Bhubaneswar: Well-known organizer and culture enthusiast Rama Ballav Rath passed away due to a brain stroke early Saturday morning at his ancestral home in Puri’s Bir Narasinghpur village. He was 69 years old at the time of his death.
Rama Ballav was a senior member of the Scouts and Rovers and was associated with many cultural organizations. He served as the chairman of Biju Patnaik College and held the position of district president of BJD in Bhubaneswar.
He is survived by his daughter Amrita and son Anshuman. His mortal remains were brought to the Forest Guard residence in Bhubaneswar.
His younger brother, former Puri MLA Uma Ballav Rath, and sister-in-law Kalpana Rath, along with niece Akanksha, nephew Deepak, and Vishnu Prasad, were present.
Upon receiving the news, many prominent figures, including former Union Minister Srikant Jena, former MP Balagopal Pal Mishra, MLAs Ananta Jena, Surendra Patra, labor leader Nava Mohanty, BJP leaders Sameer Mohanty, Subhash Pradhan, women’s leader Simantini Jena, singer Soma Karmakar, childhood friend Professor Banilanta Mishra, Srikant Chatterjee, Niranjan Praharaj, Surajit Mohanty, Sita Ballav Mohapatra, scholar Barada Acharya, Bilu Prasad Tripathi, Vishwajit Mishra, and others paid their last respects.
Family members, including his sisters Surama Mahapatra, Nirupama, Anupama, Shwetalina, and Deviprasad Prusti, as well as relatives Samrendra Sahu, Chinmay Mishra, and others, also attended his last rites.
Rama Ballav was the eldest son of Sadananda Rath and Binodini Rath.