First Shraddha day of the eminent Gandhian AV Swami, emotional tributes were paid to the country’s Gandhi followers

NEW DELHI: The first homage of the well-known Odisha omnipotent leader and Gandhian social activist Shri AV Swami was held on the Webinar yesterday in New Delhi with the support of the Oriya Intellectual Forum ‘The Intellect’ and Mahatma Gandhi Public Knowledge Center.  

The memorial service, chaired by Mr. Devendra Nath Raut, President of The Intellectuals and Educated Social Worker, included a two-minute silent prayer for the well-being of the departed soul. President Raut paid homage to her husband and welcomed all the Gandhi followers from Odisha and beyond. 

Odisha's eminent intellectual and doctor, Bhagwan Prakash, paid homage to Swamiji and described him as a colleague and a role model for generations to come. Dr. Shankar Kumar Sanyal, National President of Harijan Sebak Sanghar, an institution founded by Mahatma Gandhi, shared his experience of working with this great Gandhian and paid deep homage to his immortal soul. 

Mr. Jagatananda, a prominent social activist from Odisha, spoke about his husband's work for the rural self-government and how the Odisha government had amended the Legislative Assembly Act to make him the first and only video in the country to successfully implement the Panchayati Raj system in the Baipariguda project. 

Mr. Aditya Patnaik, the host of the National Sarvodaya Sangathan, expressed his hope that his ideals would continue to be a source of inspiration to the youth. Mr. Jagadish Pradhan, a prominent social activist who has been working tirelessly to improve the agricultural system in Odisha, described how her husband was working with commitment to the development of the underdeveloped region of Odisha. 

Among others, Dr. Arundhati Devi, a social worker, Rajeshwari Dalai from the service community, Dr. Subhasini Barik, a professor at Delhi University, his son Sunil Acharya, daughter Suchitra Acharya, nephew and associate Ramesh Acharya paid tribute. In addition, many devotees from home and abroad attended the memorial service to pay their last respects and praise to her husband. Finally, Pradeep Kumar Panda offered his thanks.