Oblivion and Other Stories is a penetrating collection of twenty short tales by Gopinath Mohanty, originally written in Oriya and now available in English for the first time. Spanning more than five decades of the author’s career, the stories illuminate life in mid-20th-century India through the eyes of the poor, tribal communities, and ordinary people living on society’s edges. A work of literary fiction and social realism, it is crafted for readers who crave humane, nuanced portraits of human struggle. The tone is compassionate and unflinching—reflective, sometimes stark, and quietly hopeful.

Mohanty’s storytelling is structured as stand-alone pieces that together trace changes across a feudal landscape. The prose balances precision with lyrical warmth, inviting readers to spend time with characters whose daily choices illuminate larger social forces—from dispossession to caste and class barriers. The way the narratives unfold, with measured pace and vivid detail, makes the experience immersive and intimate, a mirror held up to lives often overlooked.

• Twenty short stories spanning five decades of life in mid-20th-century India
• First English translation of the Oriya original, expanding Mohanty’s reach to new audiences
• Bold focus on marginalized voices: the poor, tribals, and ordinary people
• Realistic, unflinching portrayals of dispossession, disenfranchisement, and social barriers
• Lyrical, precise prose that blends empathy with social critique
• Accessible, character-driven storytelling with lasting emotional resonance

After finishing Oblivion and Other Stories, readers gain a deeper understanding of the human condition and a heightened empathy for those living at society’s margins. The collection invites reflection on how history echoes in present-day inequality, offering a lasting literary mirror that encourages compassion, insight, and thoughtful reading.