The correct answer is (a) Manoj Das.
Manoj Das was an Odia writer known for his satirical works and Padma Shri awardee. He was born on 15 February 1934 in the village of Banapur in the Puri district of Odisha. He was educated at the Ravenshaw College in Cuttack and the University of Calcutta. He started his career as a teacher but later took up writing full-time.
Das is best known for his satirical works, which often deal with the social and political issues of Odisha. His most famous work is the novel “Ananthapurer Ekdin” (A Day in Anantapur), which was published in 1973. He has also written several short stories, essays, and poems.
Das was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award, in 1999. He died on 24 March 2014 at the age of 80.
The other options are incorrect for the following reasons:
(b) Santanu Kumar Acharya is a contemporary Odia writer known for his novels and short stories. He has not written any satirical works.
(c) Bibhuti Patnaik is a well-known Odia writer who is best known for his novel “Pather Panchali” (Song of the Road). He has not written any satirical works.
(d) Akhil Mohan Patnaik is a contemporary Odia writer who is best known for his novels and short stories. He has not written any satirical works.