Noted freedom fighter, social reformer and former MlA Ratnamani Jema passed away on Wednesday after prolonged illness. She was 97. She is survived by her son Biswambar Samant and daughter Dr Bani Samant.
Noted writer Manoj Das is the son-in-law of Jema. Her husband Narayan Birabar Samant, also a former MlA, had died earlier. Jema was an active participant in the civil disobedience movement. Many renowned persons, including former Pradesh Congress president Niranjan Patnaik, Paradip Town Congress president Ranjan Kumar Das and Kujang block Congress president Santosh Kumar Das condoled her death. Her last rites would be conducted at the village cremation ground.