CORRESPONDENTS
SIVASAGAR/GAURISAGAR: Sri Sri Barkhatpar Xatra Xatradhikar, former President of Asom Xatra Mahasabha and eminent litterateur and religious figure Lilakanta Mahanta, (92), breathed his last at his residence at Konwarpur in Sivasagar district at 2.15 am on Monday. His death sent shockwaves across Sivasagar district as well as in the State. As soon as the news of the death of the veteran Xatradhikar spread, countless well-wishers thronged his Xatra’s residence in Konwarpur to pay their last respects.
Lilakanta Mahanta was the husband of noted litterateur and president of Sivasagar District Xahitya Xabha Dr Nirupoma Mahanta and father of former Director General of Assam Police Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta, education advisor to the State government Dr. Nanigopal Mahanta, principal of Sibsagar Commerce College Dr Saumarjyoti Mahanta, and renowned businessmen Amarjyoti Mahanta and Shyamkanu Mahanta.
Lilakanta Mahanta was born in Konwarpur in 1931, the eldest son of late Keshakanta Mahanta and Jamunadevi Mahanta. Born in a cultural family, Lilakanta took his early education at the Konwarpur MV School. Lilakanta, who completed his matriculation from Konwarpur High School, passed his IA from JB College in Jorhat. Later, he joined St. Anthony’s College for higher studies in Shillong and later joined the Panchayat Directorate in Shillong in 1955. After passing the Accounts Training of the Government of India, he was appointed as the Block Development Officer and retired from that department.
Lilakanta, who had been attracted to Vaishnavite literature from a young age, took the seat of Xatradhikar of Sri Sri Barkhatpar Xatra in 2004. Lilakanta Mahanta, one of the most successful exponent of Ankiya Bhaona, one of the creations of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev, continuously served through Sri Sri Barkhatapar Xatra to promote, preserve and organize the Vaishnavite religion, philosophy, ideology, culture, literature, as well as to preserve the sophisticated social order through these.
Former President of Asom Xahitya Xabha Padmashree Imran Shah said that Lilakanta Mahanta has made a lot of contribution in the field of Sankari Literature, Xattriya Culture. His mentality brought together various characteristics such as generosity, progressiveness, etc. His death is an irreparable loss to the society. Eminent educationist Dr Bhim Baruah expressed deep grief over the death of Lilakanta Mahanta and said that the society has lost a Vaishnavite Scholar, who worked for the betterment of the society. Renowned educationist and former member of the Assam Human Rights Commission, Jyoti Prasad Chaliha, said that he was deeply pained and shocked at the death of Xatradhikar Lilakanta Mahanta, a great exponent scholar and authority on Vaishnavite culture and who devoted his entire life in exposing the ideal and philosophy of Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardev and Madhavdev. His mortal remains were brought from the xatra site of Barkhatpar to Dikhow ghat and cremated in the presence of many admirers on Monday. At the time of his death, he left behind a large family, including his wife and five sons.
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