OBITUARY

With profound grief and sorrow, Ravenshaw University deeply condoles the sad demise of two eminent Ravenshavians: Former Chief Justice of Orissa High Court, Gati Krushna Mishra and renowned historian, former VC of Utkal University and Rajya Sabha MP, Manmath Nath Das.

Eminent Judge Gati Krushna Mishra passed away at his Madhusudan Nagar residence at Tulasipur in Cuttack on July 6, 2009. He was 97 and is survived by two sons and two daughters. He was ailing for the last few months. His wife had died a few months ago.

Justice Mishra was first elevated to the HC Bench as a judge in January 1962 and went on to become the Chief Justice of the High Court in May 1969. He continued in the same post for over six years before retiring in October 1975.

Noted academician Manmath Nath Das passed away in Bhubaneswar on July 18, 2009. He was 82 and is survived by a daughter and a son. Das, born in Balasore district, was educated at Ravenshaw College before attending Allahabad University and London University where he received his MA and Ph.D degrees respectively.

A researcher by passion, Das started his career as a lecturer in 1948 before becoming Professor and Head of History Department of Utkal University. He eventually became its Vice-Chancellor in 1983.

Elder brother of famous writer Manoj Das, he penned over a dozen books which gave rare insight into the Indian history, prominent among them being: The Political Philosophy of Jawaharlal Nehru, India Under Morley & Minto: Politics Behind Revolution, Repression and Reforms, Partition and Independent India: Inside Story of the Mountbatten Days, Glimpses of Kalinga History.

Das also wrote a number of books in Oriya such as Juge Juge Utkaliya Dharma O Savyata, Astaraga, Aspasta Akhyana and Samaya Sagara Tire. Many of his research papers and articles were published in the Encyclopaedia Britannica and the Grolier Encyclopaedia. Widely-travelled, Das contested the Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket in 1991 before being elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1998.