Nandini Satpathy
Encyclopedia
Nandini Satpathy (9 June 1931 in Cuttack
– 4 August 2006 in Bhubaneswar
), was an India
n politician and author, and was the former Chief Minister
of Orissa
.
book).
She was married to Devendra Satpathy who was twice the Member of Parliament from Dhenkanal
. First from the Congress party and later from the Bharatiya Lok Dal
.
& India
. Born on 9 June 1931, she grew up in Pithapur, Cuttack
. Smt.Nandini Satpathy the then Nandini Panigrahi while pursuing her Masters of Arts (Oriya
) at Ravenshaw College
, became a luminary of the ‘Students Federation’, the student wing of the Communist Party. In 1951, there was a student movement in Orissa
against the rising cost of College education. Young Nandini was a student leader pea excellence and while protesting, she was lathi charged by the police. The issue later developed into a national youth movement. She, along with many others, was jailed. In jail she met another member of the Student Federation named Sh.Devendra Satpathy who later became her life partner. Sh.Devendra Satpathy much later got elected as the member of Parliament of India ( Lok Sabha) for two terms from Dhenkanal.
In 1962, due to great leadership of Biju Patnaik, the Opposition had been decimated and it was the glorious time of the Congress rule in Orissa. The Assembly boasted more than 80 Congress members out of 140. At the national level the talk was to bringing more women into the Parliament of India. The Fire brand Smt. Nandini Satpathy the then president of the Women’s Forum was the first choice to be elected by the Orissa State Legislative Assembly. Thus Smt. Nandini Satpathy entered Rajya Sabha
in 1962. She served two terms at the Rajya Sabha.
When Mrs. Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister Smt.Nandini Satpathy became Minister attached to Prime Minister. Smt. Satpathy also handled the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting ( most of the progress we see today in regard to I&B has been her contribution to the nation). A few years later, in order to fill the void created by the departures of the likes of Sh. Mahatab, Sh.Chaudhury, and Sh. Biju Patnaik
from the Congress party, Smt Nandini Satpathy came back to the state of Orissa. She became Chief Minister and during Emergency, put Nabakrusna Choudhuri, Rama Devi and all eminent persons in jail. Among all the States, Orissa had the least number of leaders jailed during Emergency.
After Mrs. Gandhi imposed a state of emergency to cling to power in 1975, Mrs. Satpathy as the chief minister of Orissa did her best to resist Mrs. Gandhi's draconian politics.Later she fell out with Mrs. Gandhi and after the latter called for General Elections in 1977, which the Congress lost, she was a part of a group of protestors led by Jagjivan Ram
and formed the Congress for Democracy
.
Later she returned to the Congress fold.Thus in 1989, at the behest of Rajiv Gandhi
she rejoined the Indian National Congress
. It was immposible for any one to revive the Congress in Orissa as there was a strong anti incumbency of 15 years of Congress rule in Orissa. In perticular the mis-rule and highly corrupt rule of J.B patnaik. She was elected as M.L.A from Gondia and remainded a Legislator till year 2000. It was her decision to quit politics and she did not contest the 2000 State assembly election. Her long absence marginalized her within the state party. She was always very critical of how the party was run in Orissa.
into Oriya.
See, Nandini Satpathy v. PL Dani, (1978) 2 SCC 424
It took her more than 15 years to prove her innocence in the long drawn court battle and by the end she won all the cases against her. She was cleared of all the false charges.
Cuttack
Cuttack is the former capital of the state of Orissa, India. It is the headquarters of Cuttack district and is located about 20 km to the north east of Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa. The name of the city is an anglicised form of Kataka that literally means The Fort, a reference to the...
– 4 August 2006 in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa, officially Odisha. The city has a long history of over 2000 years starting with Chedi dynasty who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital...
), was an India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n politician and author, and was the former Chief Minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
of Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
.
Family
Nandini Satpathy came from a Brahmin family.She was the eldest daughter of Kalindi Panigrahi, author of MATIRA MANISA OriyaOriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
book).
She was married to Devendra Satpathy who was twice the Member of Parliament from Dhenkanal
Dhenkanal (Lok Sabha constituency)
Dhenkanal Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 21 Lok Sabha constituencies in Orissa state in eastern India.-Assembly segments:...
. First from the Congress party and later from the Bharatiya Lok Dal
Bharatiya Lok Dal
Bharatiya Lok Dal was a political party in India. The BLD was formed at the end of 1974 through the fusion of seven parties opposed to the autocratic rule of Indira Gandhi, including the Swatantra Party, the Utkal Congress, the Bharatiya Kranti Dal, and the Socialist Party...
.
Political career
From an early age, young Nandini was familiar with all the big names in politics and literature of OrissaOrissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
& India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Born on 9 June 1931, she grew up in Pithapur, Cuttack
Cuttack
Cuttack is the former capital of the state of Orissa, India. It is the headquarters of Cuttack district and is located about 20 km to the north east of Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa. The name of the city is an anglicised form of Kataka that literally means The Fort, a reference to the...
