Dr Subhakanta Behera (far right) with wife Rajashree, son Ananya and daughter Amruta. Source: Supplied
THE Indian community is in deep shock today after the sudden death of Melbourne's Consul General Dr Subhakanta Behera last night.
The married father of two is thought to have suffered a heart attack at his home in Melbourne.
An ambulance was called but paramedics were unable to revive him.
Subhakanta Behera, who holds a doctorate from England's prestigious Oxford University, was appointed the Indian Consul General for Melbourne in May last year.
He leaves behind wife Rajashree, son Ananya and daughter Amruta.
The son of Dr Behera, who passed away last night, said his dad collapsed after his routine treadmill workout.
"He had just finished on the treadmill – he does 30 minutes every day – when he got a glass of water.
As he was talking to mum in the kitchen, he just collapsed," Ananya Behera, 21, said.
"I was studying upstairs and mum called out to me. He has fainted once before, about two or three years ago when we were back in Dehli, but he came around after we put some water on his face.
"This carried on, continued for about 30 seconds, and I started to get scared and called triple zero.
"The ambulance was here in about four or five minutes but before then neighbours rushed in and had started chest compressions and CPR. Nothing could be done."
He said his dad suffered from high blood pressure and asthma but was otherwise a fit and healthy man who had only turned 50 in June.
"My dad worked very hard but he was a family man first and foremost.
"He valued his family and kept track of the smallest things. He cared for the smallest things in life, and it was these minor things that made him happy. He was a very loving and caring dad."
Ananya said his dad was a Hindu and would be cremated in India.
The family planned to return to their home country on Wednesday.
"At this critical juncture in my life all I can really say is - 'Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away!', Ananya posted on social media today.
"My father passed away last night in what the paramedics said was a massive heart attack.
"I'd like to thank everyone - family, friends, relatives, neighbours - for their undying support and condolence messages.
"I hope my father is out there in spirit watching over me and giving me the resolute strength to take care of my family.
"Rest In Peace Papa,'' the statement ended.
Dr Behera, who originates from Bhubaneshwar in Orissa, India, graduated from Jawaharlal Nehru University before starting his diplomatic career in Moscow.
He also worked in Uzbekistan, then Bulgaria and Washington DC, America, before returning to India's capital, New Dehli, as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.
He has also published six fiction stories, two poetry anthologies, three essay collections and an English novel as well as two academic papers and several articles in international journals.
The Herald Sun understands the Behera family were due to return to India on holiday at the end of November until mid-January for a holiday.
In an interview with the Indian Executive magazine in April, Dr Behera spoke of his love for Melbourne and Australia.
"Melbourne is a beautiful place ... it has widespread greenery, broad roads and vast meadows,'' he said.
"The people of Melbourne are friendly, generous and I find it a truly multicultural society.
Asked how Indians could contribute to the cultural "melting pot'' here, he replied: "I do not believe that Australia or Victoria is a cultural melting pot. Because if it is a melting pot, then no group could retain its individual identity.
"So in my opinion, this great country is more like a big bouquet where individual communities and groups retain their identities as individual flowers. Indians... add to the rich tapestry of Australia's culture.''
Wife Rajashree is a dancer who gives classes and training sessions in the cultural Odissi dance across Australia.
Daughter Amruta attends Melbourne Girls' College and Ananya is completing a Software Engineering degree at Monash University and also works in IT support at the Victorian Institute of Technology.
The family have posted many pictures of their travels across Australia online.
jon.kaila@news.com.au
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