The Village Cremation Ground Turns into a Sea of People: Final Rites Held at His Native Place

Baleshwar, 24/4 (Krushna Kumar Mohanty): Over 27 tourists lost their lives in a sudden terrorist attack. Among the deceased was Prashanta Satapathy, a native of Ishani village under the Sadar Block of Baleshwar district. The moment the tragic news reached the village, it plunged into deep mourning. A cloud of sorrow has engulfed Ishani. Today, Prashanta’s mortal remains arrived in the village. The entire village weeps—children, elders, women—all are in tears. His beloved wife and family are inconsolable.

So many dreams Prashanta had, now left unfulfilled. The temple of Shiva he began building remains incomplete. Has this golden son of the village really left the world forever? Half the village has been fasting today in his memory. Since the news broke, fires haven’t been lit in many kitchens across the village. People are silently mourning and clinging to his memories. The village paths are eerily silent.

In every festival and communal activity, Prashanta was the first to help, always standing by his fellow villagers in joy and sorrow. No one can yet accept his sudden demise. He once declared that no matter the expense, he would personally install the Shiva Lingam in the village temple. But now, who will complete that temple? Who will bring and install the Shiva Lingam? On the 19th, before leaving for Kashmir, he had mentioned that he would be touring Jammu and Kashmir with his office staff. He had promised to return soon. But he didn’t return—only his body did. His wife, who saw her husband’s lifeless body with her own eyes, still cannot believe he’s gone. Nor can anyone in the village accept that their beloved Prashanta is no more.

Soon, the vermillion will fade from his wife’s forehead. The bangles and conch bangles on her wrists will be removed. And their child will never again call out “Baba.” In a single burst of terrorist gunfire, he was snatched away from them forever. He was not only devoted to his own home but also deeply involved with his in-laws in Betnotas. He helped everyone, selflessly.

“One of our brothers had planned to move away and build a separate house a year ago,” recalled his elder brother, Siddhanta, in a choked voice. “But Prashanta insisted—‘We are three brothers, born together. We are one family. When our children grow up, they may live separately, but we three must stay together.’ He always taught us to keep the family united. Today that brother, who bound us together, is gone forever.”

All preparations for his final rites with full state honors were made by the government. Today, his cremation was completed in the village cremation ground. The Chief Minister visited Baleshwar and attended the funeral ceremony. A nodal officer from the district administration was assigned to oversee the proceedings and ensure the state honors were properly conducted.

Though Prashanta Satapathy fell to terrorist bullets, his memory lives on—from his village to the whole of Baleshwar district, even at the CIPET office in Bamapada where he worked. His colleagues are grief-stricken. Since 2011, he had been working at CIPET, Baleshwar, without ever being involved in any dispute or disagreement with anyone.