. Smt.Nandini Satpathy the then Nandini Panigrahi while pursuing her Masters of Arts (Oriya
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
) at Ravenshaw College
Ravenshaw College
Ravenshaw College is located in Cuttack, India.The college was established in 1878 for Thomas Edward Ravenshaw, a descendant of William Withers...
, became a luminary of the ‘Students Federation’, the student wing of the Communist Party. In 1951, there was a student movement in Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
against the rising cost of College education. Young Nandini was a student leader pea excellence and while protesting, she was lathi charged by the police. The issue later developed into a national youth movement. She, along with many others, was jailed. In jail she met another member of the Student Federation named Sh.Devendra Satpathy who later became her life partner. Sh.Devendra Satpathy much later got elected as the member of Parliament of India ( Lok Sabha) for two terms from Dhenkanal.
In 1962, due to great leadership of Biju Patnaik, the Opposition had been decimated and it was the glorious time of the Congress rule in Orissa. The Assembly boasted more than 80 Congress members out of 140. At the national level the talk was to bringing more women into the Parliament of India. The Fire brand Smt. Nandini Satpathy the then president of the Women’s Forum was the first choice to be elected by the Orissa State Legislative Assembly. Thus Smt. Nandini Satpathy entered Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
in 1962. She served two terms at the Rajya Sabha.
When Mrs. Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister Smt.Nandini Satpathy became Minister attached to Prime Minister. Smt. Satpathy also handled the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting ( most of the progress we see today in regard to I&B has been her contribution to the nation). A few years later, in order to fill the void created by the departures of the likes of Sh. Mahatab, Sh.Chaudhury, and Sh. Biju Patnaik
Biju Patnaik
Biju Patnaik was an Indian politician. Also known as Biju Babu.Son of Lakshminarayan and Ashalata Patnaik, Bijayananda Patnaik was born in Cuttack, Orissa on March 5, 1916..-Role in Indonesian freedom struggle:Biju...
from the Congress party, Smt Nandini Satpathy came back to the state of Orissa. She became Chief Minister and during Emergency, put Nabakrusna Choudhuri, Rama Devi and all eminent persons in jail. Among all the States, Orissa had the least number of leaders jailed during Emergency.
After Mrs. Gandhi imposed a state of emergency to cling to power in 1975, Mrs. Satpathy as the chief minister of Orissa did her best to resist Mrs. Gandhi's draconian politics.Later she fell out with Mrs. Gandhi and after the latter called for General Elections in 1977, which the Congress lost, she was a part of a group of protestors led by Jagjivan Ram
Jagjivan Ram
Babu Jagjivan Ram , known popularly as Babuji, was a freedom fighter and a social reformer hailing from the scheduled castes of Bihar in India. He was from the Chamar caste and was a leader for his community...
and formed the Congress for Democracy
Congress for Democracy
The Congress for Democracy was an Indian political party founded in 1977 by Jagjivan Ram. It was formed after Jagjivan Ram left the Congress party of Indira Gandhi and denounced her rule during the Indian Emergency...
.
Later she returned to the Congress fold.Thus in 1989, at the behest of Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Ratna Gandhi was the sixth Prime Minister of India . He took office after his mother's assassination on 31 October 1984; he himself was assassinated on 21 May 1991. He became the youngest Prime Minister of India when he took office at the age of 40.Rajiv Gandhi was the elder son of Indira...
she rejoined the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. It was immposible for any one to revive the Congress in Orissa as there was a strong anti incumbency of 15 years of Congress rule in Orissa. In perticular the mis-rule and highly corrupt rule of J.B patnaik. She was elected as M.L.A from Gondia and remainded a Legislator till year 2000. It was her decision to quit politics and she did not contest the 2000 State assembly election. Her long absence marginalized her within the state party. She was always very critical of how the party was run in Orissa.
Literary career
She was an Oriya writer and her work has been translated and published in a number of languages. In 1998, she was given the prestigious Sahitya Bharati Samman Award, for her outstanding contribution to Oriya literature. Her last major work was the translation of Taslima Nasreen's LajjaLajja
Lajja is a novel in Bengali by Taslima Nasrin, a writer of Bangladesh. The word lajja/lôjja means "shame" in Bengali and many other Indic languages. The book was first published in 1993 in the Bengali language, and was subsequently banned in Bangladesh, and a few states of India...
into Oriya.
Court Case
In 1977, complaints were registered against her under the Prevention of Corruption Act. On the strength of this first information, in which she and others were shown as accused persons, investigation commenced. During the course of the investigation she was interrogated with reference to a long string of questions, given to her in writing. She refused to answer any questions. Her counsel argued that under Art.20 (3) of the Indian Constitution every person had a right against self incrimination. Justice V.R Krishna Iyer in a widely appreciated judgment strengthened the rights of an accused, granting her a right to a lawyer and recognizing her right against self incrimination. The court also held that a woman has the right to be questioned at her residence in the presence of male relatives and she can be brought to the police station only after she is formally arrested. She has the right to be searched only by a woman.See, Nandini Satpathy v. PL Dani, (1978) 2 SCC 424
It took her more than 15 years to prove her innocence in the long drawn court battle and by the end she won all the cases against her. She was cleared of all the false charges.