RAJYA SABHA
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*SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE
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(Proceedings other than Questions and
Answers)
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Monday, February 25, 2008/Phalguna 6,
1929 (Saka)
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PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS
SECRETARY-GENERAL : I beg to lay on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the President’s Address to both the Houses of Parliament assembled together on the 25th February, 2008.
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MR. CHAIRMAN: I have to refer, with profound sorrow, to the passing away of Shri Motiur
Rahman, a sitting Member, Shrimati Omem Moyong Deori, Shri Yalla Sesi Bhushana
Rao, Shri Keshavprasad Shukla, and Shri R.K Karanjia, former Members of this
House.
Shri
Motiur Rahman passed away on the
18th December, 2007 at the age of 62 years. Born at Sapahi village in the East Champaran
District of Bihar in October, 1946, Shri Rahman had his education at the Bihar
University, Muzaffarpur and Turki Teachers' Training College, Muzaffarpur. An agriculturist and a social worker, Shri
Rahman was associated with various social welfare organisations. Shri Rahman was also a keen sports lover and
was involved in various sports activities in the State. Shri Rahman commenced his legislative career
with the membership of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, where he was a member
from 1980 to 1985 and again from 1985 to 1990.
Shri Rahman also served as Chairman of the Committee on Public
Undertakings of the Bihar Legislative Assembly. Shri Rahman represented the State of Bihar in this House from
July, 2004 till his sad demise.
In the passing away of Shri Rahman, the
country has lost a dedicated social worker and an able Parliamentarian.
Shrimati
Omem Moyong Deori passed away on
the 19th December, 2007 at the age of 65 years. Born at Pasighat in the East Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh
in July, 1943, Shrimati Deori had her education at St Mary's College,
Shillong. A social worker and an
entrepreneur, Shrimati Deori was among the first batch of local tribal females
to attend school and college. She took keen interest in the welfare of women,
children and youth, especially among the weaker sections of the society. Shrimati Deori also led the crusade against
social evils like dowry and child marriage.
A recipient of Padmashree Award in the year 1984 for her outstanding
work in social service, Shrimati Deori won laurels for her work for the
emancipation of the women and the downtrodden.
Shrimati Deori attended the International Women's Conference in Berlin
in the year 1975 in connection with the International Women's Year. Shrimati Deori represented the State of
Arunachal Pradesh in this House from May, 1984 to March, 1990.
In the passing away of Shrimati Omem Moyong
Deori, the country has lost a distinguished social worker and a noted
parliamentarian.
Shri
Yalla Sesi Bhushana Rao passed away
on the 27th December, 2007, at the age of 79 years. Born at village Bandaluppi in the
Vizianagaram District of Andhra Pradesh in March, 1929, Shri Rao had his
education at the M.R. College, Vizianagaram, Mrs. A.V.N. College, Visakhapatnam
and Osmania Law College, Hyderabad. An
advocate by profession, Shri Rao took part in the Freedom Movement of the
country. He was associated with various
social and cultural activities and played an active role in the Kisan and
Labour Movements in Srikakulam district. Shri
Rao represented the State of Andhra Pradesh in this House from April, 1984 to
April, 1990.
In the passing away of
Shri Yalla Sesi Bhushana Rao, the country has lost a noted social worker and an
able parliamentarian.
Shri Keshavprasad Shukla
passed away on the 2nd January, 2008, at the age of 86 years. Born at village Raura in the Rewa District
of Madhya Pradesh in March, 1922, Shri Shukla had his education at the Durbar
College, Rewa, and the Banaras Hindu University. An advocate by profession, Shri Shukla took keen interest in the
social welfare activities. He was
Chairman of District Bar Association, Rewa, during the period 1969 to 1970 and
of District Agriculture Produce Market Committee, Rewa, in 1968. He was Member, Law Commission of Madhya
Pradesh, in 1980. Shri Shukla
represented the State of Madhya Pradesh in this House from April, 1982 to
April, 1988.
In the passing away of
Shri Keshavprasad Shukla, the country has lost a noted social worker and an
able Parliamentarian.
Shri R.K. Karanjia
passed away on the 1st February, 2008, at the age of 96 years. Born at Mumbai in September, 1912, Shri
Karanjia had his education at St. Xavier's School and College and Wilson
College. A journalist by profession,
Shri Karanjia, served as a war correspondent with the Allied Forces. He served as Editor of The Sunday
Standard and Morning Standard, now the Indian Express. Shri Karanjia launched India's first tabloid
'Blitz', a weekly in English, Hindi and Urdu as well as Cine Blitz
in 1941 and the Daily in 1981. He was
Editor-in-Chief of the Blitz Publications Pvt., Ltd. A prolific writer, Shri
Karanjia has a number of publications to his credit. Shri Karanjia was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in January, 1991,
and he remained a Member of this House till January, 1997.
In the passing away of
Shri R.K. Karanjia, the country has lost a distinguished journalist and an
eminent personality.
I also refer with
profound sorrow to the passing away of Shri Murlidhar Devidas Amte and Sir
Edmund Hillary.
Shri Murlidhar
Devidas Amte, popularly known as Baba Amte, passed away on the 9th
February, 2008, at the age of 94 years. Born in December, 1914, in the Wardha
district of Maharashtra, Baba Amte started his career as an Advocate. He stood as a defence lawyer for leaders
imprisoned during the Quit India Movement and was deeply influenced by Mahatma
Gandhi. He practised various aspects of
Gandhism and lived a Spartan life. He
dedicated his life to the cause of upliftment of the downtrodden classes of
society and helped them in leading a life of dignity. His fight against leprosy and his struggle for the welfare and
rehabilitation of leprosy patients made him a revered personality. His commune
for leprosy patients, Anandvan Ashram at Warora village in the Chandrapur
district of Maharashtra, is a living testimony to his ideals. Baba Amte was recipient of Padma Vibhushan,
Gandhi Peace Prize, Ramon Magsaysay Award, Templeton Prize and several other
national and international awards for his selfless and tireless service to the
humanity.
In the passing away of
Baba Amte, the country has lost a saint and a messiah, a freedom fighter
and a great social activist.
Sir Edmund Hillary,
who along with Tenzing Norgay, was the first climber to scale the world's
highest peak, Mount Everest, passed away on the 11th January,
2008. The House would like to place on
record its deep sorrow at the sad demise of the great mountaineer and friend of
India. Sir, Edmund is a household name
in India, respected for his mountaineering achievements, contributions to the
welfare of the people of Himalayas and conservation in the Himalayas. His many friends and admirers in India
recall with fondness his stint as High Commissioner of New Zealand in India
from 1985 to 1989.
We deeply mourn the
passing away of Shri Motiur Rahman, Shrimati Omem Moyong Deori, Shri Yalla Sesi
Bhushana Rao, Shri Keshavprasad Shukla, Shri R.K. Karanjia, Shri Murlidhar
Devidas Amte and Sir Edmund Hillary.
(One minute’s silence was observed as a mark
of respect to the memory of the deceased.)
V. K. AGNIHOTRI,
Secretary-General.