA SAHITYA ACADEMI, NEW DELHI | 2003 |
| 6 | PRABANDH BHARATI | SASWATI PRAKASHANI, BHUBANESWAR | 2006 |
| 7 | ODIYA BHAKTI SAGITA | KENDRA SAHITYA ACADEMI, NEW DELHI | 2007 |
| 8 | SRI AUROBINDA O NUTAN PRITHIVI | CUTTACK STUDENT’S STORE,BALU BAZAR, CUTTACK | 2008 |
| 9 | NIRBACHITA PRABANDHA | GYANAJUGA PUBLICATION, BHUBANESWAR | 2010 |
| 10 | JUGABATARA: SRI MAA SRI AUROBINDO | SASWATI PRAKASHANI, BHUBANESWAR | 2013 |
| 11 | DRUSTI O DIGANATA | NABADIGANTA PRAKASHANI, CUTTACK | 2014 |
| 12 | PRITHIVIR NIYALI O SAMAHA JOGA | NABADIGANTA PRAKASHANI, CUTTACK |
| Sl. No. | PUBLISHED BOOKS | PUBLISHERS | YEAR OF PUBLICATION |
BIOGRAPHY
| 1 | PANDIT GOPABANDHU | ORISSA SAHITYA ACADEMY, BHUBANESWAR | 1995 |
| 2 | SRI MAA | NABADIGANTA, PRAKASHANA, BINOD BIHARI, CUTTACK | 2004 |
| 3 | SRI AUROBINDO | NABADIGANTA, PRAKASHANA, BINOD BIHARI, CUTTACK | 2004 |
| 4 | M.NILAMANI SAHOO | CUTTACK STUDENT’S STORE, CUTTACK | 2016 |
TRANSLATION
| 1 | RURU O PRIYAMBADA TRANSLATION OF “LOVE AND DEATH” – SRI AUROBINDO (ORIGINAL ENGLISH KAVYA) | 2003 |
TRANSLATED BOOKS OF ARCHANA NAYAK
| 1 | MYSTIC BIRD AND OTHER STORIES OF ARCHANA NAYAK TRANSLATION BY C.N.SWAMY, RETD. I.A.S | PASCHIMA PUBLICATION, BHUBANESWAR | 2005 |
| 2 | ALOUKIKA OUR ANYA KAHANIA BY K.K.AJNABI | SABNAM PUSTAK MAHAL, CUTTACK | 2009 |
| 3 | SHAPAMUKTI BY K.K.AJNABI | BISWAMUKTI PUBLICATION, BHUBANESWAR. | 2012 |
| 4 | HAMSA PRAHARI DR. B. BISWAL | SONAM PUBLICATION, CUTTACK | 2017 |
CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
| 1 | BHARATAR LOKAKATHA | DIBYAJYOTI PRAKASHAN, CUTTACK | 1996 |
| 2 | GEETARE GEETARE KATHA | NABADIGANTA, CUTTACK | 2008 |
| 3 | RAJU O’ PARI (CHILDREN DRAMA) | NABADIGANTA, CUTTACK | 2018 |
THE LIST OF AWARDS : Dr ARCHANA NAYAK
| 1 | PRAJATANTRA AWARD(STORY) | PRAJATANTRA PRACHAR SAMITI, CUTTACK | 1969 |
| 2 | PRAJATANTRA AWARD(STORY) | PRAJATANTRA PRACHAR SAMITI, CUTTACK | 1970 |
| 3 | GOKARNIKA AWARD (STORY) | GOKARNIKA SAHITYA SANSAD, JARAKA, CUTTACK | 1988 |
| 4 | CHACHA NEHERU SAMMAN(LITERATURE) | CHACHA SHISU KISHORE ANUSTHAN, CUTTACK | 1988 |
| 5 | DARPAN AWARD(ESSAY) | DARPAN ANUSTHAN, BHUBANESWAR | 1993 |
| 6 | RASTRIYA MAHILA SANATHAN(LITERATURE) | BHUBANESWAR, ORISSA | 1996 |
| 7 | CHINTA CHETANA KALA PARISAD SAMMAN(LITERATURE) | BANKI, CUTTACK | 1996 |
| 8 | NILA SHAILA SAMMAN (LITERATURE) | NILA SHAILA ANUSTHAN, CUTTACK | 1996 |
| 9 | AMRUTAYAN AWARD(STORY) | AMRUTAYAN MONTHLY MAGAZINE, BHUBANESWAR | 2001 |
| 10 | BASANT KUMARI LEKHIKA SAMMAN | UKTAL SAHITYA SAMAJ, CUTTACK | 2002 |
| 11 | CHELITOLA SAMMAN (LITERATURE) | CHELITALA CULTURAL AKADEMI, TIRTOL, CUTTACK | 2003 |
| 12 | NAYTA MANORAMA SAMMAN(DRAMA) | PUNARABA SAHITYA SANSAD, CHANDOL, KENDRAPARA | 2004 |
