Odisha CM’s sister & eminent author Geeta Mehta passes away

Bhubaneswar: Eminent author, documentary film maker and journalist Geeta Mehta (80) passed away in Delhi today.

Geeta is the daughter of legendary leader Biju Patnaik and elder sister of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. She had married to renowned American publisher late Sonny Mehta.

Born to Biju and Gyan Patnaik in Delhi in 1943, Geeta had her education in India and University of Cambridge in UK. She had penned five books: Karma Cola, Snake and ladders, A River Sutra, Raj and The Eternal Ganesha.

The Chief Minister will leave for Delhi tomorrow morning to attend Geeta’s last rites, sources said.

Geeta had portrayed India’s glorious history, culture and religion in her writings. Her books were translated into 13 languages and published in 27 countries.

She had produced and directed 14 television documentaries for UK, European countries and United States.

Geeta was the war correspondent for the United States television network of National Broadcasting Company during the 1970s.

She had declined to accept Padma Shri award in 2019.