Bhubaneswar, Nov 3: Former Director of National Academy of Broadcasting and Multimedia (NABM), Convener Cuttack Heritage Walks (CHW), a distinguished author, poet and a well-known heritage enthusiast of Odisha Dipak Samantrai breathed his last at his parental house on Rovers’ Street in the Millennium City following a prolonged illness. He was 69. He is survived by his wife and a daughter.
Born on July 22, 1957, Samantrai was a distinguished broadcaster with National Awards and recognition from Prasar Bharati on several occasions and have got Best Trainer Award on two occasions from the All India Radio, popularly known as Akashvani.
As an author Samantrai has authored three anthologies of poetry in Odia including one Odia translation of selected poems of eminent bilingual poet of India Jayanta Mahapatra and three books of prose including motivational essays. He was also a good photographer with a solo exhibition of photographs, which was organised at several locations across Odisha during 1990-91. A distinguished academician, Samantrai, a Ph.D. holder from Berhampur University in radio programme production, he was also on the board of studies of several universities and institutions across the nation and visiting faculty in Journalism and Mass Communication studies.
Ever-smiling, understanding and passionate heritage lover, the broadcaster, poet, writer and orator, all his qualities were perhaps eclipsed behind the persona as a “heritage enthusiast”. He was also leading the Cuttack Chapter of INTACH. His another distinct identity was his closeness to another stalwart of Indian English poetry, Jayanta Mahapatra, a native of the Millennium City.
After the success of Ekamra Walks in Bhubaneswar during 2016 by the city authorities, the first heritage walks to go live was Barabati Beckons under Cuttack Heritage Walks (CHW) fully supported by community leadership and its leader was Dipak Samantrai.
Under his leadership CHW got many new ideas to explore and from the judiciary to fort, maritime history, churches to museums, libraries to Durga Puja traditions to filigree to Dahibara-Aloodum, temples to Alma Mater, Cuttack ‘s heritage got a new lease of life under his leadership.
As wished by Samantrai, his family members donated his body to the Anatomy Department of the oldest medical institution of Odisha SCB Medical College and Hospital. The body will be used by the medical students for their studies and research purpose, as informed by the authorities concerned who received the body from his family members.
Early in the morning when the news of Samantrai’s death came members of CHW, friends, followers and well-wishers thronged his Rovers’ Street residence in large numbers. People from all walks of life were seen gathering at his house, showing Samantrai’s immense popularity among the masses.
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