Dr. Raseswari Panigrahi, former MLA of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and a noted gynaecologist, passed away on Monday evening at her residence in Shanti Nagar, Sambalpur. She was 80.
As reported by The New Indian Express, she had been experiencing age-related health complications for several months. In recent days, her condition deteriorated due to neurological complications. After her health worsened on Sunday evening, she breathed her last at around 8:50 pm.
A Distinguished Career in Public Life and Medicine
Dr. Panigrahi’s passing marks the end of a remarkable journey that bridged medicine and public service. She was the sister of former Deogarh MP Sriballav Panigrahi.
In 2014, she entered electoral politics and won the Sambalpur Assembly constituency on a BJD ticket, thereby extending her commitment to public welfare into the legislative sphere.
From Medical Education to Government Service
Before stepping into politics, Dr. Panigrahi built a distinguished medical career. She completed her MBBS from Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla. In 1972, she joined government service as a specialist in gynaecology.
She began her professional journey at the district headquarters hospital in Sundargarh. Later, she served as a professor at VIMSAR, where she contributed significantly to medical education and women’s healthcare in the region.
Her academic foundation began at Ispat Vidyalaya in Rourkela. Subsequently, she pursued higher studies at Gangadhar Meher College, Sambalpur, where she nurtured her ambition to become a doctor.
Commitment to Social Service and Philanthropy
Dr. Panigrahi earned widespread respect for her compassion and service-oriented approach. She regularly provided free medical care to underprivileged patients, ensuring that financial constraints did not prevent access to treatment.
Moreover, she pledged her MLA pension for charitable causes and actively supported philanthropic initiatives through a trust established in memory of her late parents. Through these efforts, she strengthened her legacy as both a physician and a humanitarian.
Leaders Pay Tribute
Political leaders across Odisha expressed deep sorrow over her demise. Union Education Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan described her death as an irreparable loss to Odisha’s political and social landscape. He stated that Dr. Panigrahi was not merely a public representative but a service-driven personality known in every household of Sambalpur.
Similarly, former minister and BJD leader Rohit Pujari mourned her passing. He emphasized that her contributions to Sambalpur’s development, social service, and the medical field would always be remembered. He also prayed to Maa Samaleswari and Lord Jagannath for eternal peace for her departed soul.
A Legacy of Service
Dr. Raseswari Panigrahi leaves behind a legacy defined by dedication to healthcare, public service, and social upliftment. Through her work as a doctor, educator, legislator, and philanthropist, she touched countless lives and shaped the community she served.