SAINT WITH A HEALING TOUCH DR. JAGANNATH MOHAPATRA,BHUBANESWAR
Prasanta Patnaik,Sr.Media Person
I lost my very close friend for six decades, Dr Jagannath Mohapatra on 14 th June 2023 . A well-known physician, who had cured thousands of poorest of the poor patients during past many decades, breathed his last because of several health complications.
A doctor by profession, he was the last chairman of the Bhubaneswar municipality in 1997 before it was transformed into Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation in 2000. He was also the Vice President of All India Mayors Association.
He was associated with Puja Committee of Saheed Nagar. He had organised Ravanpodi in Bhubaneswar and a grand immersion procession of all the deities of the city with fire -works and elephants.
Born on January 14, 1939, at Karata Sasan in Cuttack, he was a known philanthropist and politician.
He had joined the Congress and was actively involved in party activities for several years. Mohapatra served at many hospitals including Capital Hospital in the city. He also founded Jagannath Hospital at Saheed Nagar which is a multi-disciplinary with special emphasis for treatment of children.
He is survived by his wife Sanghamitra Misra, who retired as Professor of Odia from Utkal University and is a known literary critic and writer. His only son Dr Abinash is a dental surgeon. His only daughter Mama is an educationist .
His last rites were performed at Satyanagar crematorium.
Dr Jagannath , who was “ Jaga Daktar” for me was very close to most of the media persons in Bhubaneswar and virtually was a family physician for many senior journalists like Swarup Jena, Nagen Beuria, Rama Krushna Behera, Rabi Narayan Mohanty, R.P. Bagchi, Rabi Das etc. He was virtually a family member of mine because of our close association.
He was a friend in need , and I have seen him how sincerely he was treating Kuni Bhai ( Swarup Jena) during his illness after being beaten up mercilessly by the police. Since Kuni Bhai could not recover from the illness and breathed his last, it was Dr Jagannath who organised to shift his body to Satyanagar crematorium along with Jagadish Pani and few family members. He stood solidly behind Champak bhauja and minor sons Dipu and Papu ( Ananga and Arkadev) . I have seen him consoling Papu and Dipu during their performing the rituals of “Mukhagni”.
As a student of S.C.B. Medical College, Dr Jagannath was very much active in social and cultural activities. He was loved by many as a good actor in stage and films. He was smart, well-dressed and loved to look young. He was never seen with grey hairs and moustaches.
Dr Jagannath was extending free medical service to the poor and was providing them the physicians samples and treating everyone with a smile, He rarely missed any social function and used to attend all along with Bhauja.
Since it was not possible for many patients to consult renowned professors of S.C.B. Medical College, Cuttack and avail their treatment, Dr Jagannath was instrumental in proving consultation, treatment and surgery facilities from senior professors like Dr Tejeswar Rao, Dr Sukumar Das , sr. S.N. Tripathy etc. at his clinic in Bhubaneswar.
Dr Jagannath, was associated with a number of socio-cultural organisations in Bhubaneswar and the people of the Capital City adequately responded by electing him as the Chairman of Bhubaneswar Municipality . During his tenure lots od developmental works were executed including the Bhawani Mall in Saheed Nagar. He was loved by Chief Ministers like Biju Patnaik, Janaki Bal;lav Patnaik, Binayak Acharya, Nandini Sathapathy .
As a close friend , I have seen him successfully perusing many drug addicts to stay away from drugs. Like Lord Jagannath, Dr Jagannath was a friend and well-wisher of the suffering lot. He was very much supported by Sanghamitra Bhauja and the children for which he could rise so high.
In true sense he was a saint with a healing touch who successfully cured hundreds and thousands. In preconisation of his selfless service associated Media Foundation had presented him with Chandraprava Smruti Seva Samman in 2021 which consisted of an exclusive image of Lord Jagannath in Sunavesa and a citation highlighting his selfless service for the poor and downtrodden.
84 years were not too high for an expert medical practitioner like Dr Jagnnath ( My Jaga Daktar) to leave the world leaving behind thousands of poor patients, well wishers and friends. I am left with no alternatives than to pray Lord Jagannath to place his pious soul under His lotus feet in peace and give enough strength to Sanghamitra Bhauja and the family members to bear the great loss with heavy heart.
