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Former Union Minister Dr Debendra Pradhan passed away

Newdelhi;17/3/25: Former Union Minister Dr Debendra Pradhan, father of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, passed away today. He was 84.

He breathed his last at his son’s residence in Delhi at 10:30 am. The body of Pradhan is expected to reach Bhubaneswar at around 4 pm today. His last rites will be performed at Puri Swargadwar.

A veteran politician, Debendra Pradhan had served as the Minister of State for Surface Transport and Agriculture in the previous NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee between 1999 and 2004. He had also held various key positions in the party, including serving as the state president three times. Additionally, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Deogarh constituency twice.

Pradhan was born on July 16, 1941, to Maheswar Pradhan and Chandrama Debi. He completed MBBS from SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack in 1966. Pradhan began his professional journey as an Assistant Medical Officer at Dera in Talcher in 1967. However, after six years of service, he opted for voluntary retirement and ventured into private practice in 1973. His entry into politics came in 1980 when he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), marking the beginning of a distinguished political career.

He was elected as a Member of Parliament to the 12th Loka Shabha from Deogarh Parliamentary Constituency, Odisha, in 1998.

About Editor in chief

Ashok Palit has completed his graduation from Upendranath College Soro, Balasore and post graduation from Utkal University in Odia Language and literture.. He has also carved out a niche for himself as a scribe of eminence after joining the profession in 1988. He is also an independent media production professional. He brings loads of experience to Advanced Media, Ashok Palit as a cineaste has been active in film criticism for over three decades. As a film society activist, he soared to eminence for his profound commitment to the art film appreciation and aesthetics of cinema. His mode of discourse is often erudite but always lucid and comprehensible marked by a perfect acumen so rare in the field. A film aesthete with an immense fond of critical sensibilities, he wrote about growth and development of odia cinema in New Indian Express, The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, The Asian Age and Screen. He has been working as an Editor for Cine Samaya from 2002-2004.. He had made solid contribution on cinema in many odia Dailies and weekly such as Samaj, Prajatantra, Dharatri, Samaya, Satabadi, and weekly Samaya.
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