Jamshedpur: Padma Shri Digambar Hansda, who died on Thursday, was cremated with full state honours on Friday at Parvati crematorium in Jugsalai.
While state transport minister Champai Soren represented the government at the funeral of the 81-year-old tribal academician, the district authorities accorded a guard of honour amid a tearful adieu by his family members, relatives, friends and well-wishers.
Four JMM MLAs from the district — Ramdas Soren, Sanjeev Sardar, Samir Mohanty and Mangal Kalindi — were among political leaders cutting across parties, social, community and religious heads, who attended the last rites of the professor.
Speaking on the occasion, Champai said, “Translation of the Constitution in Ol Chiki script of Santhali was one of the significant contributions of the noted litterateur.”
Deputy commissioner Suraj Kumar, SSP M Tamil Vanan, DDC Parmeshwar Bhagat, ADM (law and order) Nand Kishore Lal and Dalbhum SDM Nitish Kumar also paid their respects.
Digambar Hansda died at his house in Karandih following a prolonged illness.