Dr. Pabitra Mohan A well-known personality of the Bhadrak & odisha, former student organizer of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and an eminent social thinker, Late Laxmi Mohapatra, lives on in our memories. When younger brother, Dhirendra Kar, a Non-Resident Odia living in the United States of America called me to write a few words for the souvenir to be published on the first death anniversary of our beloved Laxmi Bhai, memories of my days with him at Bhadrak College in the early 80’s kept me awake all night.
It is impossible to confine a towering personality like Laxmi Bhai to a single article. Though I had met him once or twice at Chandikhol before my college days, true intimacy was formed only during my studies and stay in Bhadrak. My first meaningful conversation with him was alongside my friend from Dhamnagar Bata and ABVP organizer Biplab Bhai. His personality—his face resembling Chhatrapati Shivaji and his organizational spirit, his narration of ABVP ( Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad ) as Atal Bihari Vaj Payee—left a deep impression on me. It was because of him that my entire student life became devoted to ABVP.
Through Laxmi Bhai, I came into contact with great personalities likes then Bhadrak college Principal Dr. Gangadhar Sahu, ABVP All odisha Student Organiser Manmohan samal, Commerce Professor Late Gokul Mohapatra, Economics Professor Late Kamalakanta Das, social worker and industrialist Late Ramdas Agarwal, advocate Late Rakhel Das, Advocate Chand, Late Nirakar Jena, Professor Brajkishore Mishra, and Professor Late Patambara Swain, among others.
After leaving Bhadrak College in 1988, I reconnected with Laxmi Bhai post the 1999 Super Cyclone, through his classmate and my elder brother, Late Srikant Paikarai,IAS then the District Magistrate of Bhadrak.
It was during those discussions that the idea of setting up a Maharshi educational institution in Bhadrak came up, and Laxmi Bhai personally called me regarding it.
From then on, most of our discussions revolved around his two prominent dreams—the declaration of Bhadrak College as Pallivarati University and the establishment of a Medical College in Bhadrak. Later, when I took over as Editor of the Odia daily PARYABEKHYAK, we had several meaningful conversations on these causes with esteemed personalities like Braj Sir and others.
In 2008, when I became a victim of the conspiracy of the then Information & Public Relations Minister and the Principal Secretary, Laxmi Bhai was among the few who stood firmly by me with blessings and courage. He was brave, fearless, and outspoken—a man who never sugarcoated his words. Many student leaders and social figures of today proudly consider themselves his disciples.
Unfortunately, he never had the opportunity to contest in direct electoral politics. In 2009, he expressed his desire to contest from Bhadrak or Bhandaripokhari constituencies. When I suggested speaking to Shri Pyari Mohan Mahapatra, the top BJD strategist of that time, Laxmi Bhai remarked, “Pyari Babu likes people like us but will never give us tickets.” I still urged Pyari Babu to give him a chance, but Pyari Babu smiled and replied, “Laxmi is a brakeless vehicle. He will ride over me first…”
Eventually, in the 2009 elections, Jugal Mohapatra and Praful Samal contested from Bhadrak and Bhandaripokhari respectively on BJD tickets.
Though
Laxmi Bhai had certain health issues His departure came only days after the demise of his beloved wife, Late Sabita Mahapatra. Both of them were guiding lights and constant sources of inspiration for us.
May the Lord bless their noble souls wherever they are.
– Editor-in-Chief, Paryabekhyak & The Kalinga Chronicle Group, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
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