Freedom Fighter passes away

Raipur, Aug 2 (UNI) Veteran freedom fighter, educationist and former Madhya Pradesh Minister Ranveer Singh Shastri died here yesterday after a prolonged illness.

He was 85 and leaves behind his wife, a son and a daughter.

A former principal at the state capital's prestigious Durga college for 19 years, Mr Shastri served as vice-chancellor of the Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University for six months. He was also founder principal of the city's Vivekanand English College.

Widely respected for his straight-forwardness, discipline and deep commitment to principles, Mr Shastri was elected to undivided Madhya Pradesh assembly in 1985 and served as a minister in the Congress government.

His mortal remains would be handed to medical college as per his last wishes.

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