OD-GURU

Noted journalist Ranjit Guru passes away
    Bhubaneswar, Aug 18 (PTI) Noted journalist and
columnist Ranjit Guru passed away at a private hospital here
following a brief illness, family sources said on Sunday.
    He was 61 and is survived by wife and a daughter.
    Guru, who was admitted to a private hospital here 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.
    Guru had carved a special identity for himself by
highlighting important issues through his writings and
columns, Patnaik said on Twitter while expressing grief over
the passing away of the senior journalist.
    Pradhan said Odia media has suffered a big loss in the
demise of Guru, who had created a special position as a
journalist, columnist and political analyst.
    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.
    With over three-decade-long career in journalism, Guru
was working with leading Odia daily Sambad in a senior
editorial position. He was also associated with leading
newspapers like Anandabazar Patrika and The Asian Age.
    He had undergone kidney transplant surgery in 2005.
    The last rites of Guru will be performed in Sambalpur,
family sources said. PTI SKN
RG RG

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from a PTI feed.)