Bhubaneswar: Doctor-philanthropist Neela Kantha Misra, who hailed from Odisha, breathed his last at Blackburn, UK, on June 9. He was 82.
He was born on October 7, 1941, in Digapahandi and topped the high school at the state level. He graduated with distinction from SCB Medical College in Cuttack, before briefly working for the Odisha government. In search of further opportunities, he migrated to the UK, where he pursued advanced studies and earned his MRCP qualification, becoming a specialist in internal medicine.
Dr Misra dedicated over four decades of his life to serving as a general practitioner in Blackburn. His also supported numerous charitable causes, and established a health clinic in his native village in Odisha. He was also a founding member of Kalinga Hospital in Bhubaneswar.
An avid scholar, Dr Misra amassed an impressive collection of rare books and anthologies in English, Odia, and Sanskrit. He even authored a book on British culture, written in Odia. He also promoted Odia culture by writing and directing numerous Odia plays and articles through the Odisha Society of UK.
He is survived by his wife Pratima Misra, son Nirmal and daughters Nilima and Anima.