Gananath Patra, a leader of mass movement, is no more
Gananath Patra
BHUBANESWAR: Gananath Patra, 81, a communist leader and known for his contribution for Baliapal mass movement, passed away on Saturday at his home on the outskirts of Rourkela, around 330km from Bhubaneswar. He was suffering from prolonged old age ailments.
As Patra is a native of Balasore district, it had helped him to organise people against the Centre’s decision to set up a missile test range in Baliapal and Bhograi blocks of the coastal district in 1980s. He was against displacement of thousands of people from these area. This movement was a success for him.
This leader was a meritorious student. He had completed his post graduation in chemistry with first division from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack (now a university) in 1960s. Soon after that, he had joined as a teacher in Nayagarh. Later he worked as a lecturer in Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati (SKCG) college, Paralakhemundi.
While teaching students in this bordering district of Odisha, he had shown interest for peasants’ movement of Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh. He left teaching and started working for this peasants’ movement. He had met Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal, Santosh Rana and Jangal Santal of Naxalbari movement.
Patra had opposed Majumdar’s annihilation and ambush theories. He had suggested the leaders to go with people and work closely with them. After difference with these leaders, he joined Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) in 1970s.
Use of local language with interesting stories was attracting people towards him. He knew several languages and dialects including Odia, English, Hindi, Bengali and Telugu. As he was working in tribal areas most of the time, he had managed to learn some tribal languages like Kui, Santali, Ho, Sadri and others.
Patra had also taken part in a mass movement against Posco company and state government’s land acquisition for the industry in Jagatsinghpur district in 2000s.
The most important movement of his later life was formation of Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangathan (CMAS) and helping tribals of Narayanpatna in Koraput district to get their land back from the ‘influential’ people. He had also waged war against alcohol in 2000s.
Patra was arrested by the police in 2010 for his involvement in these works. After civil society members and activists urged the government to provide proper health facilities for Patra, he was shifted from Koraput jail to Choudwar jail in Cuttack. His health condition was not good while he got released from jail in 2012. He spent the rest of his life with his family in Abinashpali on the outskirts of the steel city. His wife, a teacher in a government school, was taking care of his health.
Prafulla Samantara, social activist, said Patra had taken part in many mass movement in the state. “When I joined Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati (SKCG) college, Paralakhemundi, in 1970-71 as a student, Chemistry teacher Patra had already left the college. Later we met in mass movements. Though I had ideological difference with Patra, I respect his commitment and fighting zeal for common people. He never compromised with his ideology and remained as a true communist till his last breath. He has never worked for his own interest. He is a pure honest leader who stayed like a common man till his last breath,” he added.