CUTTACK: Eminent doctor, freedom fighter, social activist and writer Dr Nirupama Rath passed away at her Dargha Bazaar residence in the wee hours today. She was 86 and is survived by two sons Dr Jayant Rath and Rajat Rath. Her husband, former Advocate General Gangadhar Rath, died in 2008.
An obstetrician and gynaecology of repute, she was the Founder Fellow of Indian Medical Association. She was the president of the State IMA for three consecutive years from 1987. She was drawn to the freedom struggle from childhood and had actively participated in the Quit India Movement in 1942. Her involvement in social service continued and she was the founder president of Utkla Mahila Sammilani as well as the Working Women’s Hostel here.
Her literary pursuits won her widespread acclaim and she was accorded the Orissa Sahitya Academy Samman in 2003. Her works ‘Prasuti Bigyan’ has been taken in as a textbook for nurses and midwives. Among her other works are ‘Bharatiya Swadhinata re Nari’, ‘Alibha Smruti’ and ‘Abhula Anubhuti’, ‘Samajik Niryatana’, ‘Masala’, ‘Nari O Bicharalaya’, ‘Diganta’, ‘Kanya and Sishu Sampada’ among others.
She was conferred with the Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1972, National Unity Award in 1993 along with other coveted ones as Suprativa and Chalapath Samman.