Eminent Odia litterateur Rajat Kumar Kar, a Padma Shri awardee, died at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, his family said.
He was 88 years old and had heart-related ailments, they said.
Kar complained of chest pain around 5 pm and when rushed to the hospital, doctors declared him dead, they said.
He was fine till noon and went to take rest after having lunch. However, he complained of uneasiness soon after getting up from the bed, following which he was taken to the hospital, they added.
Kar, who was conferred with Padma Shri in 2021 for literature and education, had heart-related ailments and was under medication.
An orator on Jagannath culture, he was known for his commentary during the annual Ratha Jatra on TV and radio for six decades.
He was also instrumental in the revival of Odisha's dying art of Pala.
He was a prolific writer on Upendra Bhanja literature and has seven non-fictions to his credit. He has also written a few books on Lord Jagannath.
As the news of his demise spread, condolence messages started flooding social media platforms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan, BJP National Vice President Baijayant Panda, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik, State BJP president Samir Mohanty and many others condoled the death of Kar.
"Dr. Rajat Kumar Kar was a doyen of the cultural world. His multifaceted persona was seen in the manner in which he chronicled the Rath Yatra, wrote on diverse topics and worked to revive Pala art. Saddened by his passing away. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti," PM Modi tweeted.