Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jan 14:

Eminent storyteller of Odisha, Sakuntala Panda, passed away this afternoon after a brief illness.

A pall of gloom descended on the literary circle after the news of her sad demise spread. Relatives, litterateurs, well-wishers and intellectuals thronged to her residence here to pay last respect to the departed soul.

Panda was the Editor of popular monthly women’s magazine Sucharita. She edited the Odia magazine founded in 1975 for 28 years. She has written 15 books including ‘Suryashikha’, ‘Aneka Dina Pare’, ‘Andhakara ra Ranga’ and ‘Manjula ra Jhia’.

Besides, she has also successfully discharged her responsibility as a member of Odia advisory committee of the National Book Trust, member of Odia Film Censor Board and member of Odia advisory committee of the Kendra Sahitya Akademi.

She is the recipient of first Utkal Bharati Kuntala Kumari Puraskar, instituted by Utkal Bharati Kuntala Kumari Foundation.