Addressing the bereaved gathering dignitaries recounted the pious and ideal life led by Smt Sulochana Mahapatra and her noble services towards suffering humanities of the locality. They described that at a stretch Smt Mahapatra was a religious, generous, simple, soft spoken, affectionate and helpful human being. A highly God fearing person, Sulochana’s entire life was dedicated, devoted and committed towards total surrender to Lord Gopal Jiu, the presiding Deity of Bilasuni.
Though not properly educated, she has written several devotional songs of very high standard. Inspite of belonging to older generation, her approach was modern, practical and pragmatic. A strong believer of “Basudhaiba Kutamabakam” philosophy, she used to treat both poor and rich as members of her own family. Starting from beggars to Biggies, whoever comes to her house, were never allowed to return with bare hands or empty stomach. With her departure residents of Bilasuni have lost their dearest mother, they observed.
Smt Mahapatra expired on 4th December at the age of 92 years. Her body was cremated at Swarga Dwara in Puri on the same day by family members and residents of Bilasuni. Her grief stricken family consists of three sons Professor of IIM, Bengaluru Dr Gopal Mahapatra, Advocate Damodar Sahu and Gujarat based Noted Entrepreneur Badri Mahapatra, three Daughters Jayashri Mahapatra, Sairendri Mahapatra and Chinmayee Mahapatra, three son–in laws Late Sukanta Senapati, Damodar Padhi, Narendra Sahu,
three daughter – in laws Manaswini Mahapatra, Rama Dei, Truptimayee Mahapatra and grand childrens like Babul, Papun, Bhakta, Asish, Silu, Chandan, Jitu, Kripita and Raja. Her youngest son Badri Mahapatra offered fire to the funeral pyre. Smt Sulochana Mahapatra was born on 1st January 1932 in Erabanga Village.Her father and mother were Jagannath Sahu and Sundarmani Dibya respectively.
She got married to Mahadeb Mahapatra,Son of Late lamented famous Zamindar of Bilasuni village Narendra Mahapatra.During her fourteenth day ritual, a Bhajan Samaroha was organized dedicating to her memory at her Balikuda residence.Renowned vocalists Manmath Mishra, Sricharan Mohanty, Sailabhama Mohapatra and Arpita Choudhury enthralled the audiences with their soul soothing devotional songs.
Eminent persons who attended memorial ceremonies of 11th day and 14th day at Bilasuni and prayer meeting in Gujarat include Former Ministers Nirmala Wadhwani,Panchanan Kanungo, Niali MLA Chabi Mallick, Former MLAs Dr Pramod Mallick and Rabindra Mallick, Chairman of World Odisha Society Kishore Dwibedi, Cultural General Secretary of WOS Kaveri Behera,
Senior Bureaucrats Banchhanidhi Pani, Hare Krishna Dash, Ajit Panda, Dr Sunil Shukla, Manoj Kumar Sahu and Ashok Satpathy, Vice – Chancellor of Odisha Health Science University Dr Manas Ranjan Sahoo, Corporate consultant Ramesh Sahoo, Local Sarpanchs Sabita Nanda, Bijayram Panda, Suresh Pattanayak, Trinath Mohanty and Namita Barik,Spiritual Guru Baba Abhiram Saraswati,Block Chairperson Umesh Chandra Behera, Zilla Parishad member Pravakar Raut and Panchayat Samiti member Sampad Mohanty.
