The sacred flames at Swargadwar will soon carry the mortal remains of Ramakanta Rath to eternity as Odisha bids a solemn farewell to the celebrated Odia poet and distinguished bureaucrat with full state honours on Monday.
Rath, whose poetry distilled the mysteries of existence into hauntingly beautiful verses, passed away at the age of 91 in the quiet hours of Sunday morning at his residence in Kharavela Nagar, Bhubaneswar. His departure leaves a profound void in the literary world, with admirers turning to his words for solace.
His final journey leads him to the sacred sands of Puri, where the government has arranged his last rites with the highest state honours. News of his passing has cast a long shadow over Odisha’s literary and cultural landscape. Mourners from all walks of life, including dignitaries and admirers, gathered at his Bhubaneswar residence to pay their respects, offering floral tributes to the man whose words once set hearts ablaze.
A towering figure in modern Odia literature, Rath’s oeuvre includes masterpieces such as Sandeha Mrugaya, Saptama Ritu, Sachitra Andhara, and Sriradha—works that reshaped Odia poetry. He was honoured with the Sahitya Akademi Award for Saptama Ritu, the prestigious Saraswati Samman in 1992, and the Padma Bhushan in 2006, among numerous accolades.
Born in Cuttack on December 13, 1934, Rath earned a master’s degree in English from Ravenshaw College before joining the Indian Administrative Service in 1957. His early postings in Kalahandi and Phulbani deepened his understanding of Odisha’s diverse social fabric, influencing his poetic sensibilities. Rising through the ranks, he served as Odisha’s Chief Secretary and later as Secretary to the Government of India. Following his retirement in 1992, he worked internationally as a consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization in Guyana and held esteemed positions such as Vice-President of the Kendriya Sahitya Akademi and Honorary Chairman of the Odisha Maritime Academy.
As Odisha prepares to bid him a final farewell, his legacy endures—woven into the verses he penned, resonating in the hearts of those who found solace and inspiration in his words.
