By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Late Engineer Purna Chandra Rath was a man of many parts. He was a fulsome human being having several virtues. A Kaleidoscopic personality, Late Er. Rath was a paragon of diligence, character, truthfulness, simplicity, principle, discipline, humanity, generosity and charity. He attained name and fame because of his unwavering work ethics, unstinted determination, unparalleled duty boundship, undeterred frugality, unflinching integrity, uncompromising principles, undiluting discipline, unconditional righteousness and unprecedented philanthropic characteristics. His charitable pursuits nutured from an early age left an indelible mark on the lives of his native locality. In case of adversities and natural calamities, he always comes out first to the rescue of his villagers and offers relief materials to them at the earliest.
Late Purna Chandra Rath was born on 25th April 1937 in the village of Pateni Gaon of Katakia Sahi under Athagarh Tahasil of Cuttack district. He confronted hardships in early age due to the untimely death of his father. With the support of his two elder brothers and uncle, he could successfully pursue his higher study.
Er. Rath had the rarest distinction of becoming the first graduate in both Science and Civil Engineering of his area in the year1959. He served in various departments of Government of Odisha as an engineer and earned accolades for his exemplary efficiency and extraordinary professionalism. Er. Rath got married to noted women leader and renowned social activist Late Dayamayee Rath in 1965. Smt. Rath was not only his life partner, but was a beacon of light house along with him for the people of Athagarh and nearby areas.
An erudite writer, Er. Purna Chandra Rath attempted to make civil engineering knowledge and construction technology to be accessible to every household of Odisha through his ground breaking work, “Basa Kala”. He has written this Book in user friendly Odia language with an aim to serve as a valuable guide for common Odia people in constructing their homes effectively.
Er. Purna Chandra Rath’s creative excellence was not limited to engineering field only. He had tremendous depth of knowledge and had extensive research on the widespread tapestry of Odisha’s tradition, history and ethos, vibrant Indian culture and rich art horizon of the world. Away from being an acknowledged writer, he was also an accomplished painter, having number of invaluable paintings to his credit. A fulsome personality in real sense, Purna Chandra Rath truly embodied fullness in Knowledge, skill and workmanship. Er. Rath left for his heavenly abode on 15th October 2020 at the age of 84. Though he is no longer with us in physical realm, but his loving memories are etched in our hearts and minds forever.
Er. Purna Chandra Rath has left his able successors like eldest son famous Educationist Dr. Pravat Kumar Rath, younger son Abu Dhabi based eminent Engineer Pradeep Kumar Rath, Daughter Dr. Padmalaya Rath and daughters- in –law Priyambada Rath and Bahniprava Rath and son-in law Dr. Shiv Narayan to carry on his golden legacies and to ensure furtherance of his social commitments with same indomitable spirit and unmatched vigour.
