Prez-PM condoles demise of MP Raghunath Mohapatra
By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: The President Ramnath Kovind and Prime Minister Prime Narendra Modi have expressed grief over the demise of MP Shri Raghunath Mohapatra Ji. “With the passing away of Raghunath Mohapatra, the field of art has become poorer. A very talented sculptor of traditional forms, he was honoured with all the three Padma awards. His absence is an irreparable loss. My condolences to his family, friends and followers,”President of India tweeted @rashtrapatibhvn.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, “Saddened by the demise of MP Shri Raghunath Mohapatra Ji. He made pioneering contributions to the world of art, architecture and culture. He will be remembered for his contributions towards popularising traditional crafts. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. Om Shanti.”
“ସୁପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ମୂର୍ତ୍ତିକାର ଓ ରାଜ୍ୟସଭା ସାଂସଦ ପଦ୍ମବିଭୂଷଣ ରଘୁନାଥ ମହାପାତ୍ର ଜୀଙ୍କ ନିଧନ ଖବରରେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ।ଦେଶର ପାରମ୍ପରିକ ଶିଳ୍ପକଳାକୁ ଦେଶ ବିଦେଶ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପହଞ୍ଚାଇବାରେ ତାଙ୍କର ଯୋଗଦାନ ଅତୁଳନୀୟ। ତାଙ୍କ ପରିବାର ଓ ପ୍ରଶଂସକଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ।ଇଶ୍ୱର ତାଙ୍କ ଆତ୍ମାକୁ ଶାନ୍ତି ପ୍ରଦାନ କରନ୍ତୁ । ଓଁ ଶାନ୍ତି,” BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda tweeted @JPNadda.
BJP MP and Ace sculptor, Mohapatra passed away here at AIIMS on Sunday evening. He was 78. Mr.Mohapatra was hospitalized at AIIMS Bhubaneswar for more than two weeks after having tested positive for coronavirus.He was awarded Padma Vibhusan in 2013. Mr.Mohapatra has trained more than 2,000 students and has restored many monuments. Mohapatra was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in July, 2018.
Mohapatra’s sons, Prashant and Jasobant are also undergoing treatment for COVID-19. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken to Jasobant, to enquire about their health a couple of days back.Born in Puri, Mr.Mohapatra was awarded Padma Shri in 1976 and Padma Bhushan award in 2001. He was nominated by the Ministry of External Affairs as a Member of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in 2000. He served as a Senior Instructor and Superintendent of Handicraft Training & Designing center, Government of Odisha, Bhubaneswar since 1963.
