Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla paid floral tributes to former Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Somnath Chatterjee in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan on his birth anniversary on July 25, 2026. Members of Parliament, former MPs, and other dignitaries joined in paying respects, along with Secretary-General of Lok Sabha Shri Utpal Kumar Singh.
Shri Somnath Chatterjee was born on July 25, 1929, in Tezpur, Assam, and began his political career in 1968 after working as a distinguished lawyer. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1971 and served ten consecutive terms as a Member of Parliament. On June 4, 2004, he was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the 14th Lok Sabha, serving until May 31, 2009.
Chatterjee was renowned for his intellect, oratory skills, and commitment to parliamentary values, playing a pivotal role in elevating the quality of debates in the House. He received the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award in 1996 for his contributions to the Indian parliamentary system. During his tenure as Speaker, he introduced key modernization initiatives including the launch of Lok Sabha Television (LSTV) in July 2006 and the inauguration of the high-tech Parliamentary Museum in August 2006.
A portrait of Shri Somnath Chatterjee painted by Shri Manish Kumar Rao is displayed in the Outer Lobby of the erstwhile Lok Sabha Chamber in Samvidhan Sadan. The portrait was unveiled on February 10, 2014, by the then President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee. Speaker Om Birla noted that Chatterjee's commitment to parliamentary traditions, healthy democratic dialogue, and dignity of the House would remain an eternal source of inspiration.
This content may not be financially relevant.