Noted author, political activist and Magsaysay award winner Mahasweta Devi passed away at the age of 90. The celebrated author was on a ventilator support at a private hospital in Kolkata where she was admitted due to age-related ailments in the beginning of July.
Known for her tireless work for upliftment of tribals across the country, Mahasweta Devi was also said to be suffering from blood-related diseases along urinary tract infection. She had suffered a cardiac stroke late Wednesday night. The author breathed her last on Thursday afternoon.
Political leaders and intellectuals across the nation have expressed their grief at her passing and everyone from the Prime Minister to Rahul Gandhi to Mamata Banerjee has tweeted their condolences.
Mahashweta Devi wonderfully illustrated the might of the pen. A voice of compassion, equality & justice, she leaves us deeply saddened. RIP.— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 28, 2016
A powerful voice against injustice & inequality.Mahasweta Devi's words will continue to inspire &educate.Heartfelt condolences on her demise— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) July 28, 2016
Deeply saddened by the demise of eminent litterateur and social activist Mahasweta Devi. Heartfelt condolences to her family & followers.— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) July 28, 2016
Rest in peace Mahasweta Devi pic.twitter.com/vMWjn8dz9f— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 28, 2016
India has lost a great daughter. Eminent litterateur &social activist Mahasweta Devi passed away today.Condolences to her family & relatives— Vinit Goenka (@vinitgoenka) July 28, 2016
Saddened by the demise of #MahaswetaDevi, the acclaimed author-activist. Her death is an irreparable loss to Indian literature & society.— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) July 28, 2016
India today has lost an eminent litterateur and a powerful voice of weaker sections. Deeply pained by Mahasweta Devi ji's demise— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) July 28, 2016
#Mahasweta Devi JI,lived life of commitment,dedication to social causes,.Her literary contribution is exemplary.Shall miss both of these.— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) July 28, 2016
RIP Mahasweta Devi. A terrible loss for literature. A great writer and extraordinary activist; a woman with a warm, generous heart.— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) July 28, 2016
Saddened by demise of noted litterateur, social activist Mahasweta Devi. Irreparable loss for Indian literature. RIP pic.twitter.com/YzyHX9xAXQ— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 28, 2016
Deeply saddened by demise of Mahasweta Devi ji. Her extraordinary contributions as a writer & social activist will be eternally remembered.— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) July 28, 2016
I offer my condolences to the family of noted author & eminent social activist Mahashweta Devi ji. May the departed soul rest in peace.— Dr Raman Singh (@drramansingh) July 28, 2016
To work among tribals and scheduled castes, I found reading Mahashweta Devi and Ashapurna Devi is a must— Tarun Vijay (@Tarunvijay) July 28, 2016
PM Shri @narendramodi condoles the demise of Indian social activist and writer Smt. Mahashweta Devi:https://t.co/VN1lH5Vii7— MIB India (@MIB_India) July 28, 2016
#RIP Deeply saddened by death of social activist & writer #MahaShwetaDevi Ji.Her contribution wl always inspire us. pic.twitter.com/YvFznN5pqr— C R Paatil (@CRPaatil) July 28, 2016
RIP #MahashwetaDevi Her pen was more powerful than thousand revolutionaries -I always believed that real history is made by ordinary people— Tarun Vijay (@Tarunvijay) July 28, 2016
Mahasweta Devi died. Stood by me during my bad times. The socially committed writer was later involved with TMC & wanted to see Mamta as PM.— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) July 28, 2016