CUTTACK: Eminent litterateur, poet, writer and academician Pathani Patnaik breathed his last at his Keonjhar Colony residence in Cuttack on Saturday at 11 am after a protracted illness. He was 89 and is survived by two sons and two daughters.
Born at Gunthuni Sahi in Golobai of Khurda district on September 19,1928, Patnaik who was the principal of Christ College and a pioneer in the field of literature for over six decades had served as the president of Odisha Sahitya Akademi from 2000 to 2003.
Patnaik, who had authored over 50 books on children literature, novel, short stories and linguistics, was conferred with prestigious Kendra Sahitya Akademi award for his book ‘Jibanara Chalapathe’ in 2010-11.
Some of his famous books include ‘Sahitya O Sanskruti’, ‘Sahitya Manisha’, ‘Sahitya Parikrama’, ‘Odia Upanyasa Sahityara Parichaya’, ‘Prabandha O Samalochana’, ‘Samaja O Sahitya’ and ‘Sahitya O Samiksha’.
Patnaik who was associated with many literary organisations had also worked for Odia daily Prajatantra and Jhankar. Well wishers from various walks of life paid last respect to the departed soul at his resident.