Ram Prakash
Encyclopedia
Dr. Ram Prakash is an Indian politician and a leader of Indian National Congress
party. He is Member of the Parliament of India
representing Haryana
in the Rajya Sabha
, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
district of Haryana (formerly Punjab), India
, of a low-caste Gandu, Dalit
background . Through sheer dint of hard work, he passed his MSc and PhD degrees in Chemistry
from the Punjab University
, Chandigarh
, and thereafter taught at this institution for long years . Later, he joined the new Kurukshetra University and eventually rose to be a Pro-Vice Chancellor there.
party ticket.
, Bhupinder Singh Hooda
, he eventually rose to be Working President of the INC party in Haryana and, in due course, was elevated to the Rajya Sabha in 2008. His political career has not been without controversy, and a number of court/criminal cases are pending against him since 2009-2010 .
.
movement in Hinduism. He is also a follower of the ideas and principles of Dr B.R. Ambedkar: in particular with relation to Ambedkar's efforts for the rights of 'Untouchables' and Dalits, his critique of traditional Hindu
'varna' or caste system and his criticism of Islam
and the concept of the creation of Pakistan
, which was deemed an unavoidable but unpleasant 'expedient' , and his attendant suspicion of the loyalties of Muslims in India.
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
party. He is Member of the Parliament of India
Parliament of India
The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body in India. Founded in 1919, the Parliament alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all political bodies in India. The Parliament of India comprises the President and the two Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha...
representing Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
in the Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
Early life
Dr Ram Prakash son of S. Prabhu Dyal, was born on 5 October 1939, in village Tangore, KurukshetraKurukshetra
Kurukshetra is a land of historical and religious importance. Historically the land belonged to Punjab now a district in Haryana state of India. It is a holy place and is also known as Dharmakshetra . According to the Puranas, Kurukshetra is named after King Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and...
district of Haryana (formerly Punjab), India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, of a low-caste Gandu, Dalit
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
background . Through sheer dint of hard work, he passed his MSc and PhD degrees in Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
from the Punjab University
Panjab University, Chandigarh
Panjab University is one of the oldest universities in India. The university campus is residential, spread over an area of in sectors 14 and 25 of the city of Chandigarh...
, Chandigarh
Chandigarh
Chandigarh is a union territory of India that serves as the capital of two states, Haryana and Punjab. The name Chandigarh translates as "The Fort of Chandi". The name is from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, devoted to the Hindu goddess Chandi, in the city...
, and thereafter taught at this institution for long years . Later, he joined the new Kurukshetra University and eventually rose to be a Pro-Vice Chancellor there.
Entry in Politics
He entered politics in 1990-1991 and in 1999 won the local elections on a Indian National CongressIndian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
party ticket.
Politics(2005-Present)
Being close to the Haryana Chief MinisterChief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
, Bhupinder Singh Hooda
Bhupinder Singh Hooda
Bhupinder Singh Hooda is an Indian politician, a leader of the Indian National Congress and the current Chief Minister of Haryana. He became the chief minister of Haryana for the first time in March 2005. He created a history of sorts in the Haryana assembly elections of 2009, when Hooda led...
, he eventually rose to be Working President of the INC party in Haryana and, in due course, was elevated to the Rajya Sabha in 2008. His political career has not been without controversy, and a number of court/criminal cases are pending against him since 2009-2010 .
Personal life
Dr Prakash was married in 1966, to SM. Vijay Kumari, and has two sons by his marriage. He lives mostly in Kurukshetra, Haryana, and also at New DelhiNew Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
.
Positions Held
| Year | Position | Party/Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| 1991–1996 | M.L.A, Thanesar | INC |
| 1991–1993 | State Minister for Science, Technology and Electronics | INC |
| 2005 | Working President, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee | INC |
| 2007–2008 | Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | INC |
| 2007–Present | Member, Committee on Rural Development | INC |
| 2008 | Member, Committee on External Affairs Member | INC |
| 2008 | Re-Elected as M.P., Rajya Sabha | INC |
| 2010 | Member, Committee on Official Language | INC |
Social Views
Dr Ram Prakash is a strong supporter of the Arya SamajArya Samaj
Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement founded by Swami Dayananda on 10 April 1875. He was a sannyasi who believed in the infallible authority of the Vedas. Dayananda emphasized the ideals of brahmacharya...
movement in Hinduism. He is also a follower of the ideas and principles of Dr B.R. Ambedkar: in particular with relation to Ambedkar's efforts for the rights of 'Untouchables' and Dalits, his critique of traditional Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
'varna' or caste system and his criticism of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and the concept of the creation of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, which was deemed an unavoidable but unpleasant 'expedient' , and his attendant suspicion of the loyalties of Muslims in India.