Vasant Sathe
Encyclopedia
Vasant Purushottam Sathe (Marathi
: वसंत साठे; born 5 March 1925 - 23 September 2011) was an Indian politician of the Indian National Congress
party. He was a lawyer by training and became a parliamentarian in 1972 and a cabinet minister during the 1980s. He was a socialist and came to prominence in the congress after Indira Gandhi split the party for a second time in 1978. He was also known for his tenure as Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting when he initiated the process which led to Indian television
moving into colour broadcasting for the Asian Games 1984 and Hum Log
the first colour Indian soap-opera.
He died following a heart attack on 23 September 2011 in Gurgaon, India. He complained of chest pain late in the evening and was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
He received his early education at Bhonsla Military School, Nashik, and did his masters in Economics and Political Science at Nagpur Mahavidyalaya, followed by a degree in Law at Morris College, Nagpur University.
constituency in the Vidarbha
region of Maharashtra. In the 1980s he moved to the Wardha
constituency. Sathe worked as a Union Cabinet minister for the Government of India
. He is known for his candidness on issues of critical concern to the country and his unconventional lifestyle. He propagated the Presidential form of government for India.
He was a member of the Consultative Committee of the Planning commission in 1972 before holding key portfolios as the Union Minister of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
in 1980, Chemicals and Fertilizers in 1982, Steel, Mines & Coal in 1985, Energy in 1986, and Communications from 1988–1989.
He was also the Chairman of Indo-Japan Study Committee from 1992–95 and became President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations
in 1993. He has represented India at UNESCO
, the World Peace Congress and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
In 2005 he released his auto-biography Memoirs Of A Rationalist on his 81st birthday.
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
: वसंत साठे; born 5 March 1925 - 23 September 2011) was an Indian politician of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
party. He was a lawyer by training and became a parliamentarian in 1972 and a cabinet minister during the 1980s. He was a socialist and came to prominence in the congress after Indira Gandhi split the party for a second time in 1978. He was also known for his tenure as Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting when he initiated the process which led to Indian television
Television in India
Television is one of the major mass media of India and is a huge industry and has thousands of programmes in all the states of India. The small screen has produced numerous celebrities of their own kind some even attaining national fame. TV soaps are extremely popular with housewives as well as...
moving into colour broadcasting for the Asian Games 1984 and Hum Log
Hum Log
Hum Log was Indian television's first soap opera. It began telecast on Doordarshan, India's national network on July 7, 1984, then the only television channel of India, and it quickly became immensely popular. Indian audiences loved the show and the characters became legendary and a common topic...
the first colour Indian soap-opera.
He died following a heart attack on 23 September 2011 in Gurgaon, India. He complained of chest pain late in the evening and was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Early life
Late Vasant Purushottam Sathe was born on March 5, 1925 at Nashik, Maharashtra, to Purushottam Sathe. He died in peace on September 23, 2011.He received his early education at Bhonsla Military School, Nashik, and did his masters in Economics and Political Science at Nagpur Mahavidyalaya, followed by a degree in Law at Morris College, Nagpur University.
Political career
Sathe joined the Socialist Party upon at its inception in 1948 after which he joined the Congress. He made his debut as a Member of Parliament in 1972 for the AkolaAkola (Lok Sabha constituency)
Akola Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra state in central India.-Assembly segments:...
constituency in the Vidarbha
Vidarbha
Vidarbha is the eastern region of Maharashtra state made up of Nagpur Division and Amravati Division. Its former name is Berar . It occupies 31.6% of total area and holds 21.3% of total population of Maharashtra...
region of Maharashtra. In the 1980s he moved to the Wardha
Wardha (Lok Sabha constituency)
Wardha Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra state in western India. This constituency is spread over Amravati and Wardha districts.-Assembly segments:...
constituency. Sathe worked as a Union Cabinet minister for the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
. He is known for his candidness on issues of critical concern to the country and his unconventional lifestyle. He propagated the Presidential form of government for India.
He was a member of the Consultative Committee of the Planning commission in 1972 before holding key portfolios as the Union Minister of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is a branch of the Government of India is the apex body for formulation and administration of the rules and regulations and laws relating to information, broadcasting, the press and films in India....
in 1980, Chemicals and Fertilizers in 1982, Steel, Mines & Coal in 1985, Energy in 1986, and Communications from 1988–1989.
He was also the Chairman of Indo-Japan Study Committee from 1992–95 and became President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations
Indian Council for Cultural Relations
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations , is an autonomous organisation of the Government of India, involved in India’s external cultural relations, through cultural exchange with other countries and their peoples...
in 1993. He has represented India at UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, the World Peace Congress and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
In 2005 he released his auto-biography Memoirs Of A Rationalist on his 81st birthday.
Personal life
Sathe married the late Jayshree Sathe on February 7, 1949. He has 3 children: Two daughters Suhas and Suniti and a son, Subhash who is an industrialist at Gurgaon near Delhi.Books
- Towards Social Revolution: A Case for Economic Democracy, Vikas Pub., 1985. ISBN 0706925807.
- Restructuring of Public Sector in India, Vikas Pub. House, 1989.
- National government: agenda for a new India, UBS Publishers Distributors, 1991. ISBN 8185273669.
- Two Swords in One Scabbard: a Case for Presidential Form of Parliamentary Democracy, NIB Publishers, 1989.
- Tax Without Tears: For Economic Independence and National Integration,
- The Challenge of Change: Key Issues for a Developing Society, Allied Publishers, 1989.
- India to be a Global Power.
- Memoirs of a Rationalist, Om Books International, 2005. ISBN 8187107405.
External links
- 9th Lok Sabha: Members Bioprofile: Vasant Sathe Lok SabhaLok SabhaThe Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
- Interview with Vasant Sathe at Indian Express