Gopinath Gajapati
Gopinath Gajapati | |
|---|---|
| Member: 9th and 10th Lok Sabha | |
| In office 1989–1996 | |
| Preceded by | Jagannath Rao |
| Succeeded by | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
| Constituency | Berhampur |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gopinath Gajapati Narayan Deo 6 March 1943 Paralakhemundi, Odisha, India |
| Died | 10 January 2020 (aged 76) Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India |
| Party | Congress |
| Other political affiliations | BJP (1998-2009), BJD (2009-2020) |
| Spouse | Purna Devi Gajapati |
| Children | One son and one daughter(Kalyani Gajapati) |
| Alma mater | Alagappa College of Technology |
| Reign | 25 May 1974 CE - 10 January 2020 CE (titular) |
| Predecessor | Krushna Chandra Gajapati |
| Successor | Kalyani Gajapati |
| House | Eastern Ganga dynasty (Paralakhemundi branch) |
Gopinath Gajapati also known as Gopinath Gajapati Narayan Deo[1] (6 March 1943 – 10 January 2020)[2] was an Indian politician and a former titular head of the erstwhile princely state of Paralakhemundi having been crowned as King or Gajapati (a regnal title similar to Maharaja) on May 26, 1974.[3] He was the grandson of Krushna Chadra Gajapati ruler of the princely state of Paralakhemundi who had played a pivotal role in the formation of Odisha state on a linguistic basis on April 1, 1936. Born to Rama Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo. He was a member of the 9th and 10th Lok Sabha of India.[4] He married Rani Purna Devi from the erstwhile princely family of Dharampur on 14th March 1967.[5][6]
Impervious to factional or hyperlocal politics Gopinath[7] succeeded twice having represented the Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency of Odisha and was a member of the Indian National Congress political party.[8] He later joined BJP,[9] and moved to Biju Janata Dal in 2009.[10]
With a protracted legal battle with his brother Sarbajgan Jagannath Narayana Deo[11] his later years were quite troubled due to alleged confinement and subsequent alienation by his head of staff and retinue at the Paralakhemundi Palace post the death(possibly suicide) of his son Digvijay in 2015 which caused him deep shock and grief further aggravating his frail health. Also he lost his brother Udayabhanu to suicide back in the 1950s.[3][12][13]
Following which local loyal supporters, members of the civil society in Paralakhemundi, members of the local Jagannath temple along with Indian National Congress Odisha MLA K. Surya Rao and other political party functionaries resorted stroming the Palace to help evacuate Gopinath Gajapati and render medical aid to him in the process transferring him to Vishakapatnam and later on airlifted to Chennai.[3][14][12]Later on a letter was written to then Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik by Gopinath's daughter Kalyani urging him to inquire into the royal family's property transactions for the past 35 years. The district administration of Ganjam was also instrumental in redering aid to the ailing Gajapati.[15]
On 10 January 2020, Gajapati died in a private hospital in Bhubaneswar at age 76.[16][17]
He was a patron member of the Orissa Chemical Society.[18]
References
- ^ Patnaik, Sunil. "Scandal buffets Odisha palace". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
- ^ "Tenth Lok Sabha Members Bioprofile". Lok Sabha Secretariat. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
- ^ a b c Patnaik, Sunil (22 August 2016). "Tale of deceit plays out at freedom hub". Telegraph India.
- ^ "Vajpayee, Atal Bihari, (born 25 Dec. 1926), Member, Lok Sabha, 1957–62, 1967–84 and 1991–2009; Prime Minister of India, May 1996 and 1998–2004; Leader, Bharatiya Janata Party Parliamentary Party, 1980–84, 1986–91 and 1993–2004", Who's Who, Oxford University Press, 1 December 2007, retrieved 23 August 2025 Page 116
- ^ Rathore, Abhinay (3 September 1840). "Dharampur (Princely State)". Rajput Provinces of India. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ Adhikari, Shona (25 July 2019). "Intrigue, rathyatra & a murder mystery: Meet the Gajapatis of Paralakhemundi | Intrigue, rathyatra & a murder mystery: Meet the Gajapatis of Paralakhemundi". www.asianage.com. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ Venkatasubbiah, H. (July 1983). "India: Economic Perspectives: Charan Singh: Economic Nightmare of India: Its Cause and Cure. National Publishing House, New Delhi, 1981, xii, 564 p., Rs. 175". India Quarterly: A Journal of International Affairs. 39 (3): 224-365–366. doi:10.1177/097492848303900317. ISSN 0974-9284.
- ^ Narain, Iqbal; Lal, Mohan (1 March 1969). "Election Politics in India: Notes toward an Empirical Theory". Asian Survey. 9 (3): 200. doi:10.2307/2642280. ISSN 0004-4687.
- ^ "Orissa Political Parties Yet To Finalise Candidates". Business Standard. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ "Gopinath Gajapati, Pramila Giri join BJD". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
- ^ Adhikari, Shona (25 July 2019). "Intrigue, rathyatra & a murder mystery: Meet the Gajapatis of Paralakhemundi | Intrigue, rathyatra & a murder mystery: Meet the Gajapatis of Paralakhemundi". www.asianage.com. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ a b Mohanty, Meera (23 August 2016). "Crime branch Starts Probe into Suicides of Ex King Gopinath Gajapati Narayan Deo Aide, Siblings". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ "At the centre of controversy: An ailing scion's Rs 500 crore fortune". The Times of India. 23 August 2016. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ "Gajapati Palace runs into controversy". The New Indian Express. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ "Gajapati airlifted to city hospital". The Telegraph Online. 7 January 2017.
- ^ "Paralakhemundi king Gopinath Gajapati Narayan Deo passes away". Rissadiary.com. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ "Former MP Gopinath Deo dies at 76 in Odisha after illness". NDTV. 10 January 2020.
- ^ "Orissa Chemical Society". orchemsoc.in. Retrieved 23 August 2025.