A classic parliamentarian to the core

KV Prasad

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 13

Somnath Chatterjee remained an unorthodox Marxist who dedicated his public life to maintain supremacy of Parliament, which he served for decades until he retired after his 10th term in 2009.

Having studied law in the UK, his political understanding was closer to the western interpretation of Marx’s communism while his pursuit of constitutional and parliamentary practices, including as the Lok Sabha Speaker (2004-2009), reflected the liberal approach of the Westminster model, which India adopted.

Hailing from an illustrious family of West Bengal, his father Nirmal Chandra Chatterjee was a leading figure of the Hindu Mahasabha. Strangely, Somanath Chatterjee’s political journey began and ended as an Independent, although for different reasons.

In 1971, he contested an interim election on a seat that fell vacant after his father’s demise. The CPM extended support to the young Chatterjee who joined the party and went on to win all Lok Sabha elections till 2004, barring 1984 when Mamata Banerjee disrupted his uninterrupted run.

During the last decade, he remained alone after the CPM expelled him for not following its decision that he should step down as the Speaker ahead of the 2008 confidence vote by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. In Chatterjee’s understanding, a Speaker was above party.

His journey in the Lok Sabha took him to the pinnacle. He was steadfast in upholding both its dignity. As the Speaker, he would rebuke members creating disturbance. A stickler for rules, he brought a new toughness to the office.

He expected discipline and often reminded members they do not have to disturb another member just to underscore their disagreement with the views offered. “Hearing (contrary views) does not mean agreeing, you can respond when your turn comes,” he would say.

A quintessential parliamentarian of the classic mould, Somnath Chatterjee would be best remembered as a Speaker, a catalyst for Opposition unity that led to formation of the UPA and the Marxist who rebelled against his party.

Donated body for medical research 

• Former Speaker Somanth Chatterjee would not be cremated as he had donated his body to a medical institution for research
• Like West Bengal former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, Chatterjee’s body too would be handed over to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata. His eyes had been already harvested