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Puri: Her fluent English, flawless recitation of Sanskrit Shloka (quotes) and deep knowledge in mathematics and science will surprise all. Meet another highly-educated beggar on Badadanda near Lord Jagannath temple in Puri.
Once a highly qualified teacher, the elderly woman, Laxmipriya Mishra is one such many who sit on the Grand Road in the pilgrim city for their survival.
Sources said Laxmipriya used to teach physics, chemistry and mathematics and worked as a teacher not only in Puri but in Gujarat and Ethiopia in Africa.
“In Ethiopia, I was posted as mathematics teacher and as I was teaching chemistry well, the authorities asked me to teach both the subjects,” said Laxmipriya.
According to sources, she lost her mental balance after her adopted son went missing seven years back.
“Family for me meant only my son but he was kidnapped seven years back. I don't know if our villagers killed him or he is still alive,” she said.
As the news about the elderly woman broke, members of Lions Club in the pilgrim city rescued her and got her admitted to hospital.
“She is suffering from mental illness and also has problem in her eyes. Our club has an eye hospital in Bhubaneswar and we will see if her treatment can be done there. Apart from that we are in discussion with Hope Is Life old age home to rehabilitate her,” said Anil Kumar Das, president of Lions Club, Puri.
It may be noted that Laxmipriya's begging near Srimandir is not an isolated case. The Bada Danda in Puri homes many such highly-educated and once successful people who now live on alms.
Like Pramila Pradhan of Purusottampur in Ganjam district who was once an assistant at an anganwadi centre was recently found begging on Badadanda. After fracturing her leg, she came to the pilgrim city and resorted to begging.
“I had fractured my legs while visiting Taratarini shrine. As I could not continue my work, I moved here,” she said.
Similarly, Girija Shankar Mishra who had passed Diploma in Plastic Engineering from a reputed engineering college in Bhubaneswar was also found begging. A resident of Jaydev Vihar, he is the son of a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Similar was the case of Srijit Padhi who was rescued by his batchmates from the pilgrim city. Padhi is highly qualified and had completed his post-graduation in Economics from Ravenshaw University and had also cleared OAS written exam.
https://youtu.be/Nk4r1-XHUl0
