former Lok Sabha Speaker Ravi Ray

— Dr. Suresh Khairnar —

Revolutionary greetings to all comrades,At present, our parliamentary democracy is passing through a very serious phase. In this context, on the occasion of the commencement of the centenary celebrations of former Lok Sabha Speaker Ravi Rai (26 November 1926 – 6 March 2017), beginning formally from 26 November, I extend my humble greetings. My association with Ravi Rai Ji developed more closely during the last phase of his life when he initiated the “Lokshakti Campaign” to intervene in the growing polarization of politics in the Indian parliamentary sphere. At that time, I observed his primary concern: the attempts to hijack our parliamentary democracy by communal and criminal forces under a conspiracy. To counter this, his aim was to strengthen and spread awareness through the Lokshakti Campaign. This also became my life’s major goal after I witnessed the destructive consequences of the Bhagalpur riots in October 1989.

I had then said, “For the next fifty years, the central issue of parliamentary politics will revolve around communalism.” Ravi Rai was among those who agreed with my assessment. Today, the need for a united front on this very question is greater than ever. As we plan to begin various programs over the coming year in celebration of his centenary, I respectfully request all comrades to remember that the best tribute to Ravi Rai Ji—who devoted most of his life to tackling crises in our Constitution and parliamentary democracy—is to commit ourselves to furthering the unfinished work he left behind.Ravi Rai Ji was born on 26 November 1926 in Bhangarh village, Puri district (now Khurda), Odisha, renowned as the abode of Lord Jagannath.

He was born into a middle-class agrarian family. His early education began under the guidance of his elder brother at his school in Bhangarh. Later, he studied at Ravenshaw College in Cuttack, then Odisha’s premier educational institution (now a university), where he completed his BA in History. He went on to study law at Madhusudan Law College. During his college years, he was arrested for the first time after hoisting the tricolor flag in place of the Union Jack, marking the beginning of his political career. He became one of the close associates of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia. In 1949, he joined the Young Socialist League (later renamed the Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha). This exposure shaped his lifelong commitment to socialist thought and socio-political ideologies.Ravi Rai Ji was deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas during the freedom struggle.

Intellectual and ideological mentoring from socialist leaders like Dr. Lohia and Jayaprakash Narayan further strengthened his worldview. He first entered the Lok Sabha in 1967, elected from the Puri parliamentary constituency, becoming the leader of the parliamentary group of the Samyukta Socialist Party. He was later elected to the Rajya Sabha from Odisha in 1974. When the Janata Party was formed in 1977, he became its national general secretary, and in 1979, he was appointed as the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare under Morarji Desai’s government. In the 1989 general election, he returned as a Member of Parliament from Kendrapara (Odisha) on a Janata Dal ticket. His proudest moment came when he was unanimously elected Speaker of the 9th Lok Sabha on 19 December 1989, during one of the most turbulent periods in India’s parliamentary history.

In his oath-taking remarks, he declared, “I will remain impartial and rise above party politics.” For the next 18 months of his tenure as Speaker, he had to constantly undergo the test of impartiality.One of the most important decisions taken under his Speakership was to accept a motion for the removal of a Supreme Court judge—an unprecedented step at the time. He set up a committee of inquiry to investigate the charges, emphasizing institutional fairness above party lines. His conduct as Speaker—transparent honesty, simplicity, and balanced impartiality—appears all the more significant when contrasted with today’s deteriorating functioning of Parliament.From 1989 to 1991, India remained politically volatile—with governments under V. P. Singh and later Chandra Shekhar.

Amidst these unstable conditions, Ravi Rai ensured balanced functioning of Parliament, fairness to both treasury and opposition benches, and opportunities for members to raise issues of pressing public importance. He institutionalized the Zero Hour as a formal mechanism, allowing seven members daily to present urgent matters briefly, thus optimizing parliamentary time for constructive debates. He prioritized discussion on concerns like the public distribution system, availability of food grains, drinking water, housing, health services, land for the landless, jobs, primary education, protection of weaker sections against exploitation, communal riots, price rise, development, and defense-related national concerns.During his tenure, V. P. Singh’s government faced its first vote of confidence.

The debate was held and defeated, forcing the resignation of the government after 11 months, reflecting the unstable coalition era. Despite the chaos, Ravi Rai preserved order and dignity in Lok Sabha proceedings.Later, in 1993, partly as a continuation of debates initiated during his time, the N. N. Vohra Committee was set up to examine the nexus between criminals, politicians, and bureaucrats. This too reflected his foresight in addressing the criminalization of politics.Alongside his political work, Ravi Rai served as editor of Hindi fortnightly “Chaukhamba” and Odia monthly “Samata”. His political and intellectual commitments remained firmly rooted in socialism and Gandhian ethics. He won his third and final election to the 10th Lok Sabha in 1991. After a long illness, he passed away on 6 March 2017, aged 91, at Cuttack’s SCB Medical College and Hospital.

His wife, Dr. Saraswati Swain, retained her maiden name even after marriage—an expression of their shared socialist values.Today, when Parliament appears increasingly reduced to an arena of the ruling party, stifling opposition voices through tactics such as silencing microphones or expulsions, Ravi Rai’s principled Speakership stands in stark contrast. As a socialist, he had always given adequate floor time to smaller parties and minorities, ensuring inclusivity in debates.Recent changes, such as the manner of amending the Election Commission selection process by sidelining the Supreme Court judge and granting immunity from civil and criminal liability to Election Commission members, raise immense concerns about democratic integrity. These measures remind me of the Emergency-era amendments under Indira Gandhi, which curtailed accountability of the highest offices. Today’s developments, led by the BJP and RSS, reproduce those authoritarian tendencies under the guise of reforms. Questions are already being raised about the credibility of elections, with allegations of manipulation in voter lists and state assembly contests.In the shadow of these developments, the relevance of Ravi Rai Ji’s example shines brighter. His socialism, impartiality, defense of parliamentary sovereignty, and promotion of democratic inclusivity are critical lessons for our times.

In 2016, during a detailed conversation with the late Somnath Chatterjee at his Shantiniketan residence, he too recalled with admiration how Ravi Rai conducted himself as Speaker. As Chatterjee said, “In my long parliamentary life, I have never seen a Speaker so independent and free from all pressures.”Today, when we see the presiding officers of our Parliament cutting opposition mics and denying debates, their conduct speaks volumes compared to the integrity of Ravi Rai Ji. The BJP leadership itself openly claims certain proceedings “will not be recorded,” an alarming threat to parliamentary sovereignty.As we celebrate his centenary in 2025–26, the true homage to Ravi Rai Ji will be not in ritual, but in recommitment to the cause he upheld: safeguarding India’s parliamentary democracy from authoritarian capture, communal polarization, and criminalization. Otherwise, such centenary celebrations risk becoming mere formalities.