Party Name : Indian National Congress
Constituency : Dhenkanal
State : Orissa
Member Experience : Elected to Loksabha 6 time
Last Loksabha Attended : 13
Father's Name : Late Raja Shankar Pratap Singh Dev Mahindra Bahadur Vidyasagar, FRSA
Mother's Name : Smt. Ratna Prova Devi
Date of birth : 06 Aug 1941
Profession : Agriculturist Horticulturist, Social Worker, Sportsperson
Positions held :
1967 Elected to 4th Lok SabhaMarch 1967— Dec. 1970 Chief Whip, Swatantra Party in Lok Sabha1968-70 Member, Estimates CommitteeMember, Joint Committee on Offices of ProfitMember, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs, and Sports.Dec. 1971 Elected to Rajya Sabha1973-75 Member, Joint Select Committee on I.P.C.Member, Library CommitteeMember, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Defence1980 Re-elected to 7th Lok Sabha (2nd term)March 1980— March 1982 Secretary, Congress (I)1980-82 Member, Public Accounts CommitteeMember, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Coal and EnergyJan. 1982— Jan. 1983 Union Deputy Minister, DefenceJan. 1983— Dec. 1984 Union Minister of State, Defence1984 Re-elected to 8th Lok Sabha (3rd term)March 1985– Sept. 1985 Union Minister of State for Personnel, Administrative Reforms, Public Grievances and Pensions, Culture (Additional Charge)Sept. 1985— Jan. 1986 Union Minister of State, Food and Civil Supplies (Independent Charge)1986-89 Member, Joint Select Committee on Lok Pal1988-89 Member, Committee on Public Undertakings1991 Re-elected to 10th Lok Sabha (4th term)Chairman, Joint Select Committee on Constitution (74th Amendment) Bill, 1992Jan. 1993— Sept. 1995 Union Minister of State, Information and Broadcasting (Independent Charge)Sept. 1995— May 1996 Union Minister of State, Food Processing Industries (Independent Charge)1996 Re-elected to 11th Lok Sabha (5th term)Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of AgricultureMember, Consultative Committee, Ministry of CoalMember, Committee on Railways1999 Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha (6th term)1999-2003 Chairman, Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of ParliamentMember, Committee on IndustryMember, Committee on AgricultureMember, Committee on Information TechnologyMember, Committee on Defence
More Information :
Special Interests
Travelling, tourism, wildlife, ecology, environment, photography, national security, agriculture, horticulture, gardening, soldiering, development of under-developed areas, study of cultural developments, reading history and heritage, physical culture and sports
Favourite Pastime and Recreation
Sports, physical education, national security, ecology, wildlife, travelling and cultural activities
Sports and Clubs
Represented India in rowing; Orissa in hockey and rowing; Jadavpur University in hockey, football and rowing; Utkal University in cricket; a rugby player; conducts martial arts competitions; Member, (i) Lake Club, East Bengal, Bhowanipore and (ii) Saturday Club; Delhi Gymkhana Club, Delhi; (iii) Delhi Polo Club; (iv) India International Centre, Delhi and (v) Calcutta Club
Countries Visited
Widely travelled (24 countries); Member, Indian Parliamentary Delegations to Canada, 1989, Nepal, 1973, Zimbabwe, 1986, Zambia and South Africa, 2003; Member, IPU to Jakarta, 2000
Other Information
Former ruler; commissioned in the Territorial Army in the Regiment of artillery and fought in 1971 Indo-Pak war (Operation Cactus); qualified as 1st paratroopper of the Territorial Army in 1976, commanded the Territorial Army contingent in the Republic Day Parade, 1976; qualified instructor in Army School of Mechanical Transport, 1976 and Infantry School, Mhow 1976; qualified as the 1st Asian as International Umpire in Rowing 1981; conducted 9th Asian Games as umpire in 1982, World Championship in 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1989; Asian Games 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1994; Olympic Games 1984, 1988; appointed Hony. A.D.C. to the President of India, 1994-95; awarded Ati-Vishisht Seva Medal (A.V.S.M.) in 1995; Chef De Mission, India Contingent to Olympics 1988; Chairman, (i) High Level Committee on Ex-Servicemen, 1984; (ii) Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) Sub-committee on Physical Education and Sports, 1993; (iii) Review Committee on Territorial Army, 1995; (iv) Organizing Committee, 1st Commonwealth Shooting Championship, 1995 held in New Delhi; (v) Sports Development Commission - 8 years for Gold of Indian Olympic Association, 2000; (vi) Preparation Committee of Commonwealth & Asian Games, 2002 by Government of India; (vii) Games Technical Conduct Committee of 1st Afro Asian Games, 2003 and (viii) World Shooting Championship, New Delhi, 2003 Vice-President, Indian Olympic Association; Founder President, Asian Rowing Federation; Deputy-Chairman of SOCAG`82, Ninth Asian Games, 1982; Chief Coordinator, (i) 7th NAM, 1983, IX CHOGM`83; (ii) Six-Nation Meet, 1985, (iii) International Jury in Rowing 1981-91; (iv) Continental representative for Asia 1982-86; Founder Member, (i) World Wildlife Fund, North India Chapter; and (ii) INTACH; Course of Director, Olympic Solidarity India Member, (i) Indian Board for Wildlife 1968-70; (ii) Committee of Inquiry into CSIR, 1968-70; (iii) All India Council of Sports 1973-75; (iv) Alumni of International Olympic Academy, Olympia, 1999
