[1] He is the first Indian poet to win a Sahitya Akademi award for English poetry.

[citation needed] Mahapatra was part of a trio of poets who laid the foundations of Indian English Poetry, which included A. K. Ramanujan and R.

Over time, he managed to carve a quiet, tranquil poetic voice of his own, different from those of his contemporaries.

His published books of prose include Green Gardener, an anthology of short stories and Door of Paper: Essay and Memoirs.

His writing captures the intricacies of current Indian society as well as the difficulties in balancing traditional ideals with changing circumstances.

His utilization of imagery from ordinary life and Indian landscapes, coupled with a thoughtful and introspective voice, define his approach.

[14] In 1981 Jayanta Mahapatra won Sahitya Akademi award for his poetry book Relationships.

He is also a recipient of the Jacob Glatstein memorial award conferred by Poetry magazine, Chicago.