Noted novelist and Odisha Sahitya Academy awardee Gayatri Basumallick passed away at her residence here after prolonged illness on Friday.
She was 83 and is survived by a son. She has written 20 novels and 200 short stories. Basing on her novel Kaberi, an Odia film, Madhuri ra Madhurati, was made by noted film director Prashant Nanda. Odisha Sahitya Akademi President Satakadi Hota and Secretary Bijay Nayak, among many others, paid their last respects to Basumallick at her residence.