Call it a coincidence, but the son of the member of Parliament who coined the term ‘Lokpal' and introduced the concept of an ombudsman in India, now heads the Parliamentary panel looking into the bill for creation of the anti-corruption watchdog.
It was 31-year-old L.M. Singhvi, father of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law chairman Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who in the early 1960s coined the term ‘Lokpal' and demanded its creation. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had jestfully asked Mr. Singhvi, who was repeatedly urging for creation of an ombudsman, “To what zoo does this animal belong? Dr. Singhvi you must indigenise it.”
The Young Turk, who could converse in Sanskrit, then coined the Hindi word ‘Lokpal' and its associate ‘Lokayukt.' Mr. Singhvi campaigned ceaselessly for a Lokpal bill from 1963 to 1967. However, since he was an independent MP, he could not get any legislation passed.
It was only when he left Parliament and continued with his campaign for Lokpal, that the government moved the first bill through Home Minister Y.B. Chavan in 1969. But, it could not go to the Rajya Sabha as Parliament was dissolved. Now, it has fallen on his son and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi and his committee to take a call on the three demands of social activist Anna Hazare referred by Parliament on Saturday.
