Eminent Educationist Passes Away at Nakachana Gate After Darshan of Chaturdhamurti
Kakatpur, 27/6: Lakshmidhar Khuntia, a well-known educationist, former President of the Kakatpur Block Congress, a member of the governing body of Mangala Mahavidyalaya, and a lifelong member of Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, passed away on Tuesday. He was also known for his oratory skills and was a highly respected and talented personality of the region.
On the day of the Navami Darshan of the Chaturdhamurti at the Janmabedi of Lord Jagannath, after completing the darshan, he experienced chest pain near the Nakachana Gate and collapsed there. He was immediately rushed to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
News of his death spread quickly, leading many notable individuals and relatives to rush to Puri. His native village Neelakanthapur and the entire Kakatpur area plunged into deep mourning.
Late Khuntia began his career as a teacher and later served as the headmaster of Janata High School. He later worked as headmaster at Hadibandhu Vidyapeeth in Cuttack and earned affection from all during his journey from Cuttack to Kakatpur. He was known as a humble, kind-hearted, philanthropic, and politically influential figure in the region.
Following his demise, several dignitaries expressed deep condolences, including Minister of Sports, Youth & Home Affairs Tusharkanti Behera; Puri Zilla Parishad Vice-President Swadhin Kumar Nayak; Panchayat Samiti Chairperson Sridhar Nayak; former MP Ranjib Biswal; former Minister Prasad Harichandan; Khurda MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik; Krushak Cell President Amiya Ranjan Patnaik; former Chairman of Mangala Mahavidyalaya Jamehswar Dikshit; President of Kakatpur Press Club Kamal Lochan Dikshit; and President of the Puri District Working Journalists’ Association Tribikram Ramkrushna Mahapatra, among others.
His mortal remains were brought from Puri to his residence in Kakatpur in a decorated funeral procession, and he was cremated at Prachi Ghat crematorium, where his eldest son, Soumyakant Khuntia (Lulu), performed the last rites.
There is widespread discussion in the region that with his passing, Sri Khuntia has attained heavenly abode (Vaikuntha prapti).
