Rajat Kar laid to rest with state honours

Acclaimed culture expert, litterateur, author, commentator and Padma Shri award winner Rajat Kar, who passed away on Sunday, was cremated with full state honours at Swargadwar of Puri on Monday.

Kar, who was suffering from heart-related ailments, breathed his last following a cardiac arrest at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar at the age of 88 years.

Kar was accorded guard of honour at Swargadwar cremation ground by Puri district administration. His elder son Ranjit Kar performed his last rites.

Odisha Governor Professor Ganeshi Lal, Law Minister Pratap Jena, Puri sub-collector Bhaba Tarana Sahoo among others paid last respect to Kar. 

Kar was conferred with Padma Shri in 2021 for literature and education. He was an orator on Jagannath culture and known for his commentary during the annual Ratha Jatra on TV and radio for six decades.

A prolific writer of Upendra Bhanja literature, Kar has seven non-fiction to his credit. He has also written a few books on Lord Jagannath.