A condolence meeting and webinar to mark the death of former MLA, noted film actor and former president of All Odisha Lawyers Association Advocate Umakanta Mishra of Bhanjanagar was held here on Sunday.
Among those who joined the virtual zoom meet include senior lawyer, former Minister and Bolangir MLA Narasingh Mishra, Brahmapur MP Chandrasekhar Sahu, PCC Chief Niranjan Pattnaik, film director and actor and former Minister Prashant Nanda, Editor ‘Sambad’ and MLA Soumya Ranjan Pattnaik, general secretary of BJP Bhrugu Buxipatra; MP Amar Pattnaik, Brahmapur MLA Bikram K Panda, former Minister Sarat Rout, son of late Umakanta Mishra Biswajit Mishra, former Advocate General Surya Prakash Mishra, Milan Kanungo, apart from presidents of Bar Associations, lawyers and intellectuals.
The Speakers recalled the contributions of late Umakanta Mishra both to the legal profession, social work and playwriting. President of All Odisha Lawyers Association Gyanranjan Mohanty presided over the webinar and condolence meeting, while general secretary of AOLA Bibhu Prasad Tripathy delivered keynote address. Mohan Singhari offered vote of thanks. Mention may be made that, the former legislator and actor Umakanta Mishra died at 82 at a private hospital at Bhubaneswar while undergoing treatment as he was suffering from age-related ailments and had been admitted to the hospital since past two weeks, sources said. He was born on July 14, 1939 at Sanakodanda village in Bhanjanagar and his father was noted social activist.
Mishra was elected as MLA from Bhanjanagar Assembly constituency on Congress ticket in 1985. He also worked as the Chairperson of OREDA Corporation and was the Senate Member of Berhampur University. He wrote more than five plays. After performing in several plays, he displayed his fine acting skills in super-hit movie ‘Amadabata’ in 1964.