ORF Board of Trustees mourns passing away of Chairman Mr. R. K. Mishra

The Board of Trustees, Observer Research Foundation, places on record its deep sense of loss on the untimely passing of ORF’s Founder Chairman, Shri R. K. Mishra. The Board offers its heartfelt condolences to Renukaji and other members of the bereaved family.

Mishraji was the guiding spirit of the Foundation. He was its visionary leader and exemplary teacher. He was a man of ideas. He created and painstakingly nurtured the Foundation to attain the status of a world-class think-tank and ORF’s development became his life’s mission. He believed in India’s renaissance and envisioned ORF as an important catalyst of new thinking and a source of fresh suggestions and approaches for the country to steer a clear path to economic progress and social justice through turbulent times. For this purpose he brought together some of the finest brains in the sphere of policy making, and provided for them an environment and young talent for vigorous discussion and debate on critically important issues of domestic and global relevance to our country.

Mishraji’s clear vision, commitment and determined leadership has led to ORF’s recognition as a highly regarded, independent public policy think-tank. The loss suffered by ORF and its staff members is great indeed. We are confident that each member, and the organization as a whole, will redouble their efforts to keep alive their leader’s vision.

Mishraji was a high-minded nationalist, with many dimensions to his personality, great diversity of interests, and a quick and unfailing grasp of complex national and international problems. In his work as a journalist and editor, writer and legislator, and in his intellectual pursuits, he rendered valued service to the country and nation he loved deeply.

We found his interactions with us, at both personal and professional levels, extraordinarily enriching. It was our good fortune to be associated with him as colleagues in an endeavour which he cherished. His absence from our midst leaves a void and he will be missed by us for long.