Bhubaneswar: Eminent personalities including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik have expressed deep grief over the passing away of noted sculptor and Rajya Sabha member Raghunath Mohapatra due to COVID-19.
Renowned sculptor from Odisha, Padma Vibhushan Raghunath Mohapatra passed away on Sunday at the age of 78 years. Mohapatra was undergoing treatment at Bhubaneswar AIIMS after testing COVID-19 positive a few days ago.
The Prime Minister took to Twitter to express his condolences:-
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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 9, 2021
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also tweeted:-
Anguished by the passing away of the doyen of stone sculpture, an illustrious son of Odisha and Rajya Sabha MP Padma Vibhushan Shri Raghunath Mohapatra. A man who could infuse life into stones, Raghunath ji was one of the biggest ambassadors of Odisha’s art, culture and history. pic.twitter.com/pyH2LdhCjC
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) May 9, 2021
Raghunath ji’s passing away is a great loss for the cultural world of Odisha as well as a personal one for me. May Mahaprabhu Jagannath give strength to his family in this hour of grief and also grant Sadgati to the departed. ॐ शांति:
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) May 9, 2021
Odisha Chief Minister, who was regularly enquiring about the health condition of the illustrious sculptor, also expressed deep grief. He tweeted:-
ଅନ୍ତର୍ଜାତୀୟ ଖ୍ୟାତି ସମ୍ପନ୍ନ ଶିଳ୍ପୀ ତଥା ସାଂସଦ ରଘୁନାଥ ମହାପାତ୍ରଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଓଡ଼ିଶାର କଳା ଓ ଐତିହ୍ୟକୁ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ କରିବା ଦିଗରେ ତାଙ୍କ ଅତୁଳନୀୟ ଅବଦାନ ପାଇଁ ସେ ସର୍ବଦା ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ରହିବେ। ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର ସଦସ୍ୟଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି।
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) May 9, 2021
Odisha Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal also expressed anguish over the sad demise of the sculptor of international repute. He took to Twitter and wrote:-
Hon’ble Governor is anguished to learn about the sad demise of sculptor of international repute & RajyaSabha Member Sri Raghunath Mohapatra and conveyed his sympathy to his family & friends. ‘He will be eternally remembered for his exquisite sculptures,’observed Hon’ble Governor.
— Governor Odisha (@GovernorOdisha) May 9, 2021
Vice President of India, Venkiah Naidu also expressed deep grief and condolences to the bereaved family.
Anguished to learn about the passing away of Shri Raghunath Mohapatra, Member of Rajya Sabha and noted sculptor. My deepest condolences to his family and admirers in this hour of grief. Om Shanti.
— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) May 9, 2021
President of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee, Niranjan Patnaik also expressed condolences and wrote:-
Padma Vibhushan Shri Raghunath Mohapatra was an internationally famed sculptor who also served the people of Odisha effectively as a diligent MP of Rajya Sabha. His passing away is a great loss to Odisha and India. My deepest condolences to his family. Om Shanti ?? pic.twitter.com/BA6K0fz3xc
— Niranjan Patnaik (@NPatnaikOdisha) May 9, 2021
Union Minister Pratap Sarangi, who met with a minor road accident earlier today, also took to the micro-blogging site to expressed condolences:-
Shocked to know that Padma Bibhusan Dr. Raghunath Mohapatra, Nominated MP from @RajyaSabha succumbed to #COVID19 at AIIMS, BBSR . A renowned sculptor & architect, Dr. Mohapatra has trained generations of students & contributed to the richness of Odisha’s stone carving traditions.
— Pratap Sarangi (@pcsarangi) May 9, 2021
