The political landscape of Odisha has been dimmed by the passing of Sushila Tiriya, a prominent Congress leader and advocate for tribal rights, at the age of 70. Tiriya, who dedicated her life to social justice and the upliftment of marginalised communities, leaves behind a legacy of unwavering commitment to public service.
According to sources, Tiriya passed away at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
Born on February 6, 1956, in Kaluakhaman, Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, Tiriya came from a family of freedom fighters. Her father, Rupnarayan Tiriya, founded a school for the tribal community, instilling in her a deep sense of social responsibility from an early age. She graduated with a B.A. from Utkal University and entered politics at the young age of 24, joining the Youth Congress (I).
Tiriya’s political journey was marked by significant milestones. She served as President of the Youth Congress in Mayurbhanj in 1983 and Vice-President in 1984. Her first major electoral success came in 1986 when she was elected to the Rajya Sabha, representing Odisha. During her tenure, she contributed to various consultative committees, including those for Science and Technology, Atomic Energy, Ocean Development, Civil Aviation, and Communications. She also served on committees focused on Government Assurances and the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
In 1994, Tiriya was elected to the 10th Lok Sabha from the Mayurbhanj constituency and secured re-election in 1996 for the 11th Lok Sabha. Her roles extended to being Joint Secretary of the All India Congress Committee from 1995 and a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) until 2018. At the time of her passing, she was a member of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee’s state political advisory committee.
The news of her demise was shared by Bhakta Charan Das, President of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee and former Union Minister, in a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter). Das expressed profound grief, stating, “I am deeply saddened and heartbroken upon receiving the news of the demise of Mrs. Sushila Tiriya… Her long-term service towards tribal welfare and social justice is an irreparable loss for the Congress Party.” He extended condolences to her family and prayed for her soul’s eternal peace at the feet of Lord Shri Jagannath.
