Shyamal Chowdhury, a prominent literary figure and father of Tripura’s Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury passed away on Sunday morning at a private hospital in Agartala after a prolonged illness at the age of 84.

Chowdhury is survived by his wife and his only son Sushanta Chowdhury, who serves as a second –term minister in the BJP led government in Tripura.

Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha expressed his condolences over demise of Shyamal Chowdhury  and said “I am deeply saddened by the death of Shyamal Chowdhury, a recipient of the Mukti Juddha Maitri award and the father of my cabinet colleague Sushanta Chowdhury.” His passing represents a significant loss to the literary community of the state. “In this time of bereavement, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his grieving family and pray to God to grant his departed soul eternal peace,” said Chief Minister in his condolence message.

Former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP, Biplab Kumar Deb, former deputy chief minister Jishnu Dev Varma and senior Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman also expressed their condolences over the demise of Chowdhury.

Shyamal Chowdhury, who received the ‘Mukti Juddha Maitri Award’ from the government of Bangladesh, was honored with various awards at different times, including the Special Literacy Culture Award for his contributions to education, culture and tradition.

On Sunday afternoon, Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation, Dipak Majumder, former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman and other dignitaries and litterateurs of the state paid their last respects at the Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala and has also participated in the funeral procession.