Neela
Satyanarayan,
the
first
woman
Chief
Election
Commissioner
of
Maharashtra
and
a
celebrated
author
and
poet
has
passed
away
on
Thursday,
16
July
2020.
The
72-year-old
succumbed
to
COVID-19
in
Seven
Hills
Hospital
in
Mumbai.
Neela
was
a
renowned
IAS
officer
and
a
poet
who
had
authored
15
books
in
Marathi,
Hindi
and
English,
including
her
autobiography.
She
also
composed
music
and
penned
the
lyrics
for
some
Marathi
films
after
retirement.
Neela
was
also
the
elder
sister
of
renowned
heart
surgeon
late
Dr
Nitu
Mandke.
For
the
uninitiated,
Satyanarayan’s
husband
and
son
have
also
tested
positive
for
Coronavirus.
They
are
currently
undergoing
treatment
at
Seven
Hills
Hospital
while
her
daughter
Anuradha
has
been
isolated
in
a
private
hospital
in
Dadar
for
safety
reasons.
Neela
Satyanarayan’s
last
rites
were
performed
in
isolation
at
the
Oshiwara
crematorium
as
per
the
government's
directive
by
a
15-member
BMC
team
and
five
police
officials.
Our
prayers
are
with
the
Neela’s
family
in
these
trying
times.
May
her
soul
rest
in
peace.