Noted academician and litterateur Ganeswar Mishra passed away at a private hospital here in the wee hours on Monday following prolonged illness.
The 72-year-old retired Professor of English of Utkal University had been diagnosed with cancer two years back. “He was awarded PhD by london University. Despite being highly educated, he remained associated with his roots. He wrote in a very simple and lucid manner,” Prof Biswaranjan said.
Born in 1942, Mishra was a well-known author, translator and editor. He was also the founding editor of Odia daily Prameya.
“He had tried to make Odia literature popular till his last. His health condition acted as an obstacle for this. This is a huge loss for Odia literature,” writer Sauribandhu Kar said.
“His demise has created an irreparable void in the field of literature and academics,” former Minister Sheikh Matlub Ali said. Many academicians, writers and journalists reached Prof Mishra’s house at Gajapati Nagar here to pay last respects to him.
Mishra has authored many books in Odia and English. He was conferred with Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award for his book Bilatare Babu O Papu in the children’s literature category.
He is survived by his wife Surangini, a retired Reader in Economics, and three sons Subrat, Sunand and Sandeep. His third son Sandeep is the editor of Odia Focus TV news channel.