KOLKATA: It’s a truly sad time for the country.

Sunil Gangopadhyay, aged 78, died of a heart attack in the early hours of Tuesday at his residence in Kolkata. He was one of India’s most eminent writers and a stalwart of Bengali literature.

Gangopadhyay was the President of the Sahitya Akademi, and a prolific poet and novelist. The author of short stories, novels, plays and children’s literature had always maintained that poetry was his first love. He was most widely regarded as the foremost connoisseur of Bengali literature.

Gangopadhyay had a fatal fall on the night of October 22, at his home in Kolkata. His body was taken to the funeral home ‘Peace Haven’ from the hospital where it will preserved till his cremation on Wednesday, according to reports. The poet won the prestigious literary award, the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1985 for his novel ‘Sei Samay’. His notable and best-selling works were ‘Pratham Alo’ and ‘Purbo-Paschim’.

Legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray adapted his novels ‘Pratidwandi’ and ‘Aranyer Din Raatri’ into widely acclaimed feature films.