Sarat Kumar Sahoo, the visionary founder of Ruchi Masala, passed away on Sunday afternoon after a prolonged battle with cancer. He had been undergoing treatment at a hospital in Mumbai, where he breathed his last.
Sources close to the family confirmed that his mortal remains would soon be brought back to Cuttack for the final rites.
Sahoo, a prominent industrialist from Odisha, established his company in 1976 under the name Om Oil and Flour Mills in Cuttack’s industrial area. What began as a small venture producing turmeric powder gradually expanded into a diverse range of spices, masalas, pasta, noodles, and ready-to-eat foods. Over nearly five decades, Ruchi has become a household name not just in Odisha but across rural and urban India, with products even being exported internationally.
The success of Ruchi Masala is largely attributed to Sahoo’s hard work, strategic management, and dedication. As the Managing Director, he transformed a modest enterprise into one of India’s leading food brands. His son, Arbind Sahoo, and daughter-in-law, Rashmi Sahoo, who serve as directors, have played key roles in elevating the company to new heights.
Tributes poured in from across the business and political spectrum, highlighting Sahoo’s indelible impact on Odisha’s industrial landscape.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow, calling it an “irreparable loss” to the state’s business world and prayed for the departed soul’s peace.
ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ଉଦ୍ୟୋଗପତି ତଥା Ruchi Foodline ର ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠାତା ଡ. ଶରତ କୁମାର ସାହୁଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗରେ ମୁଁ ଗଭୀର ଭାବରେ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଉଦ୍ୟୋଗ ଜଗତ ପାଇଁ ଏହା ଏକ ଅପୂରଣୀୟ କ୍ଷତି । ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ଦିବଙ୍ଗତ ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦ୍ଗତି ନିମନ୍ତେ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରୁଛି । ଓଁ…
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) November 2, 2025
Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik mourned the loss, noting Sahu’s contributions in putting Odisha on the global map through his entrepreneurial spirit.
ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ଶିଳ୍ପପତି ତଥା ରୁଚିର ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠାତା ଶରତ କୁମାର ସାହୁଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଶିଳ୍ପ ତଥା ପରିଚୟକୁ ବିଶ୍ୱପ୍ରସାରୀ କରିବାରେ ତାଙ୍କର ଅବଦାନ ସର୍ବଦା ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ରହିବ। ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର ସଦସ୍ୟଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି।
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) November 2, 2025
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan described Sahu as a “successful entrepreneur” whose vision gave a new direction to Odisha’s industry, terming his demise an “unparalleled void.”
ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ଶିଳ୍ପପତି ତଥା ‘ରୁଚି ମସଲା’ର ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠାତା ଡ଼. ଶରତ କୁମାର ସାହୁଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ମର୍ମାହତ । ଜଣେ ସଫଳ ଉଦ୍ୟୋଗୀ ସହ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଶିଳ୍ପ ଜଗତକୁ ଏକ ନୂତନ ଦିଗ ଦେବାରେ ତାଙ୍କର ଅବଦାନ ଅତୁଳନୀୟ । ତାଙ୍କର ବିୟୋଗ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଶିଳ୍ପ ଜଗତ ପାଇଁ ଏକ ଅପୂରଣୀୟ କ୍ଷତି । ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା…
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) November 2, 2025
Sahu’s legacy as a self-made industrialist who built an empire from humble beginnings will continue to inspire generations in Odisha and beyond.
