Bhubaneswar: Prominent news editor, writer and environmentalist Abhoy Singh breathed his last today after a prolonged ailment at Mahatab Road-based Anandashram Old Age Home in the old town area here in the capital city.

Credited with giving a new direction to Odia feature, Singh was the founder editor of popular Odia magazine ‘Sachhitra Bijaya’, published by Chennai-based publication house ‘Chandamama Prakashani’. He was also the founder editor of ‘Prabha’ magazine.

Born on January 1, 1953 at Barimunda village in Keonjhar district, he had graduated from Regional College of Education here in the city. Abhoy Singh was also the founder editor of ‘Prabaha’ and deputy editor of ‘Samabaya Samachara’. Following his sad demise, a pall of gloom has descended on the cultural world of Odisha.

Late Abhoy Singh was the founder editor of the most-acclaimed Odia monthly cultural magazine ‘Sachitra Bijaya’ of Chennai-based Chandamama Publication House and also founder of ‘Zeevan’, an organisation dedicated to environment.

He had spent his last days at an old age home, Ananda Ashram, at Mahatab Road in Old Town area of Bhubaneswar. As the news spread this morning, scores of distinguished personalities paid their last respects to this veteran scribe and man of letters at the Anandashram Old Age Home.

Paying homage and expressing his heart-felt condolences, senior journalist Bighneswar Sahu on his Facebook page has mentioned, “My First GURU in Print Journalism, deepest condolences ABHOY Sir.”

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