Former Lok Sabha speaker Rabi Ray no more

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Mar 6:

Former Lok Sabha speaker Rabi Ray passed away today following prolonged illness at SCB medical college and hospital in Cuttack.

He was 91. He was suffering from age related illness. He breathed his last at around 3 pm. The Gandhian and veteran politician was admitted to SCB after his health condition deteriorated on February 12.

“He was suffering from age related illness. He was admitted to the hospital on February 12 following his health condition deteriorated. On the same day he was shifted to Central ICU of the hospital. He had kidney and other age related problems. A team of doctors had been formed for treating the veteran at the hospital. Despite all efforts by the team of doctors, they could not save the former parliamentarian”, said Dr. Bhubanananda Moharana, Emergency Officer, SCB.

The first Lok Sabha speaker from Odisha had been staying at his Kalyani Nagar residence in the city before he was admitted to the hospital. Also Read

Odisha Governor S.C. Jamir, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and other political leaders mourned Ray’s death.

He was considered close to former chief minister Biju Patnaik. Born on 26 November 1926 in Bhanagarh village in Puri district, Ray joined national politics due to the inspirational leadership of Dr Rammanohar Lohia.

Prime Minister Morarji Desai inducted Ray into his Cabinet as Minister for Health and Family Welfare in January 1979 and the latter continued in that post till January 1980.

The General Elections to the Ninth Lok Sabha were held in 1989 and he returned to the Lok Sabha on the Janata Dal ticket from the Kendrapara constituency. On 19 December 1989, he was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as the first leader from Odisha to occupy the exalted post.

He graduated in History from Ravenshaw College and later studied Law in Madhusudan Law College, Cuttack. The foundation of his future political career was laid when he was elected President of the Ravenshaw College Students’ Union in 1948-49 and as the first President of the Madhusudan Law College Students’ Union in 1949-50.

Ray was deeply drawn towards the freedom struggle. In early 1947, while continuing his graduation, he courted arrest in connection with the unfurling of the national flag.

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