Bhubaneswar: The Media fraternity in Odisha is shrouded in deep mourning today following the passing of Shri Sarat Chandra Dash, a legendary figure in journalism and the former Odisha Bureau Chief of the Press Trust of India.
At eighty-three, he breathed his last at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Friday, leaving behind a profound void that words can scarcely fill.
Having dedicated over four decades of his life to truth and integrity, he was far more than a newsman; he was a guiding light, a gentle mentor, and a true gentleman of the press.
For forty-two remarkable years, he served the Press Trust of India with an unwavering commitment to accuracy and balance. His long journey with the news agency took him from the bustling newsrooms of Mumbai and New Delhi to Cuttack, before he ultimately spent a decade shaping the agency’s voice as the bureau chief in Bhubaneswar until his retirement in 2003.
He bore witness to history, reporting deeply on the state’s politics, natural disasters, and the quiet struggles of everyday governance. Yet, it was his profound humility, his compassionate nature, and his graceful presence that earned him the enduring love of his peers and the deep respect of leaders across the state.
His rich legacy of storytelling and public service continues through his family, as his son, Shri Ajit Kumar Dash, serves the state’s media landscape as the Editor of the popular vernacular daily, ‘The Sanchar’.
Among others Odisha Head of Press Trust of India, Shri Arabinda Mishra paid last respect to the departed soul on behalf of PTI Family.
The grief of his loss ripples far beyond the newsroom. Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi shared his sorrow, noting that his passing is an irreparable loss to the media world of Odisha, remembering him as a man whose high standards and impartial presentation set a true benchmark for future generations.
Former Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik also expressed his profound sadness, paying tribute to a highly respected figure who left an indelible mark on the state.
While the state mourns a journalistic giant, a family grieves a deeply loved patriarch. He is survived by his two sons and two daughters, who now face the heavy quiet of his absence, just over a year after the passing of his beloved wife, Priyambada Dash.
Today, as colleagues, leaders, and citizens pray for the eternal peace of his soul, Odisha says a tearful goodbye to a compassionate colleague and a beautiful mind whose legacy will live on in every journalist he so generously mentored.