Bhubaneswar, Dec. 21: Odia writer Paramita Satpathy could be forgiven for basking in the glory of her Kendriya Sahitya Akademi Award win today for Prapti, a collection of novellas. The bureaucrat, however, finds more joy from the fact that the theme of the collection got recognition more than her win.

Prapti is a work of fiction where women, in different facts and facets, are the protagonists. She admits that Prapti, published in December 2012, is very close to her heart.

"I was very engrossed during the entire period of writing the stories. A lot of feelings, visions and experiences have gone into the writing. It took around three years to complete the work," the 51-year-old said. The collection was also released in compact disk (CD) form last year.

Her other collections of short stories include Bibidha Aswopna (1997), Bhashakshara (2000), Birala Rupaka (2003), Antaranga Chhala (2006), Kurei Phula (2009) and Nari Kabi O Anyamane (2015). Many of her stories are translated into Indian languages such as Hindi, English, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi and Gujarati.

The plight of modern women is often a dominant theme in her writings. A commissioner at the Income Tax department, she feels women are confident and have strong conviction. But, she also admits that it gets difficult at times to strike the perfect balance between duties to the family and profession.

"With work spheres becoming more demanding, it becomes bumpy at times. But, one can always find time for the things they love," the writer said.

She attributes much of her affinity to creativity to her mother Pratibha Satpathy, a noted writer and also a Kendriya Sahitya Akademi Award winner.

She also has a high regard for the newer generation of women writers. She said: "They are sincere and I find a lot of girls excel in feature writing. It will go a long way in the future."

Satpathy is also open to new-age mediums such as blogging. "These ideas are different from our times. Although I am not involved in it, I believe creativity can sprout from everywhere," she said.

She has also penned an Odia novel Apathacharini that was published in 2006. At present, she is working on another novel, slated for release by the end of this year.

"It is a fictional work set in the last years of the freedom struggle in Odisha," said the Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award recipient.

The award will be presented to Satpathy on February 22 in Delhi during the Festival of Letters organised by the Akademi.