Bhubaneswar, Aug 4: Former Odisha Chief Secretary and distinguished Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Dr. Subas Pani passed away today at his residence in Bhubaneswar.
Dr. Pani, survived by his wife and two daughters, breathed his last at the age of 76. He is renowned for his exceptional contributions to civil service and literature.
The mortal remains of Dr. Pani were consigned to flames at Satyanagar crematorium in Bhubaneswar.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Deputy CM Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo along with others expressed deep grief over Dr. Pani’s demise.
"I am deeply saddened and heartbroken to hear about the demise of Subas Pani, the former Chief Secretary of the Odisha Government, a distinguished researcher of Jagannath culture, and a writer. His passing is an irreparable loss for all of us. I express my condolences to the bereaved family and pray to Lord Jagannath for the peace of the departed soul. Om Shanti," the CM said in a statement.
"Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Subas Pani, a renowned author, translator, composer, and creative visionary whose scholarship on Jayadeva’s Geetagovinda enriched India’s cultural heritage. A distinguished civil servant, he served with grace and intellect as Chief Secretary to the Government of Odisha and Secretary to the Government of India. His legacy spans literature, governance, and the arts, each marked by depth, dignity, and devotion. May Mahaprabhu Jagannath bless his soul to find eternal peace," said Singh Deo.
Notably, Dr. Pani, an IAS officer from the 1972 batch, had a long and distinguished career, holding important positions in both the Odisha and Central governments. He served as Odisha's Chief Secretary, Deputy Election Commissioner, Secretary of Rural Development and Land Resources, and later as Secretary in the Planning Commission.
Dr. Pani was highly respected for his knowledge in areas like systems, IT, industry, infrastructure, trade promotion, and elections. He played a key role in setting up the Bhubaneswar Software Technology Park and was crucial in organizing national elections in 1996, 1998, and 1999, along with several state assembly elections.
Dr. Pani, a lover of academics and culture, earned a PhD on Jayadeva’s Sri Geetagovinda and wrote many books and articles. His musical version of Sampoorna Geetagovinda, released as five CDs by Saregama in 2008, was widely praised.
He was deeply connected to cultural heritage and was a life member of the Computer Society of India (CSI), which honored him with a fellowship in 2009. He was also part of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). Dr. Pani organized major cultural festivals like Kumar Utsav in Jeypore, Mukteswar Dance Festival in Bhubaneswar, Srikhetra Utsav in Puri, and the Ashtapadi Festival in Delhi.
He was a well-known face on national TV, often seen as a regular commentator during the live broadcast of the Ratha Yatra festival from Puri on Doordarshan’s national and international channels.
