Pyarimohan Mohapatra cremated

BHUBANESWAR: Pyarimohan Mohapatra’s house at plot no-A/111, Sahid Nagar, looked as deserted as any other since his exit from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) five years back.
Monday was different. As his body neared the entrance the crowd had swelled, the non-stop chanting of ‘Pyaribaboo amar rahe’ breaking the sombre and poignant atmosphere. His body was initially kept in the ground floor of his house, but had to be brought out to the green lawn as the visitors increased beyond the control of police.A person was heard requesting the public in a microphone to make lines.
Soon political leaders including Union ministers Suresh Prabhu, Dharmendra Pradhan, BJD MPs Baijayant Panda, Prasanna Patsani, Bijoy Mohapatra, PCC president Prasad Harichandan, Janardan Pati (CPIM) to name a few, thronged the place to pay homage to the departed two-time former Rajya Sabha MP.
Also, chief secretary A P Padhi, senior and retired bureaucrats, followers and well-wishers thronged his residence to pay last respect to the 77-year old person.
Earlier, as Mohapatra’s body reached the Biju Patnaik international airport from Mumbai around 1.30 pm, chief minister Naveen Patnaik and some of his ministers and MLAs paid tribute to the one-time strategist of the ruling BJD.
From the airport, the body was taken in a large procession to his home.
Fondly known as Chanakya of Odisha politics, Mohapatra died at a private hospital in Mumbai on Sunday at the age of 77. He was ill for past some months and had undergone a lungs surgery for a tumour in March, last year.
“He had a distinguished career as a civil servant and was known for his hard work and calibre. Through his organizational skills and political acumen, he had created a niche for himself in Odisha politics,” Naveen said in his condolence message.
Union minister Suresh Prabhu said Pyari Babu was one off his old friends and a known bureaucrat of the country. As it was his dream to see Odisha, a developed state, we would continue to work towards it.
Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Pyari Babu’s demise is an irreparable loss for Odisha. “He was fearless and straight forward person and had a great contribution in for development of the state,” Pradhan said.
The last journey of the stalwart started from his residence in an ambulance to city’s Satyanagar crematorium amid the beating of drums (mrudanga in local parlance) and cymbals. “Pyari Babu has left a legacy which we would try to carry forward. He would be remembered as a stalwart in Odisha politics,” said Jagneswar Babu, a close associate of Mohapatra.
Sambit, his elder son performed the last rites at the Satya Nagar crematorium. Mohapatra’s younger son Sanket, daughter Seema, other family members, ministers P K Amat and Sanjay Das Burma and a number of senior BJD leaders were also present at the funeral.