Sambalpur: Veteran Odia litterateur and former Vice-President of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi, Giri Dandasena, passed away on Monday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Burla. He was 77.

Dandasena had been bedridden for a prolonged period due to illness. His health condition deteriorated seriously five days ago, following which he was admitted to a private hospital in Burla. He breathed his last at around 8 am on Monday while undergoing treatment.

Born on December 29, 1949, Dandasena made significant contributions to Odia literature through his writings. He was particularly acclaimed for his widely discussed work ‘Sundargarh Itihasa’, which documented the history and heritage of Sundargarh.

His published works include ‘Kalasūtra’, ‘Odishi Odishi’, ‘Bhumigarbha’, ‘Rastakadarē Jibana’ and ‘Sundargarh Itihasa’, among others.

Dandasena served as the Vice-President of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi from May 18, 2011, to February 8, 2015. During his literary career, he earned recognition for his contribution to Odia literature and cultural documentation.

His death has been widely mourned by members of the literary and cultural fraternity. Writers and admirers described his demise as an irreparable loss to Odia literature.

Giri Dandasena is survived by his literary legacy and a body of work that will continue to be remembered by readers and scholars of Odisha.