Capital city remembers ‘Iron Lady of Odisha’ Nandini Satpathy on her birth anniversary

Bhubaneswar: The Capital city Saturday remembered the ‘Iron Lady of Odisha’ and the only female Chief Minister that the state ever had, Nandini Satpathy on her 87th birth anniversary.

On the auspicious occasion, many political leaders and her ardent followers offered garlands at her statue in front of the LIC office near Raj Bhavan square. Known as the symbol of woman empowerment in Odisha, Nandini Satpathy is still loved and reigns in the hearts of millions of people.

Present in the garland programe was Finance Minister Shashi Bhusan Behera as the chief guest. Among others were BMC Mayor Anant Narayan Jena, Dhenkanal MP Tathagata Satpathy and CEO of OrissaPOST and Dharitri Adyasha Satpathy.

Born June 9, 1931, Nandini Satpathy was the first woman Chief Minister of Odisha and the second woman to become Chief Minister in independent India.  She was also a writer in the Odia language. Her work has been translated and published into a number of other languages. She was honoured with Sahitya Bharati Samman Award in 1998 for her contributions to Oriya literature.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his heartfelt tribute.

Here are some facts about the ‘Iron Lady’:

• Nandini Satpathy was born June 9, 1931 and grew up in Pithapur, Cuttack.
• She first assumed office as Chief Minister of state June 14, 1972.
• At the time she first became CM, the nation was destabilised due to Indo-Pak war. Her tenure ended within a year when Emergency was imposed on India.
• She was the close aide to Indira Gandhi.
• She was re-elected for her second term from March 6, 1973 to December 16, 1976.
• Apart from being a political leader, she was also an author.

PNN