Nandini Satpathy

Nandini Satpathy Biography

Nandini Satpathy was a politician of Indian National Congress and former Chief Minister of Odisha. She was one of the prominent lady politicians of the country. She served as the Chief Minister of Odisha from 14th June 1972 to 3rd March 1973 and again from 6th March 1974 to 16th December 1976. Apart from being a politician she was also a well-known author. She is the daughter of famous Oriya writer, Kalindi Charan Panigrahi. Satpathy's uncle Bhagavati Charan Panigrahi was a prominent Communist leader of Odisha. She was the editor of Odia monthly ‘Kalana’ and published Hindi short stories ‘Janapath’. She has taken leaderships in many social activities throughout her political career and has also involved in many cultural events.

Satpathy was born on 9 June 1931 as the elder daughter of noted writer, Kalindi Charan Panigrahi. She was brought up in Pithapur. She completed Master of Arts in Oriya from Ravenshaw College and it was during this time when she got activity involved in politics. She was attached to Communist Party's student wing, the Student Federation and has participated in many students’ protests. In such protest, she got jailed and it was at jail she met Student Federation member, Devendra Satpathy whom she married later. He too was an active politician and has served two terms as the lower house member of parliament from Dhenkanal.

She was elected to the Rajya Sabha for the first time in 1962. She served as the member of Board of Director to International Centre of Film for Children and Young People held in Paris and Working Committee of A.I.C.C. She was elected to Orissa Legislative from Dhenkanal in 1977 and 1980. As a writer, she was honoured with Sahitya Bharati Samman Award in 1998 for her contributions to Oriya literature.

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Updated: May 07, 2014