Odisha Bids Adieu To Padma Awardee Kamala Pujari, Last Rites Held With Full State Honours

Koraput: Mortal remains renowned organic farming pioneer and Padma Shri recipient Kamala Pujari were consigned to flames with full state honours at her native place in Odisha’s Koraput district on Sunday.

The last rites of Pujari, who passed away while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, were performed at her village Patraput.

The cremation was held with full state honours in the presence of Koraput district Collector Keerthi Vasan V, Superintendent of Police P Abhinav Sonkar, and other senior officials. A guard of honour was accorded to the departed soul.

Her son Tankadhar Pujari lit the funeral pyre in the presence of a large gathering of locals who came to pay their last respects.

Earlier, a procession carrying her mortal remains was taken from Jeypore to the cremation ground at her village.

Pujari, who was awarded Padma Shri in 2019 for promoting organic farming and preserving seeds of over 100 indigenous varieties of crops including paddy, passed away on Saturday at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. She was undergoing treatment for kidney-related ailments.

Born in Patraput village in Koraput district, Pujari was also associated with the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation and received the Padma Shri in 2019 from President Ramnath Kovind.