Jyotsna Routray, Odisha’s leading woman journalist and renowned writer, breathed her last at the age of 55. She was ailing for the last few days and died yesterday at a private hospital. Jyotsna is survived by husband Jimuta Mangaraj (Editor of ‘Neta’), a son and a daughter.

Born in 1958, she shot into fame with her novel, “Gai Ra Atma Kahani’ or “Autobiography of a Cow’ while studying in Class VIII. Later, she joined journalism profession in 1982 and started working with ‘Sambad’ in 1984. She worked with ‘Sambad’ for 22 years.

Since 2006, Jyotsna had been working as a Freelance Journalist. She has written many novels and stories during her illustrious career. Some of her novels included, “Potashraya”, “Anya Nadi Anya Diganta”, “Draupadi”, “Bhinna Bhuogala” etc.

Information & Public Relation (I&PR) Minister Arun Sahoo has condoled his death and said that a vaccum has been created in Odia Literature with the demise of Jyotsna Routray. He termed Jyotsna Routray’s death as a personal loss to him. Jyotsna Routray was cremated at Puri Swargadwar yesterday.