New Delhi: Daughter of Legendary Leader Late Biju Patnaik and Elder Sister of CM Shri Naveen Patnaik, Smt. Gita Mehta earned a lot of accolade for her writing.Geeta Mehta, renowned author, documentary filmmaker, and journalist, passed away today in Delhi, India. She was 79 years old. Mehta was born in Delhi in 1943 to Biju Patnaik, an Indian independence activist and Chief Minister of Odisha, and Gyan Patnaik, a writer and social worker. She was the elder sister of Naveen Patnaik, the current Chief Minister of Odisha. Mehta was educated in India and at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. She began her career as a journalist, working for the Indian Express and The Times of India. In 1970, she moved to the United States to work as a television war correspondent for NBC.
She covered the Bangladesh Liberation War and produced a documentary film, Dateline Bangladesh, which was shown in cinemas both in India and abroad. Mehta is best known for her books, which explore Indian culture, history, and politics. Her first book, Karma Cola (1979), is a satirical novel about the Indian advertising industry. Her second book, A River Sutra (1993), is a memoir of her childhood growing up on the banks of the Mahanadi River in Odisha. Her third book, The Raj (2007), is a non-fiction account of British rule in India. Her fourth and final book, Eternal Ganesha (2010), is a meditation on the Hindu god Ganesha.
Mehta’s books have been translated into 21 languages and have been on the bestseller lists in Europe, the United States, and India. She has also produced and directed 14 television documentaries for UK, European, and US networks. Mehta was a recipient of numerous awards, including the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honor. She was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Mehta is survived by her son, Aditya Singh Mehta. In Memoriam: Geeta Mehta Geeta Mehta was a towering figure in Indian literature and journalism. Her books and films offered insightful and nuanced perspectives on Indian culture, history, and politics. She was a fearless writer and filmmaker who was not afraid to challenge the status quo. Her work will continue to inspire and inform readers and viewers for generations to come.
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