Kashinath Sahoo, theatre exponent, dramatist and playwright died at his Pipili residence on Tuesday. He was 108 and one of the oldest persons in the entire State. He died just after a few hours of falling ill.
Sahoo was among the founders on the Annapurna Theatre Group and had staged more than 100 plays. He had been honoured with many awards for his performances.
Sahoo was a true Gandhian who had written many small plays during the freedom struggle. A young man then, he was part of the group who had walked with Mahatma Gandhi from Dandamukundpur to Pipili on May 12, 1934.
He founded the first cinema hall of Pipili and many cultural organisations.
According to historian Anil Dhir, Sahoo was the last living person who had had personal contact with Mahatma Gandhi. Release of a book on Sahoo written by Dhir and Ramesh Mahapatra has been delayed due to the Covind-19 situation.