Veteran Odia writer and former Vice‑President of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi, Giri Dandasena, passed away on Monday morning while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Burla. He was 77 years old.
Dandasena had been bedridden for a prolonged period due to illness. His condition worsened five days ago, leading to his hospital admission. He breathed his last at around 8 am.
Born on December 29, 1949, Dandasena made remarkable contributions to Odia literature, particularly through his acclaimed work Sundargarh Itihasa, which documented the history and heritage of Sundargarh. His other published works include Kalasūtra, Odishi Odishi, Bhumigarbha, and Rastakadarē Jibana.
He served as Vice‑President of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi from May 2011 to February 2015, earning recognition for his literary and cultural documentation. His death has been widely mourned by writers, scholars, and admirers, who described it as an irreparable loss to Odia literature.
Dandasena leaves behind a rich literary legacy that will continue to inspire readers and researchers across generations.
