Well-known Bengali poet and novelist Sunil Gangopadhyay passed away in Kolkata this morning at the age of 78 due to cardiac arrest.His body will be kept in a mortuary till his son arrives from the US for his cremation.Many of his friends and fans have been paying tribute to the author.Gangopadhyay wrote more than 200 books and was awarded several prestigious awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award, Saraswati Samman, Anando Purushkaar and Hindu Literary Prize.One of India's most popular contemporary authors, Gangopadhyay wrote novels, short stories, travelogues and children's fiction, but always said that poetry was his, first love. He was the founder editor of Krittibas – a poetry magazine that encouraged new poets experimenting with new forms.His novel 'Protham Alo', 'Sae Somay' acclaimed appreciation in the literary circle.He also worked in Bengali Literary Magazine 'Desh' for several years.