Renowned priest, religious scholar Subodh Chandra Bhattacharjee is no more; Died with COVID at SMCH

One of the most senior and renowned priests and religious scholars in Barak Valley, Subodh Chandra Bhattacharjee popularly known as Subodh Pandit has died today. He breathed his last at 4:15 pm today at Silchar Medical College and Hospital.

Bhattacharjee had tested positive for COVID 19 on June 19 and was admitted to SMCH. He was again tested for COVID on June 25 and he remained positive. However, his condition deteriorated today morning and at 9:00 am, he was put on Mechanical Ventilator. “His condition was critical all throughout and his oxygen saturation level started to drop rapidly today morning. He was therefore kept on Mechanical Ventilator but he succumbed,” informed vice-principal of Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Dr. Bhaskar Gupta.

A resident of Vairab Sarani, Malugram, Subodh Chandra Bhattacharjee is the son of late Suresh Chandra Bhattacharjee. He survived by his wife Supriti Bhattacharjee and three daughters Ratna Bhattacharjee, Mitra Bhattacharjee and Santa Bhattacharjee, granddaughter Sucheta Bhattacharjee. At death, he was 86-year-old. The family members informed that all of them had tested positive for COVID 19 but they have managed to recover, while he lost his fight today.

“The process that we follow in Silchar to perform various religious proceedings, most of them has been doctrine by Subodh Pandit. Hundreds have become priests by learning from him. His demise leaves a void in the religious space but he will remain alive through his lessons,” said a priest who knew him personally.

The priest added, “Whenever we got stuck between the lines in the holy books we reached out to him for solutions and he provided one. He was well versed with tradition and modern art of practicing rites and rituals and would always put forward a well-informed argument that would stand the scrutiny.”

Apart from being a priest and scholar, he used to draft personalised Vedic Horoscope and people from all across the eastern part of the country used to meet him for “Kusti Bichar.” A non-residing Indian said, “My son was born in the UK and I still remember that I travelled all the way to Silchar just to get the Vedic horoscope done by him. It was on his recommendation, we kept my son’s name and he studies in senior secondary now.”

As per protocol, his body will be sent to the morgue at SMCH and from there the district administration will dispose the body for cremation. Unless the family insists otherwise, Subodh Chandra Bhattacharjee will be cremated in Silchar Crematorium by the officials of the district disaster management authority. The family members can remain present and can also perform the last rites, but the body bag cannot be removed.