Admirers, friends and relatives paid rich tributes to late administrator Dinanath Panda of Khariar in a get-together at Khariar on Sunday. "He was a true son of the soil and loved people of the area from the depth of his heart. He steered through all odds and established himself as a great administrator of all times, which stands as an inspiration for all. The messiah of poor and needy has orphaned everyone and left for heavenly abode," stated a note of obituary distributed in the meeting by his admirers.
"Dinanath Panda was born in an obscure hamlet, Karangamal, in Boden block of Nuapada district in 1937. There were no educational facilities in this village, not even a primary school, which forced him to attend school in Sinapali by covering a distance of 5 km every day on foot. He continued his studies further in different schools and colleges and completed his Masters degree from the Ravenshaw College, Cuttack. He cracked OAS in first chance and joined Government service. He understood the importance of education; so, he always encouraged students to pursue study and extended support to those who needed his help," observed the he participants in the get-together.
A "Pala" programme was performed by renowned Pala singer Arjun Chhatria on the life of Panda.