Bhubaneswar, Mar 25: Manas Sahoo, a renowned sand artist from Odisha's Puri, paid tribute to former Union Minister Dr. Debendra Pradhan through his innovative sand art.

Sahoo shared a video of his art on his x handle.

#WATCH | Puri, Odisha: Sand artist Manas Kumar Sahoo created a sand art of Debendra Pradhan, former Union Minister and paid tribute to him

Dr Debendra Pradhan passed away on March 17, 2025 in New Delhi at the age of 84.

(Source: Sand artist Manas Kumar Sahoo) pic.twitter.com/unyvC2GiOz

— ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2025

Dr. Debendra Pradhan, a stalwart in Odisha’s political history and a founding pillar of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state, passed away in New Delhi at the age of 83.

He served the nation as a Union Minister in two stints in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee governments.

Born on July 16, 1941, in the undivided Dhenkanal district of Odisha, Dr. Pradhan’s journey from a humble beginning to becoming a key figure in national politics is a story of dedication and perseverance. A doctor by profession, he completed his MBBS from SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

Despite a promising career in medicine, Dr. Pradhan chose to walk the path of public service, dedicating his life to the political and infrastructural development of Odisha.

As one of the first-generation leaders who laid the foundation of the BJP in Odisha, Dr. Pradhan played a pivotal role in expanding the party’s reach across the state. His tenure as the president of the BJP’s Odisha unit was marked by tireless grassroots efforts, recruiting cadres and nurturing future leaders like Jual Oram, Rudranarayan Pani, Jayaranarayan Mishra, and Suresh Pujari — many of whom rose to prominence under his mentorship.

Dr. Pradhan’s political career reached its peak when he served as the Union Minister of Surface Transport and Agriculture under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government.

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