Members Bioprofile

GOVIND DAS, DR., (Cong.) Madhya Pradesh-Jabalpur—1971, Son of Seth Jeevan Das; b. at Jabalpur, October 16, 1896; educated privately upto M.A.; m. Shrimati Godavari Devi, 1 s. and 2 d.; Author; joined the Non Co-operation Movement in 1920 and suffered imprisonment five times for a total period of about eight years; Member, (i) All India Congress Committee since 1920; (ii) Congress Working Committee, Tripuri Session of the Congress, 1939; President, (i) Mahakoshal P.C.C., 1928-34 and 1946-1957; (ii) Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee, 1957; (iii) Provincial Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, 1920 and 1947; (iv) All India Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, 1948 and again since 1963; worked for the promotion of Hindi as the National Language of India; Leader, Indian Delegation to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held in New Zealand, 1950; Delegate to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held in Canada, 1952; Awarded Padma Bhusan in 1961; Member (i) Central Legislative Assembly, 1923-25 and 1934-47; (ii) Council of State, 1925-29; (iii) Constituent Assembly; (iv) Provisional Parliament, 1950-52; (v) First Lok Sabha 1952-57; (vi) Second Lok Sabha, 1957-62; (vii) Third Lok Sabha, 1962-67; and (viii) Fourth Lok Sabha, 1967-70; appointed Speaker protem by the President for the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Lok Sabha.

Hobby.–Favourite pastime and recreation.—Writing.

Special interest.—Drama.

Accomplishments in letters, art and science.—Awarded Doctorate by Jabalpur University in 1962.

Publications.—109 dramas in Hindi; “Indu-mati” (Hindi Novel) five travel books in Hindi and English; autobiography (in three volumes) and four biographies; three philosophical books; “Gandhi Yug Puran”; and several essays, articles and poems.

Travels abroad.—East & South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Malaysia, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, France, U.K., Canada, U.S.A., Japan, China, Siam and Burma.

Permanent address.—Raja Gokuldas Mahal, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.