Hyderabad:  The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) and Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) expressed   deep sorrow over the sudden demise of prominent journalist and the Editor of Sakshi Daily Mr. K N Y Patanjali at a private hospital in Visakhapatnam in the early hours of Wednesday. In a statement issued here today, K Sreenivas Reddy, Secretary-General of IJU, D Somasundar, President and Y Narender Reddy, General Secretary of APUWJ said with the passing away of Mr. Patanjali, the world of journalism and literature in Andhra Pradesh lost a stalwart. 

Paying glowing tributes to Patanjali, K Sreenivas Reddy, D Somasundar and Y Narender Reddy said, he was rare combination of versatile writer and journalist and left his mark in the newspapers he worked and earned a legion of admirers. The void created by his death could not be filled easily, they added.

Earlier in the day, K Sreenivas Reddy and D Somasundar who were in Visakhapatnam visited the private hospital where Patanjali breathed his last and paid floral homage to him. They extended condolences to the members of the bereaved family.

Born in 1952 in the Alamanda Village of Vizianagaram district, Patanjali started his journalistic career in Eenadu in 1975 at Visakhapatnam. After working in various capacities in Eenadu at Visakhapatnam and Tirupati, he joined Udayam as New Editor in 1994. After the closure of Udayam, he worked in several newspapers including, Andhra Bhoomi, Andhra Prabha. He joined Sakshi as Editor in 2008.

Patanjali is a well known writer in Telugu and penned a number of novels and short stories. His writings include, Veerabhobbili, khakhivanam, Pilaka Tirugudu Puvvu, Oka Deyyam  Atma Katha, Rajugari Veta Kathalu etc.