Noted writer and senior BJP leader Mridula Sinha was today sworn-in as Governor of Goa, following the resignation of B V Wanchoo. Bombay High Court Chief Justice Mohit Shah administered the oath of office to Sinha. Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and other dignitaries were present at Raj Bhawan here on the occasion. Goa had no full time Governor following Wanchoo’s resignation from the post after his role was questioned in VVIP chopper deal. Sinha, 71, becomes the first woman Governor of the state with a full-time charge.
“I have asked Lord Ganesh to give me wisdom and help me so that I can do something for Goa. I prayed to Him before coming for the oath ceremony. I want to do something special for Goa,” she said. “I have been working in the field of women, preservation of culture and the poor people. I will see that with the cooperation of the chief minister, I will do it in Goa too. The problems of the family, the problems of the society should be solved. I know Goa is not a problematic state though.” Asked about the plaguing alcohol and gambling issues, she replied, “I will study deeply about Goa’s issues… let me study. I will seek your (journalists) advice also.”
Born on November 27, 1942, at Chhapra village in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, Sinha is a renowned Hindi writer and former chairperson of Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB), Ministry of Human Resource Development. She is also the former president of BJP Mahila Morcha. She had actively participated in ‘Samagra Kranti’ led by Jai Prakash Narayan. After taking a post graduation degree in psychology, she completed her B.Ed. She started as a college lecturer at Dr S K Sinha Women’s College, Motihari in Bihar and later became principal of Bharatiya Shishu Mandir at Muzaffarpur.
Sinha is married to Dr Ram Kripal Sinha, who was earlier a college lecturer and later became a Cabinet minister in the Bihar state government. She has written more than 46 books in various disciplines. Her literary contributions include ‘Jyon mehandi ko rang’ (novel – a short film on Doordarshan was made based on the same), ‘Nayi Devyani’ (novel), ‘Gharwaas'(novel), ‘Sita puni boli’ (novel) and many more. Sinha has also written a biography on late Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia. Her story collections include ‘Sakshatkar’, ‘Ek Diye Ki Diwali’, ‘Apna Jeevan’ etc. She has also written essays like ‘Aine ke saamne’, ‘Maanvi ke Naate’ and ‘Bihar Ki Lok Kathaye’ for children. She contributes regular columns in various national and regional Hindi newspapers, magazines and periodicals.
