Eminent Odia writer Mohapatra Nilamani Sahoo passed away in Bhubaneshwar yesterday, family sources said.Sahoo was 90 and is survived by his wife, one son and a daughter. Sahoo was admitted at a private hospital and put on ventilator support due to multi-organ failure.
A recipient of many awards and recognition for his literary works, Sahoo was bestowed with the Orissa Sahitya Akademi Award in 1979 for his story book ‘Akasha Patata’.
For ‘Abhisapta Gandharba’ (a compilation of short stories), he received the Sarala Award in 1983 and Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for the same book in 1984.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik condoled Sahoo’s demise and described him as a great writer. The state has lost an exceptional writer with the demise of Sahoo. May his soul rest in peace,” the Chief Minister said in a condolence message.