Bhubaneswar: Veteran journalist Ratikanta Mohanty passed away at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Saturday following a prolonged illness. He was 70.
Mohanty, who was ailing for the past few years due to kidney-related issues, breathed his last in the morning. He is survived by wife, Sipra Mohanty, and two daughters, Puja and Bandana.
During his long innings in journalism that spanned over four decades, Mohanty worked with several news organisations including The Asian Age, Dinalipi, Swarajya and Parjyabyakak. He covered governance and politics beat for around four decades. He was also associated with news agency Hindusthan Samachar.
A host of dignitaries, including Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, have expressed deep grief over the demise of Mohanty.
ବରିଷ୍ଠ ସାମ୍ବାଦିକ ରତିକାନ୍ତ ମହାନ୍ତିଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ମର୍ମାହତ। ରତି ଭାଇ ଭାବରେ ରାଜ୍ୟର ସାମାଜିକ ଓ ରାଜନୈତିକ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ସେ ବେଶ୍ ଜଣାଶୁଣା ଥିଲେ। ତାଙ୍କର ଦୀର୍ଘ ସାମ୍ବାଦିକତା ଜୀବନରେ ସଚ୍ଚୋଟତା, ନିରପେକ୍ଷତା ଓ କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟନିଷ୍ଠା ପାଇଁ ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ରହିବେ। ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକ…
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) April 19, 2025
“Deeply saddened to hear about the passing away of senior journalist Ratikant Mohanty. I have many experiences and memories with Rati Bhai. I knew him since student politics. He was a person who led a simple and austere life. He was very friendly with people in both social and political fields,” Dharmendra Pradhan said in a post on X handle.
The Union Minister said that Mohanty was a unique personality in the field of journalism. “Pray for his immortal soul to rest in peace and convey condolences to the bereaved family. May Mahaprabhu Jagannath endow the family with limitless patience and strength at the time of extreme sorrow,” he added.
