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Title : Mr. Speaker made references to the passing away of Shri Prakash Paranjpe, sitting member and member of 11th, 12th and 13th Lok Sabhas; Shri Alkha Ram, member, 8th Lok Sabha; Shri Trilok Chand, member, 7th Lok Sabha; Dr. Pratap Chandra Chunder, member, 6th Lok Sabha; Shri P.Ganga Reddy, member, 4th and 5th Lok Sabhas; Shri Mohammad Mahfooz Ali Khan, member, 8th Lok Sabha and Shri Manphool Singh Chaudhary, member, 7th, 8th and 10th Lok Sabhas on 20.02.2008, 05.12.2007, 27.12.2007, 01.01.2008, 03.01.2008, 04.01.2008 and 09.01.2008 respectively. Mr. Speaker also made references to the passing away of Shri Murlidhar Devidas Amte ( Baba Amte ) on 09.02.2008 and Sir Edmund Hillary on 11.01.2008.
MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, I have to inform the House of the sad demise of Shri Prakash Paranjpe, a sitting Member of this House and six of our former colleagues, Shri Alkha Ram, Shri Trilok Chand, Dr. Pratap Chandra Chunder, Shri P. Ganga Reddy, Shri Mohammad Mahfooz Ali Khan and Shri Manphool Singh Chaudhary, the renowned social reformer Shri Murlidhar Devidas Amte popularly known as Baba Amte and Sir Edmund Hillary the renowned mountaineer.
Shri Prakash Paranjpe was a sitting Member of the Lok Sabha representing the Thane Parliamentary Constituency of Maharashtra. Earlier he was a Member of the Eleventh, Twelfth and Thirteenth Lok Sabhas from 1996 to 2004 representing the same constituency.
Shri Paranjpe was a Member of the Committee on Industry and House Committee. Earlier he was a Member of the Committee on Commerce; Committee on Papers Laid on the Table and Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Surface Transport during the Eleventh Lok Sabha. He was Member of the Rules Committee; Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests and its Subcommittee on Ganga Action Plan and Consultative Committee, Ministry of Environment and Forests during the Twelfth Lok Sabha. He was a Member of the Committee on Finance; Public Accounts Committee and Consultative Committee, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas during the Thirteenth Lok Sabha. He evinced special interest in budgeting of institutions.
An active political and social worker, Shri Paranjpe served as Municipal Councillor, and Corporator in Municipal Corporation, Thane, from 1974 to 1980 and 1986 to 1996 respectively. He was the Leader of the Municipal Corporation during 1990 and its Leader of Opposition during 1992.
Shri Paranjpe was associated with Marathi Theatre and acted in various Marathi plays. He organized the Sangeet Mahotsava and was closely associated with various social and cultural activities.
A sports enthusiast, Shri Paranjpe was the President, District Badminton Association, Thane and Vice-President, Maharashtra Badminton Association.
Shri Prakash Paranjpe passed away on 20th February, 2008 at Thane at the age of 61 after a prolonged illness.
Shri Alkha Ram was a Member of the Eighth Lok Sabha from 1984 to 1989, representing Salumbar Parliamentary Constituency of Rajasthan.
Earlier, Shri Alkha Ram was a Member of the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha from 1972 to 1977 and 1980 to 1984.
During the Eighth Lok Sabha, Shri Alkha Ram was a Member of Committee on Petitions from 1987 to 1989.
An Agriculturist by profession, Shri Alkha Ram worked for the uplift of poor and marginalized sections of the society and was actively involved in the cooperative movement. He also served as Sarpanch of the Panchayat Samiti Kotra Society in 1965 and later as its Secretary.
Shri Alkha Ram passed away on 5th December, 2007 at Udaipur at the age of 67.[r1]
Shri Trilok Chand was a Member of the Seventh Lok Sabha from 1980 to 1984, representing the Khurja Parliamentary Constituency of Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier, Shri Trilok Chand was a Member of the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha from 1969 to 1974, 1977 to 1980 and 1985 to 1989. Shri Trilok Chand also served as the Minister of Information from 1970 to 1971 and as the Minister of Public Works in the Government of Uttar Pradesh from 1979 to 1980. Shri Trilok Chand also adorned the Office of the Deputy Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha from 1985 to 1989.
Shri Trilok Chand was a Member of the House Committee and the Rules Committee during the Seventh Lok Sabha.
A committed social and political worker, Shri Trilok Chand strove for the welfare of the poor, downtrodden and the deprived sections of the society.
Shri Trilok Chand passed away on 27th December, 2007 at New Delhi at the age of 72 after a prolonged illness.
Dr. Pratap Chandra Chunder was a Member of the Sixth Lok Sabha from 1977 to 1979, representing Kolkata North-East Parliamentary Constituency of West Bengal.
Earlier, Dr. Chunder was a Member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from 1962 to 1967 and from 1967 to 1968. He was the Minister of Finance, Judicial and Legislative Departments of the Government of West Bengal during 1968. During Sixth Lok Sabha, he served as Union Cabinet Minister of Education, Social Welfare and Culture from 1977 to 1979.
An advocate by profession, Dr. Chunder was an eminent educationist. He served as lecturer at Calcutta, Burdwan and Jadavpur Universities. He was Member, Senate of University of Calcutta from 1961 to 1967 and Member of the Executive Council of Rabindra Bharati University from 1962 to 1968.
