Noted journalist Ranjit Guru passes away

Ranjit Guru in a pic sourced from YouTube

Bhubaneswar: Noted journalist and columnist Ranjit Guru passed away at a private hospital in Bhubaneshwar following a brief illness, family sources said on Sunday. He was 61 and is survived by a wife and a daughter. Guru, who was admitted to a private hospital in Bhubaneshwar a few days ago, breathed his last in the early hours at around 12.30 am, they said.

A host of dignitaries including Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Petroleum and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan have condoled the demise of Guru. Senior BJP leaders including leader of opposition in Odisha Assembly Pradipta Naik and party's state unit president and MP Basant Panda have also condoled Guru's demise.

While expressing grief over the passing away of the senior journalist Naveen Patnaik on Twitter wrote that Guru had carved a special identity for himself by highlighting important issues through his writings and columns. Pradhan said Odia media has suffered a big loss in the death of Guru, who had created a special position as a journalist, columnist and political analyst.

Guru had worked for over three decades in the field of journalism. He worked with leading Odia daily Sambad in a senior editorial position and was also associated with leading newspapers like Anandabazar Patrika and The Asian Age.

Guru had undergone kidney transplant surgery in 2005. The last rites of Guru will be performed in Sambalpur, family sources said.

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