Sahitya Academy awardee Bengali writer Ramapada Chowdhury, who authored novels like Kharij, Bari Badle Jay and Abhimanyu, passed away at a city hospital on Sunday, 29 July, his family said.
Chowdhury, 95, is survived by his wife and two daughters.
He was admitted to the hospital on 21 July with ailments including a lung problem. He died of cardiac arrest at 6.30 pm, a hospital spokesperson confirmed.
Chowdhury's novel Abhimanyu was based on the life and work of Dr Subhas Mukhopadhyay, who created India's first and the world's second test-tube baby in 1978.
Director Tapan Sinha turned the story into an award-winning Hindi film Ek Doctor ki maut in 1990.
He also received the Sahitya Academy award for ‘Bari badle jay’ in 1988.
Mrinal Sen's Hindi film Ek Din Achanak (1989) was also based on Chowdhury's story Beej.
Chowdhury had penned several famous literary works such as Pratham Prahar (1954), Banpalashir padabali (1960), Ekhoni (1969) and many more.
Born on 28 December 1922 at Kharagpur, Chowdhury's most active years were between 1950s and 1980s. He was also awarded the Rabindra Puraskar, Ananda Puraskar and Rabindranath Tagore Memorial International Prize.
His last book, Harano Khata, was published in 2015.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)