Poet Jayanta Mahapatra’s last rites to be performed as per his last wish 

The last rites of Jayanta Mahapatra, a towering literary personality who breathed his last at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on Sunday, will be held at Khannagar cremation ground in the city today noon with full state honour. 

However, his last rites will be performed as per his wish he mentioned in his will titled ‘My last wishes’. He wished his body should be cremated in the electric crematorium and not to be buried. 

“My body to be cremated in the electric crematorium at Khan Nagar, Cuttack, and not to be buried. It should be taken in a van or ambulance by a few close friends and relatives who would be present at that time. This should be done as early as possible after my death,” he said in his will. 

In his will, he also mentioned that a plot should be given to one who served his family for 35 years. 

“That a plot of land measuring 20ft by 20ft at the north-west corner of our existing land be given to Smt. J. Sarojini, who has faithfully and tirelessly served us for the 35 years. This we (my late wife, Jyotsna Mahapatra, our son Mohan Mahapatra, and I) decided after careful consideration,” read the will. 

He also wished that his letters, typescripts and incomplete manuscripts were to be burned after his death. 

Presently, his mortal remains are kept at his residence at Tinikonia Bagicha in Cuttack for public view. Since morning, important people have been visiting his residence to offer their last tributes.