G V Mavalankar

G V Mavalankar (1888-1956), full name Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar, also fondly remembered Dadasaheb Mavalankar, was the first Lok Sabha Speaker in independent India, whose speakership made its greatest impact on parliamentary institutions in the country. The first Prime Minister of the country Pt Jawaharlal Nehru conferred on him the title 'Father of the Lok Sabha'. He was born at Baroda, educated in different places in the earstwhile Bombay State. He passed his Law examination with first class in 1912 and joined the legal profession in 1913. He was also a social activist, and joined Indian National Congress and became a freedom fighter. He was imprisoned several times and spent nearly six years in Jail.

He played a very active part in the 'Khaira No-Rent' campaign. He was a firm believer in the decentralisation of power and in the efficacy of Panchayati Raj Institutions. Mavalankar was the founder-Chairman of the National Rifle Association as also of the Institute for Afro-Asian Relations. For sometime, he also worked as Professor of Law at the Gujarat Vidyapeeth.

Mavalankar had many literary accomplishments to his credit including his books in Gujarati "Manavatana Jharna", "Sansmarano" and a book in English "My Life at the Bar".

Mavalankar's legislative career began in 1937, when he was elected to the then Bombay Legislative Assembly representing the city of Ahmedabad, and became Speaker of the Assembly. He was elected to preside over the Central Legislative Assembly in 1946. Mavalankar remained Speaker of the Bombay Legislative Assembly from 1937 to 1946. He remained Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly till the midnight of August 14-15, 1947 when, under the Indian Independence Act, 1947, the Central Legislative Assembly and the Council of States ceased to exist and the Constituent Assembly of India assumed full powers for the governance of the country. In the wake of India's Independence, Mavalankar headed the Committee constituted on 20 August 1947 to study and report on the need to separate the Constitution-making role of the Constituent Assembly from its legislative role. He presided over the Session of the Constituent Assembly (Legislative) after he was elected to the office on 17 November 1947.

With the adoption of the Constitution of free India on 26 November 1949, and the consequent change in the nomenclature of the Constituent Assembly (Legislative) into that of the Provisional Parliament, there was a corresponding change in the status of Mavalankar also, Mavalankar thus became the Speaker of the Provisional Parliament on 26 November 1949.

Mavalankar continued to occupy the office of the Speaker throughout the Provisional Parliament, i.e. till the First Lok Sabha was constituted in 1952. Mavalankar was elected as the Speaker of the First Lok Sabha of Independent India on 15 May 1952. Mavalankar's Speakership was cut short abruptly by his untimely death on 27 February 1956.

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G8, Gabelle, Gaberlunzie, Gabinus, Gabion, Gaboon and French Congo, Gabriel