Writer Jagadish Mohanty no more

Renowned Odia writer Jagadish Mohanty was run over by a train while trying to walk across a level-crossing in Belpahar today.

He died on the spot.

The prolific and widely respected popular writer was 62. He is survived by his writer wife Sarojini Sahoo and two children, Anubhav and Sambedana.

Mohanty was considered a trendsetter in modern Oriya fiction and had received the prestigious Sarala Award in 2003 and Orissa Sahitya Akademi Award in 1990. He was the recipient of Jhankar Award, Dharitri Award and Prajatantra Bishuba Award.

Born in a mining area, he spent more than 30 years of his life working in the coal mines in western Orissa.

Eleven anthologies of short stories and five novels of Mohanty have been published so far.

They are Ekaki Ashwarohi (1979), Dakshina Duari Ghara (1979), Irsha Eka Rutu (1979), Album (1981), Dwiprahara Dekhinathiba Lokatie (1988), Judhdhakshetre Eka Eka (1994), Nian o Anyanya Galpa (1995), Mephestophelesra Pruthibi (1996), Suna Ilishi (2002), Sundaratama Pap (2006) and Saturira Jagadish (2006) (anthologies) ; Nija Nija Panipatha, Kanishka Kanishka, Uttaradhikar, Durdina and Adrushya Sakala (novels).

May his soul rest in peace!