Acclaimed social worker and astrologer of Odisha Nirmala Mishra passes away

Cuttack, June 16: Nirmala Mishra, a prominent social worker and a famous astrologer of Odisha left for her heavenly abode on Tuesday evening. She was the Convener of the Utkal Pradesh Mahila Congress in the 1960s. As the Secretary of Seva Dal during those days while on her way to Ranpur in a jeep from Swaraj Ashram for election campaign forum on May 29, 1961 she met with an accident near Khurda. In this road accident three of her co-campaigners died and she lost her right hand and had 25 factures on the right side of her body. She was treated in Cuttack SCB Medical College and survived. In 1963 she married Lecturer Tattwakandar Mishra and the newly-wed couple were felicitated by Biju Pattnaik, Biren Mitra, Bijay Pani, Bhabani Pattnaik and other prominent leaders at Swaraj Ashram. Her eldest daughter Tadasha Mishra, IPS is now posted as Special Secretary, Home, Ranchi, Jharkhand. Her younger daughter, Dr. Soumya Mishra, who is also the first lady IPS Officer of Odisha, is now posted as Addl. DG, Fire Services, Home Guards and Civil Defence in Odisha. Her son the late Amrut Mishra last worked as Asst. Director in Central Intelligence Bureau. The late Nirmala Mishra was also a Member of Odisha Social Welfare Board. She excelled in music, dance and drama. The desire to excel manifested in her in many ways. She had won many awards for her poems in Bishub Milan. She was a student leader during her school and college days at Ravenshaw Girls High School and in Shailabala Women’s College. Later she entered the State politics. As a NCC Cadet, she had received the Kruschev Medal at New Delhi from Sri Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India. She was a famous astrologer and could foresee and predict future. Her extraordinary talent had made her famous in Odisha. She helped many people with her god given gift both from Odisha and from other States. Even people from abroad used to consult her and receive her assistance. She is survived by her husband Shri Tattwakandar Mishra, daughters Tadasha Mishra and Soumya Mishra, her daughter-in-law Jugajita Mishra, and her four grandchildren. Her last rites were performed at Khannagar Cemetery in Cuttack.