Remembering Siddhartha Shankar Ray on his 102nd Birth Anniversary.
A Barrister, Union Minister of Education, CM of West Bengal, Governor of Punjab and Indian Ambassador to the US.
The Man, the myth, the Legend...
A Barrister, Union Minister of Education, CM of West Bengal, Governor of Punjab and Indian Ambassador to the US.
The Man, the myth, the Legend...
Born in a well known Bengali family, Son of Barrister Sudhir Kumar Ray and Aparna Devi. He was grandson of Nationalist leader C.R. Das.
Ray studied at, Mitra Institution, Bhowanipore Branch, Calcutta, Presidency College,and University Law College, of the University of Calcutta.
Ray studied at, Mitra Institution, Bhowanipore Branch, Calcutta, Presidency College,and University Law College, of the University of Calcutta.
He was a triple blue, Mastery in football, tennis and Cricket. He was captain of Presidency college cricket team, won the Inter Collegiate cricket Championship in 1944. He played for the Kalighat Club. In London he played cricket for the Indian Gymkhana Club.
After his return from London, he was a junior Judge, then he contested election from Bahwanipore and won. He became youngest member of the West Bengal Cabinet under the leadership of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. He was appointed Minister of Tribal Welfare and Law Dept, W.Bengal.
In 1966, he became the Union Cabinet Minister of Education & Youth Services for the Government of India, introduced the three language formula that was to give a fillip to literacy rates nationally over the nxt few decades.
Role in Bangladesh Liberation War-
He was pulled into task of managing two Bengals- Administering WB as it came under President's rule and diplomatic outreach to Sheikh M. Rahman. He played key role in supporting Mujibnagar Govt and also proving necessities to the 10-15 million
He was pulled into task of managing two Bengals- Administering WB as it came under President's rule and diplomatic outreach to Sheikh M. Rahman. He played key role in supporting Mujibnagar Govt and also proving necessities to the 10-15 million
refugees, that entered India. After Victory over Pak, He led the process of repatriating any refugees who were willing to go back to new Bangladesh.
His role as CM of WB
after 1967 indecisive LS election, Cong suffered setbacks. The Bangla cong led a united front govt that were
His role as CM of WB
after 1967 indecisive LS election, Cong suffered setbacks. The Bangla cong led a united front govt that were
thinly veiled commie power grab, frightening away industries and capitalists from the state, Ashok Kumar nite and other incidents happened during this time. Naxalism was on sinister rise.
Propaganda slogans of 'Amar naam Tomaar Naam : Vietnam' was in the rise. The rabid ideology
Propaganda slogans of 'Amar naam Tomaar Naam : Vietnam' was in the rise. The rabid ideology
entered the prestigious universities and political killings were unabated. Vidyasagar's statue was decapitated in college sq, the state was in menace tormented by naxals. 1969, Gov's rule was re-imposed, State's power started hardening under S. Ray's proxy govt.
As an advisor to the Governor, he started crushing the left extremism. Police reprisals were carried out.
Jadavpur vice chancellor was murdered by left goons in 1970. Clashes btw police and Naxals continued.
In 1972, Siddhartha Shankar Ray became the Chief Minister of W.Bengal
Jadavpur vice chancellor was murdered by left goons in 1970. Clashes btw police and Naxals continued.
In 1972, Siddhartha Shankar Ray became the Chief Minister of W.Bengal
He became the bane of the Naxalites breaking their backs in broad daylight. Dealing with iron hand, the police suppressed the Naxalites through encounters and arrests. The zombie virus that was wrecking havoc was contained.
He strove for a corruption-free government, and his
He strove for a corruption-free government, and his
personal integrity was unimpeachable. In fact, he even went to the extent of appointing a judicial commission the Wanchoo Commission to investigate corruption in his own Cabinet. which alienated him from other members of congress.
Role in emergency.......
He was the main architect behind the declaration of 1975 emergency. Also drafted a letter to then President Fakhruddin Ali. Ray proffered was that an internal Emergency was one constitutional provision that she could invoke. However, during the ensuing
He was the main architect behind the declaration of 1975 emergency. Also drafted a letter to then President Fakhruddin Ali. Ray proffered was that an internal Emergency was one constitutional provision that she could invoke. However, during the ensuing
Emergency, Ray strongly opposed the excesses that were committed by Sanjay Gandhi and his acolytes.
It took guts to take on these authoritarian tendencies, just as it took enormous courage to face down and eventually crush the Naxalites.
It took guts to take on these authoritarian tendencies, just as it took enormous courage to face down and eventually crush the Naxalites.
During the emergency period, S. Ray left his party and people and went to Delhi to practice law and after the emergency, Left govt came in power with support from the refugees and nation wide anti Indira tide.
He started rebuilding the congress, and was then
He started rebuilding the congress, and was then
called by PM Rajiv Gandhi to take control of Khalistan separatism torn Punjab as Governor in 1986. Working closely with Julio Ribeiro who led the Police force, Ray turned back the tide of terrorist insurgency in Punjab, fighting off the sinister Pakistani attempt at fomenting
separatism in a key border state. He dismissed the Barnala Govt. Aided by supercop K P S Gill, Ray turned the tides against Khalistani militants in the state.
After Rajiv Gandhi's death he returned to Wb and won his seat from Chowringhee , and took the post of WBPCC, the bane
After Rajiv Gandhi's death he returned to Wb and won his seat from Chowringhee , and took the post of WBPCC, the bane
commies returned. He gave tough times to the ruling left front.
Ambassador to US.......
They sighed a relief when in 1992 PM PV Narasimha Rao made him India's ambassador to the US, A job in which he distinguished himself.
He put India in proper place with US in the cold war
Ambassador to US.......
They sighed a relief when in 1992 PM PV Narasimha Rao made him India's ambassador to the US, A job in which he distinguished himself.
He put India in proper place with US in the cold war
era, when India was tilted towards USSR. He shepherded PM Narasimha Raoβs enormously successful US visit that included a speech to a joint session of Congress after which he was hailed (quite rightly) as the Deng of India.
Ambassador Ray then brought all the US Supreme
Ambassador Ray then brought all the US Supreme
Court justices (led by then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist) to India, demonstrating to the judicial branch of government a fundamental convergence between the two great democracies. It was the crowning achievement of a diplomatic foray that transformed India-US relations.
During his retirement between 1996 and 2010, Ray returned to his law practice as a Barrister of the Calcutta High Court.
He would leave this mortal world on 6 November 2010 at the age of 90.
An inspiration and icon to the coming generations of Indians and Bengalis particularly.
He would leave this mortal world on 6 November 2010 at the age of 90.
An inspiration and icon to the coming generations of Indians and Bengalis particularly.
@abhijitmajumder thread on Siddhartha Shankar Ray
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