Noted freedom fighter andsocial activist Annapurna Maharana passed away at herresidence in Cuttack, family sources said today.
She was 96 and survived by two sons. Maharana breathedher last at about 10.30 pm at her Bakharabad residence inCuttack last night after a prolonged old age related illness.
Her mortal remains will be consigned to flames atKhannagar crematorium in Cuttack tomorrow, the sources said.
Odisha governor MC Bhandare, chief minister NaveenPatnaik, OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik and state BJP chiefJual Oram deeply condoled her death describing it asirreparable loss to the state and the nation.
She was an embodiment of selfless service andsacrifice and will be remembered for her dedication,commitment and above all for her simplicity, Bhandare said.
Patnaik, who rushed Cuttack to pay floral tributes tothe departed leader, described her as an epitome of sacrificeand a prominent reformer besides being an able freedomfighter. "She was a true daughter of the soil", Patnaik said.
Maharana was born to Odisha's noted freedom fighterRama Devi and Gopabandhu Choudhury. She was married to SaratMaharana, who passed away three years ago.
Joining the freedom struggle at the age of only 14,Maharana was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and his ideology.
Sheaccompanied Gandhiji in his historic Harijan Pada Yatra fromPuri to Bhadrak in 1934. Maharana was imprisoned at differenttimes including once during Quit India Movement in 1942.
Besides being a freedom fighter, Maharana spent hertime in social service after Independence and worked for theuplift of women and children. She too joined the BhoodanMovement of Acharya Vinoba Bhave.
She had set up a school in Rayagada district fortribal children.