Centenarian litterateur and ex-Orissa minister dead

Bhubaneswar, Apr 17 (PTI) Veteran litterateur, freedom fighter and former Odisha Minister Nityananda Mohapatra died of old age-related ailments here today, family sources said. Born in 1912, Mohapatra is survived by a son. Family sources said he was born on the 'car festival' day. His wife Harapriya Mohapatra had pre-deceased him about five years ago. He was admitted to a private hospital here two days back and breathed his last this morning. He had held the department of Minister for Cultural Affairs and Food and Civil Supplies in the Swatantra-Jana Congress coalition government headed by R N Singh Deo during 1967-71. Mohapatra was a three-time MLA from Bhadrak assembly constituency, twice as an independent and once as Jana Congress candidate. A recipient of Kendriya Sahitya Akademy and Orissa Sahitya Academy awards, Mohapatra's books included Bhangahada, Gharadiha, Nahonm Tistami Baikunthe, Kalagara Dharagara and Priya O Priyatama. He had also penned the famous flag-song for Orissa state unit of CPI "aei lal patakara tale..." (under this red flag...) during incarceration at Berhampur jail and the song is still in vogue. As the news his death spread, several dignitaries and admirers visited his residence in Kharavela Nagar area here. The body would be cremated at 'Swarg Dwar' crematorium at Puri. PTI SKN SUS SUS KKB