Kataka: Veteran broadcaster, author, poet and noted heritage enthusiast Dipak Samantrai, former Director of the National Academy of Broadcasting and Multimedia (NABM) and convener of Kataka Heritage Walks (CHW), died at his parental residence on Rovers’ Street here on Tuesday following a prolonged illness. He was 69.
He is survived by his wife and daughter.
A distinguished broadcaster, Samantrai received several National Awards and recognition from Prasar Bharati. He was also honoured with the Best Trainer Award by All India Radio (Akashvani) on two occasions.
An accomplished Odia writer, he authored three poetry collections and three prose books, including motivational essays. He also translated selected poems of eminent bilingual poet Jayanta Mahapatra into Odia. A passionate photographer, he held solo exhibitions of his photographs at several places across Odisha in 1990-91.
Samantrai earned a PhD from Berhampur University for his research on radio programme production. He served on the boards of studies of several universities and institutions across the country and was a visiting faculty member in Journalism and Mass Communication.
However, his contribution to promoting Odisha’s heritage, particularly that of Kataka, remained a defining aspect of his public life. He led the Kataka chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and spearheaded CHW, which emerged as a community-driven initiative to showcase the Millennium City’s rich cultural and historical legacy.
Following the success of Ekamra Walks in Bhubaneswar in 2016, Barabati Beckons became the first heritage walk initiative under CHW. Under Samantrai’s leadership, the initiative expanded to cover Kataka’s judicial heritage, Barabati Fort, maritime history, churches, museums, libraries, Durga Puja traditions, silver filigree, temples, culinary heritage and other landmarks.
His close association with Jayanta Mahapatra, one of India’s eminent English-language poets and a native of Kataka, was another notable aspect of his literary and cultural life.
In accordance with his wishes, his family donated his body to the Anatomy Department of SCB Medical College and Hospital here. The donated body will be used for medical education and research, officials said.
News of his demise prompted an outpouring of grief, with members of CHW, friends, admirers and people from different walks of life gathering at his Rovers’ Street residence to pay their respects.
