Biography of G.V. Mavalankar

(November 27, 1888 - February 27, 1956)

The man who made an indelible mark on the Indian Parliamentary institution was Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar. G.V. Mavalankar, also called as Dadasaheb Mavalankar, was born on November 27, 1888, at Baroda in Gujarat. After passing his law examination, he willingly took up the legal profession in 1913. Along with it, he actively took part in the National Movement. He was imprisoned many times during the 1930s and 1940s. In 1937, he was elected to the then Bombay Legislative Assembly and was chosen the speaker of the Assembly.

After independence, eminent leaders of that time entrusted Mavalankar to form rules, practices, procedures and conventions for the newly constituted Parliament. His decade-long tenure as the Speaker of Lok Sabha saw the introduction of traditions like the Question Hour', 'Short Notice Questions, ‘Motion of Thanks'. Considering his upright impartiality and pioneering work in the Parliament, Pandit Nehru called him as the Father of the Lok Sabha'. He passed away in 1956.