New Delhi: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday reached New Delhi to pay last respects to his elder sister and eminent author Gita Mehta.
The Chief Minister expressed his profound grief over the demise of his sister, who passed away yesterday at the age of 80.
After reaching the Bhubaneswar airport from Naveen Niwas, the Chief Minister went to Delhi by a special flight. From there, he reached the residence of Gita Mehta and had his sister’s last darshan.
The last rites of Gita Mehta will be performed tomorrow. The CM will attend the last rites of his sister.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host of other dignitaries have mourned the death of Gita Mehta.
Born in 1943 to legendary freedom fighter Biju Patnaik and Gyana Patnaik, Gita Mehta was an acclaimed writer, documentary maker and journalist. She had her education in India and Cambridge University.
Gita Mehta’s first literary creation – Karma Cola, which was published in 1979, got critical acclaim and established her as a prolific writer. The non-fiction work explores the impact of Western culture on India. The book was a critical and commercial success and topped the charts. Some of her notable works include Raj – A novel about the last days of British rule in India; Snakes and Ladders – A non-fiction work that explores the lives of ordinary people in India; A River Sutra – A non-fiction work that explores the relationship between the Narmada River and the Indian people; and Eternal Ganesha: From Birth to Rebirth.
Gita had vividly portrayed glorious history, culture and religion of India in her writings. Her books were translated into 13 languages and published in 27 countries.