- Prof. Hrudananda Ray
Odisha Sahitya Akademi paid its tribute to eminent Odia author, philosopher and orator Prof. Hrudananda Ray who passed away on July 27 at Apollo Hospital in Bhubaneswar due to multiple organ failure at the age of 87.
Holding a few minutes silence at the prayer meet, Sahitya Akademi members reminisced their memories with the great personality.
Prof. Hrudananda was awarded the Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award in 2003 for his book 'Jane Anubhabi Anubhabare'. Some of his highly acclaimed works include America: Jetiki Dekhichi Jetiki Bujhichi, Kant, Sri Jagannatha Tattva Rahasya, Bhagabata Samiksha and Patre Pushpe.
Satakadi Hota, President Odisha Sahitya Akademi, said, "Sri Ray was an excellent orator of Riti Sahitya and Bhanja Sahitya. His absence would be greatly felt in the realms of Odia literature."
He has also been bestowed with awards like Sarala Puraskar, Mansingh Samman, Odia Bhushan Samman and Sri Jagannath Puraskar.
Manorama Mohapatra, a social activist, educationalist and journalist, shares, "It is a great loss for Odisha. It is hard to find a person of his stature, the wisdom, the intellect he possessed. I have seen the influence he had on his students and masses. I can proudly say that he nurtured noble human beings for a better future."