Renowned Odia Poet Ramakanta Rath Passes Away

On 16th March 2025, Eminent Odia poet and Padma Bhushan awardee Ramakanta Rath passed away at the age of 91 in Bhubaneswar, marking the end of an era in Odia literature.

Ramakanta Rath, known for his modernist approach to Odia poetry, breathed his last in Bhubaneswar, leaving the literary world in mourning.
Born in 1934, he was a celebrated poet whose works, including the renowned Sri Radha, have been widely translated into English and other Indian languages.
Apart from being a distinguished poet, he was a 1957-batch IAS officer and served as the Chief Secretary of Odisha, holding key positions in the Union Government.
Recognized for his literary excellence, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2006 and received numerous other prestigious literary honors.
His leadership extended beyond poetry as he served as the president of the Sahitya Akademi from 1998 to 2003, contributing significantly to Indian literature.