Siddhartha Shankar Ray সিদ্ধার্থশঙ্কর রায় |
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Minister of Education of India | |
In office 1967–1972 |
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Prime Minister | Indira Gandhi |
Preceded by | V.K.R.V. Rao |
Succeeded by | S. Nurul Hasan |
5th Chief Minister of West Bengal | |
In office 19 March 1972 – 21 June 1977 |
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Preceded by | President's rule |
Succeeded by | President's rule |
Governor of Punjab | |
In office 2 April 1986 – 8 December 1989 |
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Prime Minister | Rajiv Gandhi |
Preceded by | Shankar Dayal Sharma |
Succeeded by | Nirmal Mukarji |
Indian Ambassador to the United States | |
In office 1992–1996 |
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Prime Minister | P.V.Narasimha Rao |
Preceded by | Abid Hussain |
Succeeded by | Naresh Chandra |
Member of Indian Parliament for Raiganj | |
In office 1971–1972 |
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Preceded by | Chapala Kanta Bhattacharjee |
Succeeded by | Maya Ray |
Constituency | Raiganj |
Member of Legislative Assembly for Chowringhee | |
In office 1967-1971–1991-1996 |
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Preceded by | Chapala Kanta Bhattacharjee |
Succeeded by | Subrata Mukherjee |
Constituency | Chowranghee |
Personal details | |
Born |
Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India |
20 October 1920
Died | 6 November 2010 Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
(aged 90)
Nationality | Indian |
Political party | Indian National Congress |
Spouse(s) | Maya Ray |
Residence | Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
Alma mater | University of Calcutta |
Profession |
Barrister Politician Diplomat |
Religion | Hinduism |
Siddhartha Shankar Ray (20 October 1920 – 6 November 2010) was a Bengali politician belonging to the Indian National Congress. He was a prominent barrister, Judicial Affairs Minister of West Bengal, Education Minister of India.,Chief Minister of West Bengal from 1972 to 1977, Governor of the Punjab, 1986-1989 and Ambassador of India to the United States of America.
Ray was born in an aristocratic Baidya family. Ray's father, Sudhir Kumar Ray, was a well known barrister of Calcutta High Court and a member of the Indian National Congress and his mother Aparna Devi, was the elder daughter of the eminent barrister and nationalist leader Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das and Basanti Devi. Ray was married to Smt. Maya Ray, who grew up in England. She was once referred to as "a noted barrister and former elected official" by the late Thomas J. Manton, a member of the United States House of Representatives. Ray's sister is Justice Manjula Bose [1930–2016] who was a senior judge of the Calcutta High Court; along with Smt. Padma Khastagir, she was one of the first female judges of the Calcutta High Court. Ray was also related to Sudhi Ranjan Das, a former Chief Justice of India and Satish Ranjan Das, a former Advocate General of Bengal and a Law Member of the Viceroy's Executive Council.
Ray studied at St. Xavier's Collegiate School, Calcutta, Mitra Institution, Bhowanipore Branch, Calcutta, Presidency College, Calcutta and University Law College, of the University of Calcutta. In college and university, he was active in both sports and politics. In 1941, he was elected as student Under-Secretary in the Calcutta University Institute Elections and was put in charge from time to time of various departments including Students' Aid Fund, Debates, Sports and Socials. He was also the Debate Secretary and later the General Secretary of the Calcutta University Law College Union. As a sportsman he captained the Presidency College cricket team. He was the captain of the team that won the Inter Collegiate cricket Championship in 1944. He had scored three double centuries and 1000 runs for three consecutive seasons. He was also a keen footballer in Calcutta playing for the Kalighat Club. He was a University Blue in this sport and represented the Calcutta University in inter-varsity matches. In 1939, he was the captain of the victorious Presidency College football team which won both the Elliot and Hardinge Birthday Shields. He was also interested in lawn tennis and table tennis.