Nikhil Sarkar, an author and journalist attached to the editorial department of Ananda Bazar Patrika, died on Tuesday at his Salt Lake residence. He was 73.

Sarkar is survived by his wife and daughter.

Sarkar was admitted to a nursing home with lung cancer. He returned home five days ago.

Born in Gouripur village of Mymensingh district in 1932, Sarkar graduated in history from Calcutta University. He began his career with Jugantar and joined Ananda Bazar in the sixties.

Sarkar wrote several books, like Ajab Nagari, Sripanthar Kolkata, Mohanto Elokeshi, Harem and Devdashi, under his pen name Sripantha. He was awarded the Ananda Purashkar in 1978.