A widely travelled person, he was bestowed with the Honorary Citizenship of New Orleans.
A man of letters, Dr. Chunder authored several novels, essays, short stories in English and Bengali.
In his demise the country has lost an eminent educationist and an able administrator.
Dr. Pratap Chandra Chunder passed away on 1st January, 2008 at Kolkata, at the age of 89.
Shri P. Ganga Reddy was a Member of the Fourth and Fifth Lok Sabhas from 1967 to 1977, representing the Adilabad Parliamentary Constituency of Andhra Pradesh.
Shri Reddy was also a Member of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from 1978 to 1983. During this period Shri Reddy served as the Minister for Agriculture and Civil Supplies in the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
During the Fifth Lok Sabha, Shri Reddy was a Member of the Committee on Estimates from 1973 to 1975. He was also a Member of the Joint Select Committee on Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Bill and of the Consultative Committee of the Ministries of Irrigation, Power and Health.
A committed social and political worker, Shri Reddy was the President of the Panchayat Samiti, Nirmal in 1964 and the Chairman of the Zilla Parishad, Adilabad from 1964 to 1967. He strove for the welfare of the poor, downtrodden and the deprived sections of the society and worked for the amelioration of the people of the rural society.
Shri P. Ganga Reddy passed away on 3rd January, 2008 at Hyderabad at the age of 75.
Shri Mohammad Mahfooz Ali Khan was a Member of the Eighth Lok Sabha from 1984 to 1989, representing the Etah Parliamentary Constituency of Uttar Pradesh.
Shri Khan was a Member of the Committee on Papers Laid on the Table from 1986 to 1987 and also served as the Member of the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Parishad from 1994 to 2000.
An agriculturalist by profession, Shri Khan played a significant role in developmental activities of his constituency. He was the Chairman of the Town Area Committee, Aliganj from 1964 to 1971 and was the President, Nagar Palika, Aliganj from 1971 to 1977.
Shri Khan took special interest in the cooperative movement and served as the Director of the Kisan Sehkari Chini Mills, Kaimganj, Farrukhabad.
Shri Mohammad Mahfooz Ali Khan passed away after a brief illness on 4th January, 2008 at Agra, Uttar Pradesh at the age of 76.[r2]
Shri Manphool Singh Chaudhary was a member of the Seventh and Eighth Lok Sabhas from 1980 to 1989 and of the Tenth Lok Sabha from 1991 to 1996, representing the Bikaner Parliamentary Constituency of Rajasthan. Earlier, Shri Chaudhary was a member of the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha from 1952 to 1957 and 1962 to 1972. Shri Chaudhary also served as a Minister of State in the Government of Rajasthan from 1965 to 1972.
An able parliamentarian, Shri Manphool Singh Chaudhary was a member of the Committee on Absence of Members from the Sittings of the House during the Eighth Lok Sabha. During the Tenth Lok Sabha Shri Chaudhary was a member of the Committee on Government Assurances and the Committee on Transport and Tourism.
A committed social and political worker Shri Manphool Singh Chaudhary served as the Pradhan, Panchayat Samiti, Suratgarh; Pramukh, Zila Parishad, Ganganagar and the Convenor of the Zila Bharat Sevak Samaj, Ganganagar from 1956 to 1960 and of the Zila Khet Mazdoor Sangh, Ganganagar from 1977 to 1980. Shri Chaudhary was also the Executive Member, Agriculture College and Gramothan Vidyapeeth Committee, Sangaria. He was instrumental in the establishment of over 100 primary schools in Districts Ganganagar and Bikaner under the ‘Maroo Bhumi Seva Karya’ scheme.
Shri Manphool Singh Chaudhary passed away on 9th January, 2008 at Jaipur at the age of 80.
Hon. Members, as you are aware, renowned social reformer Murlidhar Devidas Amte popularly known as Baba Amte passed away on 9th February, 2008 at Chandrapur at the age of 94 after a prolonged illness. A Gandhian to the core he was among the most inspirational social activist of our times. He established ‘Anandvan’ commune for treatment and rehabilitation of leprosy patients in Warora in Chandrapur District of Maharashtra. He spent a major part of his life in serving them.
Baba Amte was a freedom fighter who dedicated his life to uphold the Gandhian philosophy. His selfless service was acknowledged the world over. He was honoured with Gandhi Peace Prize in 1999. He was also honoured with Damien-Dutton Award, Magsaysay Award, Templeton Prize and Right Livelihood Award. He was also nominated for Nobel Peace Prize. Baba Amte was recipient of Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan awards. The University of Nagpur and University of Poona also conferred upon him honorary doctorates.
The void created by his demise would be difficult to fill. The values of love, compassion and social service imbibed by him in a generation of social activists would serve as a beacon light for the future generations.
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 loss of these friends and I am sure the House would join me in conveying our condolences to the bereaved families.
The House may now stand in silence for a short while as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed.
12.38½ hrs .
The Members then stood in silence for a short while.
12.39 hrs.
MR. SPEAKER: The House stands adjourned to meet tomorrow at 11 a.m.
The Lok Sabha then adjourned till Eleven of the Clock
on[r3] Tuesday, February 26, 2008/Phalguna 7, 1929(Saka).