By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s Brother-in-Law and husband of Geeta Mehta was on Monday late passed away. He was 77 and was World’s prominent publisher Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Knopf Doubleday.
Mehta, was the Son-in-Law of legendary Biju Patnaik Sonny is the husband of Biju Babu and Gyan Patnaik’s only daughter Gita Mehta. Naveen spent most of his time in the youth with Gita and Sonny, who have literary activities across the world.
“I am deeply grieved by the passing away of my Brother in Law Sonny Mehta (Husband of my sister Gita Mehta). He was one of the world’s best editors and an extremely civilized person. May his soul rest in peace,” tweeted Patnaik.
BJP National VP-Spokesperson Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda has also condoled the detah. Several BJD leaders have also remembered the departed soul.
Sonny Mehta had won Lifetime Achievement Awards for publishing in India, UK and United States. He was also named 2015 Person of the Year by Publishers Weekly.
Sonny began his publishing career way back in 1965 in London at Rupert Hart-Davis and later then joined Granda Publishing in 1966 to co-found a new publishing house, Paladin.
Mr.Mehta was instrumental in bringing iconic American writers to the UK public. After moving to Pan Books in 1972, Biju Babu’s Son-in-Law also published books of best-selling authors by publishing writers who went on to become household names such as Jackie Collins and Duoglas Adams.
