Retired Major General Basant Kumar Mahapatra, who had participated in four major wars, including the 1962 Goa Liberation, the 1965 Indo-China war and the 1971 India-Pakistan war, passed away here on Monday. He was 88.
His body would be taken to his residence at Chandini Chowk in Cuttack city.
Major General Mahapatra had been commissioned into the Armoured Corps (Tanks) of Indian Army as a Combat Officer. He served the Indian Army for four decades holding many key posts.
The President of India had conferred the most prestigious Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) on Mahapatra. After his superannuation from the Defence services, he was managing reputed educational institutions, including Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Centre for Communication and Management, Bhubaneswar, and four DAV Public Schools in Cuttack and Tangi.
Besides, he was the President of India’s nominee in the Executive Council of Allahabad University (Central University) and Visiting Professor in University of Lucknow, University of Allahabad and Banaras Hindu University. He was vice-president of the Think Tank Foundation, Odisha, and associated with many orphanages and old age homes.