ITANAGAR, Aug 1 - Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig Dr BD Mishra (retd) and Chief Minister Pema Khandu today condoled the sudden demise of the second Governor of the State, RD Pradhan, at the age of 92 years in a Mumbai hospital on Friday.
Pradhan, a Padma Bhushan awardee, had held the gubernatorial post in Arunachal Pradesh from March 18, 1987 to March 16, 1990.
Mishra said that late Pradhan was a distinguished bureaucrat and administrator, who made immense contributions to the nation and the State of Arunachal Pradesh in various capacities.
�As Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, late Pradhan took keen interest in the public service programmes, especially education. It was during his period that the Arunachal University, now rechristened as Rajiv Gandhi University, was established. The people of Arunachal Pradesh will always cherish fond memories of late RD Pradhan, who groomed the State in its nascent stage,� Mishra said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said, �The news of the sad demise of Ram D Pradhan, the second Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, came as a shocker to me. He had held the helms of the State in its initial years from where we have had an eventful journey of progress and ably emerged as a distinct and determined State, rubbing shoulders with our peers with pride.�
Late Pradhan had also served the country as the Union Home Secretary. He played a pivotal role in signing of the Assam Accord and the Mizo Accord. He was in service of the Government of India for as long as 36 years.
