Jayanti Patnaik, wife of former Odisha CM Janaki Ballabh Patnaik, passes away

Indian Parliamentarian and renowned social worker Jayanti Patnaik, the wife of former Odisha Chief Minister Janaki Ballabh Patnaik, passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, informed former Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) chief Niranjan Patnaik.

She was 90. Jayanti was rushed to a private hospital here at around 8 pm after she developed complications. However, she breathed her last during treatment.

"Sad to learn about the demise of Smt Jayanti Patnaik, wife of former Odisha CM J.B. Patnaik. She was also an ex MP and eminent social worker who endeared herself to people of the state through her service and dedication. My condolences to her family, friends and well-wishers," tweeted President Draupadi Murmu.

Baijayant Jay Panda, National Vice President BJP, led the tributes to the first Chairperson of the National Commission for Women.

Taking to his Twitter handle, Jay Panda expressed deep grief and prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace.

ଜାତୀୟ ମହିଳା କମିଶନର ପ୍ରଥମ ଅଧ୍ୟକ୍ଷା, ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ନାରୀନେତ୍ରୀ,ପୂର୍ବତନ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ସ୍ବର୍ଗତ ଜାନକୀବଲ୍ଲଭ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକଙ୍କ ଧର୍ମପତ୍ନୀ ତଥା ପୂର୍ବତନ ସାଂସଦ ଶ୍ରୀମତୀ ଜୟନ୍ତୀ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର ବର୍ଗକୁ ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରୁଛି।
ଓଁ ଶାନ୍ତି🙏 pic.twitter.com/VmgQkskEob

— Baijayant Panda Odia (@Panda_Odia) September 28, 2022

Similarly, CM Naveen Patnaik, Odisha Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal, OPCC President Sarat Pattnayak and former OPCC President Niranjan Patnaik expressed deep grief over the death of the former MP and prominent politician and litterateur Jayanti Patnaik.

“Her contributions to the field of Odia literature and to society will be remembered forever,'' the veteran leaders tweeted.

ପୂର୍ବତନ ସାଂସଦ, ଜାତୀୟ ମହିଳା କମିଶନର ପ୍ରଥମ ଅଧ୍ୟକ୍ଷା ତଥା ସୁସାହିତ୍ୟିକା ଜୟନ୍ତୀ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସାହିତ୍ୟ ଜଗତ ସହ ନାରୀ ସଶକ୍ତିକରଣ ଦିଗରେ ତାଙ୍କର ଅବଦାନ ସର୍ବଦା ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ରହିବ। ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି।

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) September 28, 2022

Veteran Congress leader Sura Routray and Soumya Ranjan Patnaik also remembered the prolific writer after her demise. 

"She was a mother like figure for me," said Sura.

Born in 1932 at Aska of Ganjam district, she went on to become the first Chairperson of the National Commission for Women and held the office from February 3, 1992 to January 1995.

She was elected twice to the Lok Sabha, first in 1985 from Cuttack and again in 1998 from Berhampur. She also held the post of president of the All India Mahila Congress and was also elected to the Rajya Sabha two times.

ପୂର୍ବତନ ସାଂସଦ, ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ରାଜନେତ୍ରୀ ତଥା ସୁସାହିତ୍ୟିକା ଜୟନ୍ତୀ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକଙ୍କ ପରଲୋକରେ ମାନ୍ୟବର ରାଜ୍ୟପାଳ ଗଭୀର ଶୋକ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିଛନ୍ତି। ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ସାରସ୍ବତ ଜଗତ ତଥା ଜନଜୀବନକୁ ତାଙ୍କର ଅବଦାନ ଅବିସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ହୋଇରହିବ ବୋଲି କହିବା ସହ ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିଛନ୍ତି।
ଓଁ ଶାନ୍ତି 🙏🙏

— Governor Odisha (@GovernorOdisha) September 28, 2022

She was married to politician Janaki Ballabh Patnaik in 1953, who later remained the Chief Minister of Odisha (1980-89).

She is survived by a son and two daughters.

Deepest condolences and heartfelt prayers on the passing of Former President of AIMC Smt. Jayanti Patnaik ji.

A lady par excellence, someone who lead by example. An indispensable presence for generations to remember. May her blessed soul rest in peace 🙏🏻#JayantiPatnaik#RIPpic.twitter.com/wcSAR8W8sg

— Chandan Ray (@imchandanRay) September 28, 2022