New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu has nominated four distinguished individuals, including former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, to Rajya Sabha (Upper House).
The other three members are former Special Public Prosecutor in Kasab case, Ujjwal Deorao Nikam, historian Dr Meenakshi Jain, and Kerala-based teacher and social worker, who lost both his legs in a political attack, C Sadanandan Master.
They have been nominated to the Council of States to fill vacancies created due to retirement of nomination members, an official Gazette notification dated Saturday said.
KNOW ABOUT THE NEW MEMBERS
Harsh Vardhan Shringla, a 1984-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, previously served as Ambassador to the United States, Bangladesh, and Thailand. He was the Foreign Secretary from January 2020 to April 2022, steering India’s diplomacy through the Covid-19 crisis. In 2023, he was India’s Chief Coordinator for the G20 Presidency, significantly contributing to the management of global diplomatic initiatives and events.
Ujjwal Nikam is widely recognised for his role as Special Public Prosecutor in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks trial of Ajmal Kasab and the 1993 Bombay blasts case. He contested the 2024 General Elections as a BJP candidate from Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha constituency but lost to Congress candidate Varsha Gaikwad.
Dr Meenakshi Jain, a well-known historian and former Associate Professor of History at Gargi College, University of Delhi. She is also known for her books on historical issues of national importance, including Flight of Deities and Rebirth of Temples (2019), The Battle for Rama: Case of the temple at Ayodhya (2017), Sati: Evangelicals, Baptist Missionaries and the changing Colonial Discourse (2016), Rama and Ayodhya (2013), Parallel Pathways: Essays on Hindu –Muslim Relations (1707-1857) (2010).
C Sadanandan Master, a high school teacher from Thrissur, Kerala, has been teaching social science at Sree Durga Vilasam Higher Secondary School in Peramangalam since 1999. He also serves as vice-president of the National Teachers Union in Kerala and edits its publication, Deshiya Adhyapaka Vartha. On January 25, 1994, he was attacked near his home in Kannur, resulting in the amputation of both his legs. The attack was allegedly perpetrated by CPI(M) members, reportedly due to his departure from Leftist politics. Then 30 years old, Sadanandan continued engaging in public and political activities post-incident.
