Bhubaneswar: Shibaram Mahapatra, the former prant Sanghachalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Utkal Prant, passed away on the night of January 21. His demise has deeply saddened Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and many other prominent figures who have expressed their heartfelt condolences.
Mahapatra served as the prant Sanghachalak of Utkal Prant for many years. Prior to that, he held the positions of Sah-Prant Sanghachalakand Vibhag Sanghachalakof Ganjam Vibhag. Known affectionately as “Bada Bhaina” (elder brother) among swayamsevaks, he was a senior member of the esteemed Grantha Mandir publication family in Odisha. Mahapatra was a regular contributor to the weekly Rashtradeep, where he wrote poetry and essays. His humorous writings, published under the title Barta Bilasa, were particularly admired. His kind nature left a lasting impression on all who knew him; he was renowned for his hospitality, ensuring that every visitor to his home was well-fed. Even in his later years, he continued his regular pravas programme.
Mahapatra also played a pivotal role as the president of the prant-level committee established to commemorate the birth centenary of Shri Guruji.
Samir Kumar Mohanty, Prant Sanghachalakof RSS Odisha (Purba Prant), expressed profound sorrow at Mahapatra’s passing and conveyed his condolences to the grieving family.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Shibaram Mahapatra.
ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରୀୟ ସ୍ଵୟଂସେବକ ସଂଘ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ପ୍ରାନ୍ତର ପୂର୍ବତନ ପ୍ରାନ୍ତ ସଂଘ ଚାଳକ ଶିବରାମ ମହାପାତ୍ରଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଗଭୀର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି I
ଓଁ ଶାନ୍ତି 🙏 pic.twitter.com/XfBnryCSz5
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) January 22, 2025
On social media, he expressed, “I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Shibaram Mahapatra, the former Sanghachalakof the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Utkal Prant. I pray to Lord Jagannath for the eternal peace of the departed soul and extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. Om Shanti.”
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his condolences on social media platform X.
ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରୀୟ ସ୍ଵୟଂସେବକ ସଂଘ ବିଚାର ପରିବାରର ପୂର୍ବତନ ପ୍ରାନ୍ତ ସଂଘ ଚାଳକ ତଥା ଓଡିଶାରେ ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠିତ ନୀଳକଣ୍ଠ ସରସ୍ଵତୀ ଶିଶୁ ବିଦ୍ୟାମନ୍ଦିରର ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠାତା ସଭାପତି ଶିବରାମ ମହାପାତ୍ରଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ମର୍ମାହତ । ମିଷ୍ଟଭାଷୀ, ପରୋପକାରୀ ସ୍ୱଭାବ ତଥା ବଡ଼ ଭାଇନା ନାମରେ ସେ ଥିଲେ ସର୍ବବିଦିତ । ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ଶିଶୁ…
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) January 21, 2025
He wrote, “I am deeply pained and saddened by the passing of Shibaram Mahapatra, the former Sanghachalakof the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the founding chairman of the esteemed Nilakantha Nagar Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir in Odisha. Known for his gentle demeanour and philanthropic spirit, Mahapatra, affectionately called ‘Bada Bhaina,’ played a pioneering role in the Shishu Vidya Mandir movement in Odisha. This movement was founded in his own home, a testament to his unwavering commitment to education. Throughout his life, he actively promoted the ideals and goals of the RSS through his writing and various efforts. His contributions to education and nationalism will always be remembered. I pray for the eternal peace of his soul and extend my condolences to the bereaved family. Om Shanti.”
Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo also expressed profound sorrow over the demise of Shibaram Mahapatra.
ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରୀୟ ସ୍ଵୟଂସେବକ ସଂଘ (ଆର.ଏସ.ଏସ.) ଓଡ଼ିଶା ପ୍ରାନ୍ତର ପୂର୍ବତନ ପ୍ରାନ୍ତ ସଂଘ ଚାଳକ ଶିବରାମ ମହାପାତ୍ରଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ତାଙ୍କର ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ତାଙ୍କ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗ ଙ୍କୁ ଏହି ଦୁଃଖଦ ସମୟ ରେ ଧର୍ଯ୍ୟ ପ୍ରଦାନ କରନ୍ତୁ।
ଓଁ ଶାନ୍ତି 🙏 pic.twitter.com/FYkN7npwRA
— Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo (Modiji Ka Parivar) (@KVSinghDeo1) January 22, 2025
In his condolence message, he wrote, “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Shibaram Mahapatra, former Sanghachalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Odisha Prant. May Lord Jagannath grant eternal peace to his soul and provide strength to his family during this difficult time.”
