Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, along with Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Shri Harivansh, joined the tributes. Secretary-Generals of both Houses, Shri Utpal Kumar Singh of Lok Sabha and Shri P. C. Mody of Rajya Sabha, also participated in the solemn occasion, highlighting Shri Ray’s enduring legacy in Indian parliamentary history.
Shri Rabi Ray was born on 26 November 1926 in Bhanaragarh village, Puri district, Odisha. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1967 during the 4th Lok Sabha and went on to serve as Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare. Shri Ray’s tenure as Speaker of the Ninth Lok Sabha spanned from 19 December 1989 to 9 July 1991, a period marked by his dedication to parliamentary decorum and democratic values.
In recognition of his contributions, Shri Ray’s portrait was unveiled in the Outer Lobby of Samvidhan Sadan by the then President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, on 10 February 2014. Today’s tribute reaffirmed his enduring influence on parliamentary governance and his exemplary leadership in public service.
The ceremony highlighted the importance of remembering the contributions of stalwarts like Shri Rabi Ray, whose life and work continue to inspire current and future legislators across India. Members recalled his commitment to ethical governance, transparency, and strengthening parliamentary practices in the country.
