The Academy of Yoga and Oriental Studies (AYOS) in association with the Odisha Sanskrit Academy (OSA) held a condolence meeting here on January 13 on the demise of dedicated Sanskrit scholar and cultural activist Pandit Harekrishna Dhupal Sharma on January 11 at the age of 79.
OSA president Prof GK Dash chaired the meeting, which was anchored by AYOS director and OSA vice-president Dr Indulata Das. Sunil Kumar Debata recited the second chapter of Gita. Dr Indulata Das said Pandit Dhupal Sharma was the OSA joint secretary and the traditional priest of AYOS. All the religious functions like Saraswati and Ganesh Puja of AYOS were being performed by him.
Prof GK Dash said Pandit Dhupal Sharma was a schoolteacher by profession but his mentality was not limited to being a mechanical Government servant.
He was a Sanskrit poet who has composed Sanskrit Slokas on almost all problems of the contemporary world. He has also composed many devotional Slokas invoking many gods and goddesses.
His writings have been published in the forms of a few books.
OSA secretary Prof Pramod Chandra Mishra said promotion and spread of Sanskrit was the only goal of Pandit Dhupala Sharma.
Till the end of his life, he was trying his best to see the Government take over the Odisha Sanskrit Academy, which is functioning as a private organisation till now.
Arun Kumar Upadhyaya said Pandit Dhupal Sharma was a man of inquisitiveness.
Mihir Kumar Mishra, another AYOS member said, “We have lost our Mangala Kalasa
(auspicious pitcher filled with water put at the gate for
auspiciousness) because he was the person who used to recite the invocations for the
auspicious beginning of our programmes.”
AYOS joint secretary SN Panigrahi said a Gita recitation programme should be organised in memory of Pandit Dhupala Sharma every year as it would be the best way to pay tribute to the departed soul.