| Born | 11 December 1920 Mumbai , India Age : 52 Years |
| Parents | Prafulla and Sabitri Pattanaik |
| Alma mater | Grant Government Medical College University of Mumbai Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church |
| Occupation | Author, Doctor , consultant and columnist |
| Genre | Mythology, Interpretation, Culture, Philosophy, Symbolism, History, Spirituality, Literature, Leadership, Anthropology. |
| Years active | 1996-Present |
| Notable works | “Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata.” |
| Spouse | Divya Pattanaik |
Introduction – About Devdutt Pattanaik
Indian author, mythologist, and lecturer Devdutt Pattanaik is well-known for his engrossing insights into traditional Indian mythology. He was born in Mumbai and has degrees in both medicine and business management, but he has devoted his professional life to deciphering mythical stories. Pattanaik deciphers the intricate nature of Hindu epics and scriptures, revealing their cultural, intellectual, and psychological relevance through his numerous books, talks, and workshops. In order to demystify complex ideas, his entertaining manner combines colourful graphics, graphs, and simple words.
He is well acclaimed for bridging the gap between conventional thinking and ancient knowledge, making mythology understandable and significant to a wide range of listeners. The writings of Pattanaik promote a broader understanding of India’s cultural history and provide enduring insights on society and human nature.
Education and Early Childhood
Devdutt Pattanaik was raised in a multicultural environment, which had a significant impact on his career as a mythologist. He was born on December 11, 1970, in Mumbai, India. He finished his early schooling at a Kendriya Vidyalaya before going on to seek a medical degree. But he continued to research mythology because of his strong interest in it.
He earned a masters degree in business management, which gave him important knowledge and abilities for his future work. Growing up around a variety of stories and customs created the groundwork for Pattanaik’s interest for deciphering and sharing intricate mythical tales.
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Career as author and Journey of Devdutt Pattanaik
It’s amazing to see Devdutt Pattanaik’s development from a medical student to a renowned novelist and mythologist. Pattanaik, developed a keen interest in ancient knowledge as a result of his early exposure to a variety of legends and tales. Although he was working towards a medical degree, his love of mythology never wavered.
Pattanaik began a corporate career after completing his medical training. His insistence on mythology maintained, nevertheless. He went on to earn a postgraduate degree in business management, which gave him the communication abilities he would need in the future.
His breakthrough occurred when he started creating mythology-related articles and illustrations for numerous periodicals. His original strategy of fusing art and succinct narration drew readers in. He began his active writing career with the publication of “Shiva: An Introduction,” his debut book, in 1996.
The subsequent books by Pattanaik, including “The Book of Ram,” “My Gita,” and “Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata,” received a lot of praise. Readers of all ages were captivated by his engaging manner and capacity to connect ancient mythology to modern life. His works’ multilingual translations helped him become more well known.
In addition to his literature, Pattanaik attracted audiences with his engrossing lectures and workshops, which included corporations, academic institutions, and cultural events. He gained popularity as a speaker because of his talent for making difficult mythological ideas understandable and applicable.
Devdutt Pattanaik ‘s Noteworthy Awards and Accolades
- 2010: National Award for Literature by the Government of India for his book “Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata.”
- 2013: Star TV Big Bang Award for the best mythologist.
- 2015: Wharton–Infosys Business Book Award for “Business Sutra: A Very Indian Approach to Management.”
- 2016: Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Award for excellence in the field of Mythology and Management Studies.
- 2017: Distinguished Alumni Award from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta.
- 2018: Icon of the Year Award from Malayala Manorama Group.
- 2020: Tata Literature Live! Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to the field of literature and mythological interpretation.
Personal Life and Interests – Devdutt Pattanaik
His partner, Divya Pattanaik, has also contributed to his endeavours by helping to write his books and work on other things.
In terms of his hobbies, Pattanaik enjoys art, culture, and history in addition to his professional work in mythology and writing. He is a passionate artefact and mask collector, which demonstrates his interest in symbolism and cultural nuances. His writings, which frequently explore the connections between mythology, philosophy, and human development, show his spiritual leanings. His audience can relate to his work because of his all-encompassing outlook on life.
Famous books of Devdutt Pattanaik
- “Shiva: An Introduction” (1996)
- “The Goddess in India: The Five Faces of the Eternal Feminine” (2000)
- “Vishnu: An Introduction” (2001)
- “7 Secrets of Hindu Calendar Art” (2004)
- “Myth = Mithya: A Handbook of Hindu Mythology” (2006)
- “Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata” (2010)
- “Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana” (2013)
- “Business Sutra: A Very Indian Approach to Management” (2013)
- “My Hanuman Chalisa” (2014)
- “My Gita” (2015)
- “Devlok with Devdutt Pattanaik” (2016) – A TV show exploring Indian mythology.
- “The Girl Who Chose: A New Way of Narrating the Ramayana” (2016)
- “The Pregnant King” (2008)
- “Shikhandi: And Other Queer Tales They Don’t Tell You” (2016)
- “The Forest of Enchantments” (2019) – A retelling of the Ramayana from Sita’s perspective.
- “The Leadership Sutra: An Indian Approach to Power” (2016)
- “Faith: 40 Insights into Hinduism” (2019)
- “Olympus: An Indian Retelling of the Greek Myths” (2016)
- “The Book of Ram” (2015)
- “Pashu: Animal Tales from Hindu Mythology” (2016)
- “Devlok with Devdutt Pattanaik 2” (2017) – Second season of his TV show.
- “So You Want to Know About Economics” (2019) – A book aimed at simplifying economic concepts using mythology.
- “My Hanuman Chalisa” (2020) – A graphic novel adaptation.
- “Indian Culture and the Role of Self” (2021) – A series of videos exploring various aspects of Indian culture.
- “The Pandemic May Be a Portal” (2020) – An essay reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on society.
