Renowned Bengali novelist Sunil Gangopadhyay passes away

, Oct 23: Renowned novelist-poet Sunil Gangopadhyay passed away at his residence in Kolkata,

on Tuesday, Oct 23.

According to sources, the 78-year-old died of heart attack around 2 am. Mr Gangopadhyay, who was the president of Sahitya Akademi, had won the Sahitya Akademi Award, Ananda Puraskar, and Hindu Literary Prize in 1985, 1989 and 2011 respectively.

His will be kept in a mortuary in Kolkata till his son Souvik Gangopadhyay arrives from Boston, informed sources. It was a shocking news for all Bengalis who are fans and followers of the novelist.

The news spoilt the festive fever of the Bengalis when they were celebrating Navami - the ninth day of Durga Puja. Mr Gangopadhyay had hogged limelight when exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen accused him of sexually harassing her and other women.

Despite such negative reports, Mr Gangopadhyay had made a special niche for himself with his short stories, novels, travelogues and children's fictions.

OneIndia News