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Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 46
BY SENATOR BROOME AND REPRESENTATI VE BARROW
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the passing of
Rama C. Mohanty, PhD, and to celebrate his lifelong pursuit of world peace and
understanding among individuals.
WHEREAS, it is with deep sadness that the Legislature of Louisiana has learned of
the passing of this most endearing human rights advocate, Dr. Rama Mohanty, who served
his fellow man by the fostering of the most precious of humankind's endeavors, that of
peacemaker; and
WHEREAS, a resident of Louisiana since 1976, Dr. Mohanty established the
Louisiana World Peace Day Committee in 1998, which sponsors a series of World Peace
Day activities which, according to Dr. Mohanty, "are to foster love and respect for one
another in the minds of people in Louisiana and around the world"; and
WHEREAS, from humble origins in Patpur, Orissa, India, Rama Mohanty was born
with an insatiable thirst for knowledge; and
WHEREAS, as a young man, he obtained funds to attend high school by winning a
debate on the subject of freedom; he later attended Utkal University; and
WHEREAS, with receipt of additional scholarships for his academic excellence,
Dr. Mohanty obtained a masters degree at Ranchi College and later obtained a PhD degree
in physics from Penn State University graduating as the youngest member of his class and
finishing at the top of his class; and
WHEREAS, he became a physics professor and chaired the departments at many
prestigious universities that included Morehouse College, where he became acquainted with
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and with whom he shared similar beliefs in the brotherhood of
man and peaceful coexistence among nations; and his academic expertise propelled him to
seats on the faculty of the University of California at Berkeley, New York University, and
in Baton Rouge, Southern University and A&M College and Louisiana State University and SCR NO. 46 ENROLLED
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A&M College, until his retirement from teaching in 2010; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mohanty also served as the head of Louisiana University of Medical
Sciences, an organization whose purpose is to eliminate the shortage of primary care
physicians and health care providers in underserved areas of the state; and
WHEREAS, in 1964, he was a catalyst in the creation of the Institute of All Nations
for Advanced Studies, Inc., a private, nonprofit corporation permanently chartered by the
regents of the state of New York, that originated under the co-chairmanship of former United
States Supreme Court Justice Arthur J. Goldberg and former United Nations Ambassador
Arthur S. Lall; Dr. Mohanty served as its general secretary until his death; and
WHEREAS, in 1998, the Institute of All Nations for Advanced Studies adopted a
resolution that World Peace Day shall be observed internationally each October first; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mohanty was moved to form the institute after witnessing religious
persecution of innocents and the brutality of oppressive regimes in his native India; these
events convinced him that to encourage inner peace within the individual is vital to the
establishment of meaningful peace throughout all nations; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mohanty was a proactive model citizen of the world who
ascertained that every human being was worthy of respect; his travels took him to many
exotic locales to attend conferences and speak at international summits, all in the name of
brotherly love and civility toward all races and creeds; and
WHEREAS, since 2001, the Legislature of Louisiana has annually adopted a
resolution to designate October 1 as World Peace Day; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mohanty is survived by his loving wife, Anasuya; a son, Bijoy; a
daughter, Lipika and her husband, Kendall Kearns; a granddaughter, Allyson M. Aladana,
and an international family of brethren who mourn his passing; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Rama Mohanty was a unique individual, a kind man of genuine
intellect and great integrity who possessed a sincere compassion for all of mankind and who
championed the cause of world peace.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the passing of Rama C. Mohanty, PhD,
peacemaker and founder of the Louisiana World Peace Day Committee. SCR NO. 46 ENROLLED
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
recognize the lifetime achievements of Dr. Rama Mohanty and celebrate his message of
peace and goodwill.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
widow, Mrs. Anasuya Mohanty.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES