Eminent author and social activist Mahasweta Devi passed away in Kolkata yesterday due to multi-organ failure. She was 91. Her cremation will be held in Kolkata today with full State honours. AIR correspondent reports her mortal remains are kept at Kolkata's Peace World till 10 this morning from there it will be taken to 'Rabindra Sadan' and kept for public viewing and for paying last respects to the departed soul. It will then be taken in a procession to the cremation ground at the banks of Hoogly river where artists, intellectuals, politicians and other prominent people of the city are expected to join.<br/><br/><br/>President, Vice President and Prime Minister have expressed grief on the death of the eminent literateur. In his message, President Pranab Mukherjee said, Mahasweta Devi enriched Bengali literature through her prolific writing and she was a powerful voice against all forms of oppression and injustice. Mr Mukherjee said, with the death of Mahasweta Devi, India has lost a creative genius who contributed immensely to literature and social change. <br/><br/>In his condolence message, Vice President Hamid Ansari said that Mahasweta Devi will be remembered for her popular stories that sought to raise awareness about social injustice, discrimination, poverty in the country. <br/><br/>In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, Mahasweta Devi wonderfully illustrated the might of the pen and was a voice of compassion, equality and justice.<br/><br/>West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, the country has lost a great writer. She said, she has lost a personal guide.<br/><br/>Writings of Mahasweta Devi focused on the marginalised communities in the country and served as the voice of the oppressed. Her writings won her a number of awards including the Padma Vibhushan, Jnanpeeth, Sahitya Akademi and Magsaysay.<br/><br/>Born in 1926 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to literary parents, Manish Ghatak and Dharitri Devi, Mahasweta moved to West Bengal after partition. She worked as a teacher and a journalist. Mahasweta Devi also helped tribals and the rural dispossessed to group themselves to take up development activities in their own areas. <br/><br/>Her famous works include 'Hazaar Chaurasi ki Ma', Aaranyer Adhikar, Agnigarbha, Bashai Tudu and Rudaali. A number of her works have also been adapted for the silver screen. Italian director Italo Spinelli also made the multi-lingual 'Gangor' based on her short story 'Choli Ke Peeche' about the rights of women.

Eminent author and social activist Mahasweta Devi passed away in Kolkata yesterday due to multi-organ failure. She was 91. Her cremation will be held in Kolkata today with full State honours. President, Vice President and Prime Minister have expressed grief on the death of the eminent literateur.<br/><br/>In his message, President Pranab Mukherjee said, Mahasweta Devi enriched Bengali literature through her prolific writing and she was a powerful voice against all forms of oppression and injustice. Mr Mukherjee said, with the death of Mahasweta Devi, India has lost a creative genius who contributed immensely to literature and social change. <br/><br/>In his condolence message, Vice President Hamid Ansari said that Mahasweta Devi will be remembered for her popular stories that sought to raise awareness about social injustice, discrimination, poverty in the country. <br/><br/>In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, Mahasweta Devi wonderfully illustrated the might of the pen and was a voice of compassion, equality and justice.<br/><br/>West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, the country has lost a great writer. She said, she has lost a personal guide.<br/><br/>Writings of Mahasweta Devi focused on the marginalised communities in the country and served as the voice of the oppressed. Her writings won her a number of awards including the Padma Vibhushan, Jnanpeeth, Sahitya Akademi and Magsaysay.<br/><br/>Born in 1926 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to literary parents, Manish Ghatak and Dharitri Devi, Mahasweta moved to West Bengal after partition. She worked as a teacher and a journalist. Mahasweta Devi also helped tribals and the rural dispossessed to group themselves to take up development activities in their own areas. <br/><br/>Her famous works include 'Hazaar Chaurasi ki Ma', Aaranyer Adhikar, Agnigarbha, Bashai Tudu and Rudaali. A number of her works have also been adapted for the silver screen. Italian director Italo Spinelli also made the multi-lingual 'Gangor' based on her short story 'Choli Ke Peeche' about the rights of women.