ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

A multi-faceted personality

Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Padannatha Muhammad Sayeed is a multi-faceted personality -- an astute politician, distinguished lawyer, noted social worker and an outstanding parliamentarian.

Born on May 10, 1941 at Androth island in Lakshadweep, Sayeed graduated from Government Arts College, Mangalore and went on to complete his law degree from Sidharth College of Law in Bombay.

He began his political career in 1967 when he was elected for the first time to the fourth Lok Sabha. He became the general secretary of All India Youth Congress (1969-70). He has not looked back since then and continues to be a member of the House being re-elected in 1998 for a record ninth term from Lakshdweep (scheduled tribe) constituency to the 12th Lok Sabha.

Sayeed served as the Union minister of state for steel, coal and mines during 1979-80. He was the Union minister of state for home affairs from 1993 to 95 and Union minister of state for information and broadcasting (1995-96) in the P V Narasimha Rao government.

He was a member of the committee on public undertakings (1967-70), member of joint committee on contract labour (regulation and abolition) bill (1968-69). Among the other distinguished positions he held are: member, consultative committee, ministry of communications (1972-75 and 1990-91), joint committee on Constitution (72nd ammendment) bill on panchayats (1991-93), committee on official language (1991-95), consultative committee, ministry of surface transport (1992-93) and the joint parliamentary committee to enquire into irregularities in securities and banking transactions (1992-94).

Sayeed has been on a number of important delegations abroad, including the Indian delegation to the 24th UN General Assembly both in 1969 and 1982 and led the goodwill delegation to erstwhile German Democratic Republic in 1970.

He has been member of the Central Haj Committee (1968-70), Central Haj Advisory Board (1970-71), National Welfare of Seafares Board (1974-77), Island Development Authority (1984-88) and the Court of Jamia Milia Islamia since 1990.

His unanimous election as the Lok Sabha deputy speaker has not only been a personal success story but recognition for Lakshadweep from where he has returned to the Lower House a record number of times.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report