Sambalpur (Orissa), Nov 15: Eminent poet and literary figure of Orissa, Binod Chandra Naik, passed away today following a heart attack at his village Sahaspur in Jharsuguda district, about 70 km from here, family sources said. Naik, 86, whose fierce independent spirit was reflected in his poetry, suffered a heart attack and died soon after. He is survived by a son and a daughter. He started his career as a teacher of English in N.C. College at Jajpur in 1950. He shifted to Government College, Sundargarh, in 1958 where he taught Oriya. He was secretary of the Orissa Sahitya Akademi, Sangeet Natak Akademi and Lalit Kala Akademi between 1968 and 1973. He later became the president of the Orissa Sahitya Akademi.
Among the anthologies of his poetry, Haimanti (1933), Chandra O Tara (1935), Nila Chandrara Upatyaka (1952), Sarisrupa (1970), Pohala Dwipara Upakatha (1971) are well known while his recent poetry collections included Rajakiya Nisangata (1993) and Kanchana Kuntalara Tarabari (1994). His last book was Ulangha Rudra.

Sarisrupa won him the Central Sahitya Akademi Award in 1970. His translations of the critical writings of Rabindranath Tagore and poetry of Kazi Nazrul Islam into Oriya are considered a substantial contribution to oriya poetry and criticism.

Naik was conferred with honorary degree of doctor of literature by the Sambalpur university in February, 2000.
Bureau Report