Rajya Sabha’s new Deputy Chairperson, Janata Dal (U) MP Harivansh was elected with more than adequate numbers on Thursday morning, making him the first non-Congress person to occupy the position in over 41 years, the last being Samyukta Socialist Party leader Godey Murahari, who served between April 1974 to March 1977.
Mr. Harivansh (he abjured the use of his surname “Singh” by deed poll years ago to remove all caste, community indicators from his name), was born in Sitab Diara village on the Bihar-Uttar Pradesh border, the birth place of famous socialist leader Jayprakash Narayan and came under socialist influence early in life.
Having completed his masters in economics and a diploma in journalism from Benaras Hindu University, he was tipped for a banking job. However, he followed his inclination for journalism, with early influences including famous author Dharamveer Bharati, under whom he worked as a journalist in the magazine Dharamyug . From there to Ravivar, the magazine published by the Ananda Bazar Patrika group and later as editor of Prabhat Khabar , Mr. Harivansh displayed both grit as an editor and a humanitarian touch in the reporting that he encouraged.
He is credited with bringing to light the astounding story of Dasarath Manjhi from Gaya, who with just a hammer and a chisel and a labour of 22 years, created a 110 metre road through a mountain to ensure access for the people of his village after his wife died, unable to reach medical help. That story is now legend for persistence and the triumph of human spirit.
Stint with former PM
Through his socialist inclinations, Mr. Harivansh was also close to former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, who appointed him as media advisor.
In 2014, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha for the first time by the Janata Dal (U), and it is the first time that a single term MP is being appointed Deputy Chairperson.
Discretion was a quality flagged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “As media advisor to former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, he knew when his boss was to resign. He didn’t allow a soul to know of it, not even the paper where he had served as editor for many years,” said Mr. Modi of Mr. Harivansh.
