Eminent Poet Jayanta Mahapatra Passes Away At 95

95-year-old eminent poet Jayanta Mahapatra took his last breath at a hospital in Odisha's Cuttack on Sunday owing to age-old ailments.

Mahapatra, who was admitted at the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack for treatment of pneumonia and other old age-relayed ailments, passed away on Sunday night. His wife and son had predeceased him.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed condolences on the sad demise of Mahapatra, describing him as a genius in both English and Odia literature.

"He had successfully elevated the reach of Odia literature to a wider circle. His intellect and knowledge was a guiding spirit for many youngsters to write in English literature. His mellifluous words will continue to weave their magic, reminding us of the power of human expression. The vivid imagery of his writings about daily life, particularly drawn from Cuttack, will always remain a rich encapsulation of Odia life," Patnaik said in his condolence message.

Born in Cuttack on October 22, 1928, Mahapatra was the first Indian poet to win a Sahitya Akademi award for English poetry. He was also conferred with the Padma Shri award in 2009. However, he returned it in 2015 to protest against "rising intolerance in India".

The author of 'Indian Summer' and 'Hunger', recognised as the classics in modern Indian English literature, Mahapatra penned 27 books of poems, of which seven are in Odia language and the rest in English.

Mahapatra's funeral will take place on Monday with full state honours, the chief minister said. The CM also wished peace and tranquility for the departed soul.