Dibyendu Palit, a renowned Bengali writer, died in Kolkata on Thursday due to age-related ailments, his family said. He had been admitted to a private hospital in Jadavpur where he breathed his last around 11 am.
The 79-year-old Sahitya Akademi awardee is survived by his only son. His wife died some years ago.
The family said Palit’s last rites would be performed once his son, who stays abroad, returns.
Confined to his South Kolkata home for the last three years, the ailing writer was taken to the hospital after his condition deteriorated on Wednesday night.
Expressing grief over his death, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted: “Saddened at the passing away of veteran writer Dibyendu Palit. My condolences to his family.”
Saddened at the passing away of veteran writer Dibyendu Palit. My condolences to his family and admirers
বিশিষ্ট সাহিত্যিক দিব্যেন্দু পালিতের প্রয়াণে গভীরভাবে শোকাহত। ওনার পরিবার ও পাঠককুলকে জানাই সমবেদনা— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 3, 2019
Born in Bihar’s Bhagalpur in 1939, Palit had studied comparative literature in Jadavpur University. His first short story ‘Chhandopatan’ was published in 1955. It was followed by his first novel ‘Sindhu Baroan’ published in 1959.
Awarded the ‘Bankim Purashkar’ for ‘Dheu’ in 1990 and ‘Ananda Purashkar’ in 1984 for ‘Sahojoddha’, Palit was conferred the Sahitya Akademi for his novel ‘Anubhab’ in 1998.
Filmmaker Tapan Sinha’s ‘Antardhan’ was based on a short story by him.
Another short story ‘Mukhabhinoy’ had been adapted by theatre personality Shyamanand Jalan for big screen venture Eashwar Mime Co.
Mourning the loss, Tridib Chatterjee, well-known publisher and Publishers and Booksellers Guild secretary, said, “We have lost Ramapada Choudhury, Nirendranath Chakraborty last year and today we lost Dibyendu Palit. We are losing our mentors one by one. The Guild will pay tribute to these personalities in the coming International Kolkata Book Fair.”
(With agency inputs)