Padma Shri recipient Binod Kumar Pasayat, a renowned Sambalpuri playwright, poet and lyricist, passed away in Odisha’s Sambalpur on Wednesday, August 20. He was 91.
Pasayat, who was battling prostate cancer, passed away on Wednesday after being admitted to the district headquarters hospital in Sambalpur in the morning, his son Biswajit Pasayat informed.
On the passing away of the Padma Shri awardee, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed deep grief and paid their tributes to the departing soul.
“His demise is an irreparable loss to our literature and culture. I pray to Lord Jagannath for the heavenly abode of the departed soul and to provide strength to his family to bear the loss,” Majhi wrote in a post shared on X.
ପଦ୍ମଶ୍ରୀ ପୁରସ୍କାର ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ନାଟ୍ୟକାର, କବି ଓ ସାହିତ୍ୟିକ ବିନୋଦ କୁମାର ପଶାୟତଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ । ତାଙ୍କର ବିୟୋଗ ଆମ ସାହିତ୍ୟ ଓ ସଂସ୍କୃତି ପାଇଁ ଏକ ଅପୂରଣୀୟ କ୍ଷତି। ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରୁଛି ଯେ ସେ ଦିବଙ୍ଗତ ଆତ୍ମାଙ୍କୁ ଶାନ୍ତି ପ୍ରଦାନ କରିବା ସହ ତାଙ୍କ…
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) August 20, 2025
Pradhan said, in a post on X, said that Pasayat had made invaluable contributions to Sambalpuri literature and music for decades, bringing pride to Odisha,
I am deeply saddened and heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of Padma Shree Binod Kumar Pasayat, the distinguished playwright, poet, and writer from Sambalpur. For decades, he made invaluable contributions to Sambalpuri literature and music, bringing pride to our state. He was a silent devotee. His contributions to the world of Sambalpuri literature will remain forever memorable. Praying for the eternal peace of the departed soul, I extend my condolences to the bereaved family. Om Shanti,” the Union Minister posted on X.
https://twitter.com/dpradhanbjp/status/1958060166244626926
Born on December 3, 1935, in Kusmel village, Pasayat later moved to Sambalpur in 1953 and settled. There, he made significant contributions to literature and music. He was a recognized artist for All India Radio and Doordarshan.
He was widely known for his Sambalpuri bhajan, “Hai Krishna Hai Krishna Boli.” He was conferred Padma Shri in 2024.
