Dumka, July 17: Social activist Nitish K. Das, popularly know as Danu Da, passed away today.

He was 75. Das, who died after prolonged illness, is survived by a son. His last desire to became a “shanti doot” at Naxalite-hit areas was not fulfilled because of his adverse health.

His zeal for helping the underprivileged had made Das, who started his career as a journalist with a vernacular daily in the Sixties, run an NGO, Banaspati Sampada Sanasthan, which served the purposes of many endangered Paharia community. He used to spend most of his time at hilltop Paharia villages. He was also awarded by the Union government for his outstanding contribution in tracing the place and throne of the Kanchanghar dynasty inside a cave in Pakur’s Hiranpur block.