Renowned civil servant and cultural curator Subas Pani, who transformed Odisha’s IT and arts landscape, dies at 76
OdishaPlus Bureau
Renowned Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Subas Pani, celebrated for his significant contributions to civil service and literature, has passed away today at his residence in Bhubaneswar. He was 76 years old. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. Pani served as the Chief Secretary of the Government of Odisha and held several key positions, including Deputy Election Commissioner at the Election Commission of India. He was a distinguished expert in various domains, such as Systems, IT, Industry, Infrastructure, Trade Promotion, and Elections. One of his remarkable accomplishments was the establishment of the Bhubaneswar Software Technology Park, which played a crucial role in the advancement of the IT sector in Odisha.
He also successfully managed numerous national and state assembly elections, including three national elections in 1996, 1998, and 1999, demonstrating his proficiency in election management. Pani maintained a lifelong passion for academic and cultural pursuits, as evidenced by his extensive collection of books and articles. He composed music for the ‘Sampoora Geetagovinda’ audio CDs, released by Saregama in 2008, which have become sought-after collectibles.
Furthermore, he conceptualised and curated various cultural festivals, including the Kumar Utsav in Jeypore, the Mukteswar Dance Festival in Bhubaneswar, and the Ashtapadi Festival in Delhi. Additionally, Pani frequently served as a television commentator on Doordarshan for live broadcasts of the Ratha Yatra festival in Puri. His contributions to the fields of IT and systems were acknowledged with the esteemed Fellowship of the Computer Society of India (CSI) in 2009. He was also a life member of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), underscoring his dedication to the preservation and promotion of India’s rich cultural heritage. Through his diverse roles and accomplishments, Subas Pani has left an enduring legacy in both the public sector and the cultural landscape of India.
‘Blue Hill – Hymns to Jagannatha’ is a popular book authored by him, which has been translated from Sanskrit and Odia.
When I was in my first year in Utkal University I along with some of my Puri College friends occupied the newly constructed University Guest House close to Vice Chancellor’s official residence since there was no seat in the student’s hostels for our accommodation because of extension of final examination due in July till November ,1971 which was practice till we left in December,1973. During the period of our stay one of my friends Ramaballav Mishra was my room mate who was studying in English department . Subash Pani was a lecturer in the department and had appeared in Civil Service examination . Subash Sir was coming to him in the early morning by taking break from his morning walk . I had the opportunity to meet him and wished him success . I found him very polite and soft speaking. As I recollect when the results were published in first quarter of 1972 he qualified for the I.A.S. . He was allotted to serve his home state Odisha because of his ranking in the Indian Civil Services examination . He served his state in various capacities with honesty and efficiency and rose to become the Chief Secretary of Odisha during the BJD government . I am shocked to hear the news about his death at the age of 76 . I express my deep condolences to the bereaved family . May his soul rest in peace. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti 🙏