Catholics in Odisha have mourned the death of Malakias Nayak, a renowned poet who wrote Odiya liturgical hymns and prayers.

Nayak died on April 24 in his residence at Bodopada of Gajapati district of Odisha. He was 75.

He hailed from Aligonda parish of Berhampur diocese.

The writer had under-gone a brain surgery a few months ago and was undergoing treatment since January.

The poet was survived by his wife Jahida Khan, a Muslim-convert to Catholicism, four sons and three daughters. His second son, Jesuit Father Mahesh Nayak, conducted the funeral Mass at 4 am on April 25 in their parish church.

“It is heart breaking news for me because he was my favorite teacher in all respect,” says Martin Pradhan, a student of Nayak. “He was not only a teacher but also a good writer, poetics and dramatist,” Pradhan told Matters India over phone on April 25.