Born in July 1929 at Tezpur in Assam, his academic pursuit began in Kolkata from Mitra Institution School to Presidency College and then University of Calcutta.
Former Lok Sabha speaker and 10-time LS member Somnath Chatterjee (89), who was in active politics for over 40 years, passed away on Monday at 8.15 am at Belle Vue Hospital, Kolkata. He died following a heart attack. He is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters.
Chatterjee went beyond being a 'dictionary Marxist' and was in fact more of a 'Bangali Bhodrolok' for his cordial behaviour, disarming smile, soft-spoken nature and love for football. He had been a staunch supporter of Mohun Bagan Athletic Club. So much so, that his body was taken out of the hospital wrapped in the club's flag.
Following his demise, tributes from leaders across party lines began pouring in. He was a veteran parliamentarian who had a "forceful presence in the House", President Ram Nath Kovind said.
"Sorry to hear of the passing of Shri Somnath Chatterjee, former Speaker of the Lok Sabha and a veteran parliamentarian who had a forceful presence in the House. A loss for public life in Bengal and India. My condolences to his family and innumerable well-wishers," he tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Chatterjee was a stalwart of Indian politics. "He made our parliamentary democracy richer and was a strong voice for the well-being of the poor and vulnerable."
He added that his thoughts were with Chatterjee's family and supporters.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi said Chatterjee was an institution and greatly respected and admired by all parliamentarians, across party lines.
Born in July 1929 at Tezpur in Assam, his academic pursuit began in Kolkata from Mitra Institution School to Presidency College and then University of Calcutta. He moved to London and studied law before returning to Kolkata as a lawyer at the Calcutta High Court.
His father, Nirmal Chandra Chatterjee was a lawyer, parliamentarian and member of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha, but he had maintained good relations with leaders across the board. Despite being a CPI(M) member since 1968, Chatterjee maintained a harmonious relationship with different politicians. His legal knowledge, commanding voice and oratory skills often helped him win over the Congress and BJP inside Parliament.
He had been voted to the Parliament for 10 terms from Burdwan, Jadavpur and Bolpur constituencies, between 1971 and 2004. He was defeated only once, in 1984 by then arch rival Mamata Banerjee from Jadavpur constituency. He was unanimously elected the speaker of Lok Sabha in 2004.
When the Left Front decided to withdraw its support from the UPA government in 2008, Chatterjee went against the party line and did not step down from the post of the Speaker. Chatterjee's philosopher and guide Jyoti Basu had told him not to resign as he was the speaker of LS, which was not of any party.
However, Prakash Karat decided on Chatterjee's expulsion although the Bengal brigade of the party, as well as Sitaram Yechury, had opposed it. Later, over the years, many asked him if he would return to the party, but Chatterjee just maintained that he would think about it.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Somnath Chatterjee")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}