Biju Patnaik‘s private secretary during the late 1980s and early 1990s when he was the chief minister of Odisha, Goura Mohan Sarangi passed away on Friday at his home in Tangi, which is on the outskirts of Cuttack.
I am deeply shocked and saddened to know about the sad demise of my elder-brother-like Goura Mohan Sarangi a.k.a Bhaina on 21st July 2022 at his Home in Tangi. I was informed by his son that Bhaina, who was having some old age complications died in sleep.
I was in touch with Bhaina over the phone once a month or two to get information about his health and writing activities. Unfortunately, I had not contacted him for the last two months. I knew that Bhaina was weak because of the age factor and had become mentally weak after the demise of Bhauja .
Bhaina had rung me up and told in a sinking voice “Prasanta from today I became lonely like you as your Bhauja had expired after a brief illness”. I was left with no language to console him. He told me. “Though I have a large family, now I am left alone as there would be none to share my feelings. You might be feeling the same despite too much love and care by your children and grandchildren “. I could feel the pain from his voice.
Since then I was contacting him over the phone to know about his health and writing activities. He was a very good writer and. had written a book entitled GOURA CHANDRIKA which was launched under my supervision in a Bhubaneswar hotel as he was unable to attend. Umaballav Rath actively participated in the launching function. Very senior journalist Ramahari Mishra virtually launched the book; the book was in biography format containing a few photographs and documents which was appreciated by the readers.
Since he was a voracious reader and writer, I requested him to write a weekly column for Suryaprava to which he promptly agreed and started writing. His writings were bold and appreciated by the readers.
He was an ardent devotee of Biju Babu and worked as his private Secretary when Biju was the leader of the opposition as well as after Bijubabu became Chief Minister, during those days, Naveen Patnaik was spending a happy time in Delhi and outside India with his glamorous friends. One day Biju Babu called Bhaina and told him to make necessary arrangements for the visit of Pappu’s friend Mark Shand, who happened to be the son of a British Minister to have a safe ride on an elephant from Konark to Kumbha Mela. Mark Shand had purchased the elephant from a circus party.
On getting such instructions from Biju Babu. Bhaina contacted Nandankanan authorities to provide a good Mahut to train up the elephant which was named Tara to assist Shand to start the journey from Konark along with a photographer friend. At his request, Nanadankanan authorities agreed to spare an expert Mahut named Bhima who was an expert and had much experience while working for Maharaja of Mayurbhanj.
On the scheduled day Biju Babu asked Bhaina and me to go to Konark and ensure all arrangements for the peculiar expedition of Mark Shand and to see that Naveen Babu comes back from Konark after seeing off Shand and board into Flight for Delhi from Bhubaneswar airport.
For the comfortable stay of Naveen Patnaik, the P.W.D Inspection bungalow at Konark was booked by the then Kakatpur M.L.A, Surendra Nath Nayak who was very much loyal to Biju Babu and was friendly with Bhaina.
Bhaina and I reached Konark in time to see off Mark Shand and ensure Naveen Babu’s return to Bhubaneswar to board the flight for Delhi.
That was my first meeting with Naveen Babu. He was wearing a trouser and a fashionable printed Hawaiian. Naveen babu was happy with the arrangements made by Bhaina and was also happy to meet me.
Since Naveen babu had played a role in Ivery Merchant’s the Deceiver I was interested to take his photograph and sought Naveen babu’s permission But Naveen Babu was a little hesitant and told me that Biju babu might be annoyed if the photo would be published in the media. Finally, he agreed when both I and Bhaina convinced him. He was cool and posed for a few snaps Mark Shand and his photographer friend had tea with us and left on their mission.
Naveen babu had told me that Shand loves adventure and had written a book entitled SKULL ISLAND narrating his experience of escaping from a shipwreck and landing in an island of cannibals.
Bhaina and I came back to Bhubaneswar and saw off Naveen babu in Delhi flight as per instructions of Biju babu.
Bhaina was very dutiful and had the desire to see Biju Babu as Chief Minister in the next election. Accordingly, we decided to make a VHS film highlighting the patriotic deeds of Biju babu which would be exhibited through Video Players during the campaigning.
Though Bhaina and myself had no experience in filmmaking we had to watch a few films and worked very hard to prepare the script. It was decided to name it JUGA SARATHI to justify Biju Babu’s contributions to the freedom movement of India and all-round. progress of Odisha.
I had to cover many places in Odisha with a young assistant to cover Biju Babu’s contributions to education, health, industrialization, agriculture, employment, etc. Bhaina also accompanied me to a few places for the shoot. After the shooting was over, we requested award-winner film editor Rabi Patnaik to help us in editing the film. Bhaina spent sleepless nights helping the Editor to complete the film to ensure Biju Babu’s victory. Nalinikanta Mohanty, Bijoy Mohapatra, Ashik Das, Prafulla Chandra Ghadei, Badrinarayan Patra, and others ensured wide circulation of the film during the election campaign.
Bhaina was very friendly with all the media persons who were easily getting access to Biju babu’s office on the third floor as well as at the party. He was very much loved and respected by members of all political parties.
Though he was very close to Biju babu , he had never taken any personal advantage of himself and his family members.