Report by Anata Prasad; Bhubaneswar: Odisha will miss it's one of the popular Governor so far from today. Though President office has not confirmed the new appointee or His Excellency M C Bhandare' extension as the Governor of the State but officially it's last day of Sri Bhandare at the Raj Bhawan as Governor.

Popularly known as a culture and art loving Governor Sri Bhandare was highly appreciated at many forums for his active participation in state affairs. Starting from conducting Art Exhibitions at Rajbhaban to promoting tourism he has attended several cultural and social events at the request of people of Odisha.

With his keen efforts there was an art exhibition at the Raj Bhawan to patronage the state artists. At critical issues he has performed his role with much appropriation and without any biasness.

Being sworn on 21st August 2012 as the Governor of Odisha, he has served his duty with utmost honesty and with much involvement. This former Congress leader from Maharastra was very much attached to the state in his day to day activities. It has been seen that he has spoken in odia at some public meetings.

Born December 10, 1928 in Mumbai is a former Rajya Sabha member from 1980 to 1994 for three terms during 1980-1982, 1982–1988 and 1988-1994. He had replaced Rameshwar Thakur as Governor of Odisha who was shifted to Karnataka. Bhandare was administered the oath of office by Ashok Kumar Ganguly, the then Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik, Assembly Speaker Maheshwar Mohanty and several other ministers. Senior Bureaucrats of the state were also present in the ceremony. Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare was the 43rd Governor of Orissa.
 
Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare was born on December 10, 1928 in Mumbai. Bhandare graduated in B.Sc and thereafter did LL.B. He is the son of Chandrakant Laxmikant Bhandare and Sunanda Bhandare. Chandrakant Bhandare has one son and a daughter.

Bhandare was popularly known for his keen on social sector. Bhandare is a social worker who has represented India in various countries abroad like USA, USSR, Germany, and the United Kingdom and others. He has also campaigned for woman rights and has authored a book in this regard "The World of Gender Justice". He supports the movement of protection of children and rights for physically disabled people. He has also composed several editorials on law, population control, gender equality, and human rights that have been published in well known periodicals.

Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare was a professional lawer. Bhandare is a Senior Advocate of Supreme Court of India. He was also the President of Supreme Court Bar Association for 2 terms. In the year 1980, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha for the first time. He served the term for two years. Thereafter he was re elected to Rajya Sabha in 1988 and served it for six years. He thus retained his membership for a period of almost 14 years (from 1980 to 1994). Bhandare spent most of his political life in Maharashtra.

He has also served as the Chairman of the UN Sub Commission for Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minority from 1984 to 1989. He has also been the chairman of the UNESCO`s Appeals body from 1990 to 2003. He also chaired the post of Chairman of the Indira Gandhi National Integration Award Committee.