Ratnaprava Devi

Ratnaprava Devi (also spelled Ratnaprabha Devi; 11 December 1909 – 27 April 2001) was an Indian politician and writer from the state of Odisha. She served as a member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly for three terms, representing the Ganatantra Parishad and the Swatantra Party. She was also a member of the royal family of Dhenkanal State.

Early life and background

Ratnaprava Devi was born on 11 December 1909. She was married to Raja Shankar Pratap Singh Deo, the ruler of the Dhenkanal State. Her son, Kamakhya Prasad Singh Deo, is a prominent politician who served as a Union Minister and Member of Parliament in India.

Political career

Devi was an active figure in Odia politics during the mid-20th century. She was elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly three times:

• 1957: Elected from the Kishore Nagar constituency as a candidate of the Ganatantra Parishad.
• 1961: Elected from the Dhenkanal constituency as a candidate of the Swatantra Party.
• 1967: Re-elected from the Dhenkanal constituency representing the Swatantra Party.

Literary works

Apart from politics, Ratnaprava Devi was a writer. She authored an autobiography detailing her life and experiences as a royal and a politician during India's transition to democracy.

• Autobiography of Queen Ratnaprava Devi (Originally published in Odia, 1997; Translated to English, 2021).

See also

• Dhenkanal State
• Kamakhya Prasad Singh Deo
• Swatantra Party

References