Bihar CM, governor condole Mridula Sinha’s death

PATNA: State governor Phagu Chauhan and CM Nitish Kumar, among others, paid rich tributes to former Goa governor and senior BJP leader Mridula Sinha (77) who died due to protracted illness at a Delhi hospital on Wednesday.
Born on November 27, 1942, the celebrated author and senior BJP leader died nine days before she could celebrate her birthday. She was married to Ram Kripal Sinha of Muzaffarpur, who was a lecturer at the B R Ambedkar Bihar University and later joined politics and was a Union minister in the Morarji Desi government.
Given her illustrious profile, as well as her political and literary background, governor Chauhan said not just Bihar but the entire country has suffered a huge loss in her death. He recalled her contributions in various walks of life and called her a thinker.
Expressing his grief at her demise, the CM described her as a well-known writer and good administrator.
He also recalled her association with the 1974 students’ movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), also called the JP movement.
Former Rajya Sabha member R K Sinha, recalling his long association with her, said, “Around 10 days ago, she had called to inquire about my health. She advised me to remain careful and not to take chances with the coronavirus pandemic.” Former legislative council acting chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh also recalled her contributions.
Before she became the governor of Goa in August 2014, she headed the BJP Mahila Morcha and was appointed chairperson of the Central Social Welfare Board by then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. She remained associated first with the Bharatiya Jan Sangh, and later BJP.
Encouraged by her husband, she started writing short stories and went on to author 46 books, which included novels, poems, biography and other non-fiction work such as the popular two-volume book on folk tales of Bihar, besides the biography of Rajmata Vijayraje Scindia. Her popular novels are ‘Jyon Mehandi Ko Rang’, ‘Nayi Devyani’ and ‘Gharwaas’, among others. She had also edited a magazine, ‘Panchwan Stambh.’
Sinha was born in Chhapra Dharampur Yadu village of Muzaffarpur district, did her schooling from Balika Vidyapeeth, Lakhisarai, and later did her MA in psychology.
Her husband started his political career as an MLC in 1968 and became a minister in the state government. He later became a Union minister at the Centre under PM Morarjee Desai, besides being a Rajya Sabha member.
After the completion of her education, Mridula was appointed a lecturer in S K Singh College, Motihari, which she quit, and became principal of Bhartiya Shishu Mandir school at Muzaffarpur.