CUTTACK: Noted social worker, lawyer and wife of late Barrister Ranjit Mohanty, Shakuntala Mohanty passed away following prolonged illness here on Friday.
She was 81 and is survived by two sons - Justice Indrajit Mohanty of Orissa High Court and Biswajit Mohanty.
Born on March 15, 1929, at Tirtol in Jagatsinghpur district, Shakuntala did her schooling at Keonjhargarh High School before earning her graduation and PG at Sailabala Women’s College here.
She then pursued law at Madhusudan Law College and enrolled herself as an advocate under noted lawyer Subha Rao in 1962.
She is, however, known more for her work for uplift of women and downtrodden. She was chairperson of the Association for Social Health in India, Orissa Chapter, president of the Orissa Nari Seva Sangha and president of the Orissa Legal Education Society, Orissa. She was also the president of the governing body of The Law College here.
She had established Mamata Short-stay Home for distressed girls and women. A former member of the State Commission for Women, she was the managing trustee of the Shree Nrusinghanath Jew Dwarikadas Matha at Dagarpada for the last 20 years.
Judicial and legal fraternity has mourned Shakuntala. The High Court was adjourned for the day while Chief Justice V Gopalagowda and all judges went to her residence to pay their last respects.