Veteran Journalist, Litterateur Basant Dash Losses Battle To Covid19

Bhubaneswar: Odisha lost another jewel from the field of journalism after veteran journalist, columnist and litterateur Basant Dash lost his 10-day battle against Covid 19 on Friday night.

Dash had tested positive for the virus on May 16 and was under home quarantine along with his wife who was also found infected.

He, was admitted to KIIMS on May 27 after developing breathlessness with decline in oxygen saturation level. 

Following over a week long battle, he succumbed to the virus last night despite all efforts of doctors.

“He was under treatment for last 10 days at KIIMS after being infected with Covid. We received information from the hospital authorities that he passed away last night,” said Chanadan Dash, son of the deceased journalist.

“He was a multi- talented writer. His contribution to journalism and Odia literature is unforgettable. He had also received many accolades for his life time contribution to literature,” said Amiya Dash, his younger brother.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Information and Public Relation Department Minister Raghunandan Das and Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Niranjan Patnaik expressed grief over the untimely demise of the veteran journalist.

ବରିଷ୍ଠ ସାମ୍ବାଦିକ, ସ୍ତମ୍ଭକାର ତଥା ଲେଖକ ବସନ୍ତ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତରେ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @Naveen_Odisha ଶୋକପ୍ରକାଶ କରିଛନ୍ତି। ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ସେ ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇଛନ୍ତି।

— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) May 29, 2021

ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ସ୍ତମ୍ବକାର, ଲେଖକ ତଥା ସାମ୍ବାଦିକ ବସନ୍ତ ଦାସଙ୍କ ପରଲୋକ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ମର୍ମାହତ। ତାଙ୍କର ବିୟୋଗ ସାହିତ୍ୟ ତଥା ସାମ୍ବାଦିକତା ଜଗତର ଅପୂରଣୀୟ କ୍ଷତି । ସ୍ବର୍ଗତ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦ୍ଗତି କାମନା ପୂର୍ବକ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ସମବେଦନା ଜ୍ଞାପନ କରୁଛି । pic.twitter.com/PavJ2FrgvF

— RaghunandanDas (@RaghunandanDas6) May 29, 2021

Odisha Union of Journalists (OUJ) also expressed condolences over the death of Dash. 

“His demise created a void in journalism. Dash had carved a niche for himself in thr field of journalism and Odia literature. He had received prestigious Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award for his book ‘Je Desha Jai, Se Phala Khai’. He has also left a rare achievement for the budding researchers in Journalism through his book ‘Political history of modern Odisha’ which acts as a reference for the journalists of the new generation,” OUJ president Prasana Mohanty said.

Dash was among a handful of scribes who had worked in national level news papers and magazine while living in Odisha, Mohanty added. 

He was an inspiration for the new age journalists, Mohanty said.