BHUBANESWAR: Radha Mohan, a pioneer of organic farming and former Odisha information commissioner, died at a private hospital here late on Thursday.
He was 78.
Doctors said Radha Mohan had bronchial asthma and other comorbidities.
He leaves behind three daughters.
Radha Mohan and one of his daughters, Sabarmatee, were conferred with the Padma Shri last year in recognition of their work to enocurage organic farming and seed conservation.
More than three decades ago, the father-daughter duo had sown the seeds of organic farming and seed conservation on one acre of their native land in Nayagarh district.
It has now become a statewide movement.
The one acre has spread over 890 acres with a rich collection of more than 800 varieties of seeds.
Their organisation, Sambhav, is a known resource centre for organic farming.
Radha Mohan had retired as the principal of SCS College, Puri.
Expressing grief over his death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Prof Radhamohan Ji was deeply passionate about agriculture, especially adopting sustainable and organic practices.
He was also respected for his knowledge in subjects relating to the economy and ecology.
Saddened by his demise.
Condolences to his family and admirers.
Om Shanti.” Governor Ganeshi Lal, chief minister Naveen Patnaik, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, among others, expressed their condolences for the bereaved family.
He will always be remembered for his unique organic farming techniques, a tweet by the governor’s office attributed the governor as saying.
Naveen described Radha Mohan as a noted environmentalist and an educationist.
Born in 1943, Radha Mohan graduated in Economics from SCS College in Puri and post-graduation in applied economics from Utkal University in 1965.
He was appointed an information commissioner in 2011.
Apart from organic farming, Radha Mohan trained farmers on sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation.
Radha Mohan is recipient of state government’s Utkal Seva Samman and UNEP’s The Global Roll of Honour.
President Ram Nath Kovind condoled Radha Mohan’s death.
“Prof Radhamohan was as inspiring an economist as an environmentalist.
A profound scholar, he turned to organic farming to enrich nature and humanity.
His demise will leave a void.
My condolences to his family and followers,” Kovind tweeted.