Maharashtra’s first woman election commissioner, author and a poet, Neela Satyanarayan succumbed to Covid-19 on Thursday. Satyanarayan, 72, was admitted to Mumbai’s Seven Hills hospital, where she was undergoing treatment for novel coronavirus.
Neela Satyanarayan born on February 5, 1949 was an additional chief secretary of the revenue department and post-retirement in 2009, she was appointed as the state election commissioner.
Satyanarayan had penned several books, was a 1972 batch IAS officer, and also composed music for some films. She made her mark in the field of literature as well as administrative service. She wrote about 150 poems. She had also composed music for some Marathi and Hindi films.
According to the health ministry, Maharashtra, the worst-affected state in the country, has more than 2.75 lakh cases and 10,928 casualties. On July 15, Maharashtra reported 7,975 fresh cases and 223 deaths due to the infection.
There are more than 1.10 lakh active cases to date. Maharashtra is expected to cross the three-lakh mark by the weekend.
Several political leaders paid tribute to her on Twitter
Deeply saddened to hear about the demise of Neela Satyanarayan – First Woman State Election Commissioner of Maharashtra.
May she rest in Peace. My thoughts and prayers with the family.
Heartfelt Condolences??— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) July 16, 2020
माझ्यावर निरतिशय प्रेम करणाऱ्या माझ्या शुभचिंतक, मार्गदर्शक आणि माझ्या मनात कायमची आदरभावना असणाऱ्या कवी मनाच्या हळव्या लेखिका, निवृत्त सनदी अधिकारी आणि महाराष्ट्राच्या पहिल्या महिला निवडणूक आयुक्त #नीला_सत्यनारायण यांचं निधन चटका लावून गेले… #NeelaSatyanarayan pic.twitter.com/5AR5plFm7J
— Arvind Sawant (@AGSawant) July 16, 2020
राज्याच्या पहिल्या महिला निवडणूक आयुक्त,उत्तम कवियत्री नीला सत्यनारायण यांचे निधन..
त्यांनी लिहिलेली पुस्तके आणि दै महा.टाईम्स साठी त्यांची गाजलेली सदरे वाचकांच्या मनावर कायम प्रभाव टाकणारी होती.#NeelaSatyanarayan pic.twitter.com/ie1TlqzKrN— Dattatray Bharane (@bharanemamaNCP) July 16, 2020
महाराष्ट्राच्या पहिल्या महिला निवडणूक आयुक्त नीला सत्यनारायण यांचं कोरोनामुळे निधन झाल्याची दुःखद बातमी समजली. वरिष्ठ सनदी अधिकारी म्हणून त्यांनी देशाची सेवा केलीच मात्र आपल्या साहित्याच्या माध्यमातून समाजाला दिशा दाखवण्याचे कामही केले. भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली ?#neelasatyanarayan pic.twitter.com/nr47aTGr8k
— Jayant Patil (@Jayant_R_Patil) July 16, 2020
त्यांच्या निधनाने एक संवेदनशील महिला सनदी अधिकारी कायमचे हरपले आहे. नीला सत्यनारायण यांना भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली!#NeelaSatyanarayan pic.twitter.com/MnBnXIZhNq
— Chhagan Bhujbal (@ChhaganCBhujbal) July 16, 2020