| 13 | GANESH SAMMAN (STORY) | RAJDHANI HALA BYABASAYI SANGH, BHUBANESWAR | 2004 |
| 14 | UPENDRA BHANJA AWARD(STORY) | UPENDRA BHANJA FOUNDATION, BERHAMPUR | 2005 |
| 15 | ROTARY LITERARY AWARD | MIDTOWN AND INNERWHEEL, CUTTACK | 2005 |
| 16 | SRESTHA PRABANDHIKA SAMMAN | RAJYA PUJYAPUJA SAMITI, BHUBANESWAR | 2005 |
| 17 | JUSTICE HARIHAR MOHAPATRA SMRUTI SAMMAN(DRAMA) | JHANKAR, PRAJATANTRA PRACHAR SAMITI, BHUBANESWAR | 2005 |
THE LIST OF AWARDS : Dr ARCHANA NAYAK
| 18 | SRESTHA SAHITYIKA SAMMAN | MATRUBHASA DAILY, CUTTACK | 2005 |
| 19 | SRESTHA SAHITYIKA SAMMAN | RAJIB GHANDHI SADBHAWANA AWARD, BHUBANESWAR | 2006 |
| 20 | SRESTHA GALPIKA SAMMAN | JANASUDHA MONTHLY MAGAZINE, CUTTACK | 2006 |
| 21 | FAKIR MOHAN GALPA SAMMAN | UKTAL SAHITYA KALA PARISHAD,CUTTACK | 2007 |
| 22 | SAHITYA SAMMAN | CHILIKASAHITYA SAMAL, BALUGAON | 2007 |
| 23 | NATYA BHUSAN SAMMAN | INDIA THEATHER OLYMPIAD,CUTTACK | 2008 |
| 24 | UPENDRA BHANJA SAMMAN | SAMAJA(ORIYA DAILY) | 2008 |
| 25 | PRANANATH SAMMAN | RAJYA PRANANATH SMRUTI COMITTE | 2008 |
| 26 | SATADRU RAJAN JAYANTI PRABHANDHA SAMMAN | BHUBANESWAR | 2009 |
| 27 | KUMUDINI MOHAPATRA SAMMAN | CUTTACK | 2009 |
| 28 | SUDHANAYA SAHITYA SAMMAN | BHUBANESWAR | 2010 |
| 29 | BIJAYKRUSHNA GALPA SAMMAN | PURI | 2012 |
| 30 | MAYADHARMANSINGH SAMMAN | KHURDALOKA MAHOTAV | 2012 |
| 31 | AKSHYA SAHITYA SAMMAN | BHUBANESWAR | 2012 |
| 32 | KATHAKAR SAMMAN | JUGASHREE JUGANARI, BALASORE | 2013 |
| 33 | BHUBANESWAR PUSTAKAMELA SAHITYA SAMMAN | BHUBANESWAE | 2013 |
| 34 | UKTAL PATHAK SAHITYA SAMMAN | CUTTACK | 2013 |
| 35 | GOKARNIKA PURSKAR | JARAKA | 2013 |
| 36 | JUSTICE RAJKISHORE DAS PURASKAR | CUTTACK | 2013 |
THE LIST OF AWARDS : Dr ARCHANA
| 37 | ADIKABI RAJKISHORE DAS PURASKAR | CUTTACK | 2014 |
| 38 | UTKAL GOURAB MADHUSUDAN SAMMAN | SALEPUR COLLEGE, SALAPUR | 2014 |
| 39 | ODIA GITI KABI SAMMAN | CUTTACK | 2015 |
| 40 | SIKSHABIT SAMMAN | SANSKRUTI SANSKRUTI, BHUBANESWAR | 2016 |
| 41 | DREAM’S SARASWATA SAMMAN | DREAMS ENGINEERING COLLEGE, TANGI | 2016 |
| 42 | SIKHYABIT SAMMAN | S.H. HADIBANDHU FOUNDATION, BHUBANESWAR | 2016 |
| 43 | BIDAGDHA KAVI ABHIMANYU SAMMAN | A.S. SANSAD, BHUBANESWAR | 2016 |
| 44 | WOMANOF THE YEAR | GREEN FORUM, BHUBANESWAR | 2016 |
| 45 | SARASWATA SAMMAN | BHASA SAHITYA SAMAJ ANUSTHAN,BHUBANESWAR | 2017 |
| 46 | UKTAL BHARATI KUNTALA KUMARI PURASKAR | K.K. FOUNDATION | 2017 |
| 47 | BIJAY KRUSHNA MOHANTYGALPA SAMMAN | BHUBANESWAR PUSTAK MELA | 2017 |
| 48 | SATYABADI SARASWATA SAMMAN | SAMAJ | 2018 |
| 49 | JEMA SAMANT SRUJANI PURASKAR | UTKAL SAHITYA SAMAJ | 2019 |
| 50 | BIBHOR BARENYA SAMMAN | LEKHA LEKHI | 2019 |