Ram Prakash

Ram Prakash (5 October 1939 – 13 December 2023) was a Vedic scholar, author, educationist and a member of the Parliament of India representing Haryana in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament from 2007 to 2014.

He authored and edited books on Vedic philosophy and was the second Chairperson of the 'Centre for Studies in Civilizations'. He was a professor of Chemistry, a Fulbright scholar, and the Chancellor of Gurukula Kangri University, Haridwar.

Early life Ram Prakash, son of Sh. Prabhu Dayal, was born on 5 October 1939, in the village of Tangore, Kurukshetra district of Haryana (formerly Punjab), India, of OBC (Other Backward Castes). Prakash gained his MSc and PhD degrees in Chemistry from the Punjab University, Chandigarh, and subsequently taught at the institution. Later, he joined the new Kurukshetra University as the Pro-Vice Chancellor for a while.

Politics Prakash entered politics in 1990–1991 and in 1999 won the local elections on an Indian National Congress (INC) party ticket. Being close to the Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, he eventually rose to be Working President of the INC party in Haryana and was elevated to the Rajya Sabha in 2007.

Personal life and death In 1966 Prakash married SM. Vijay Kumari, and had two sons by his marriage. He lived mostly in Kurukshetra, Haryana, and also at New Delhi.

Ram Prakash died on 13 December 2023, at the age of 84.

Positions held Year Position Party/Organisation1991–1996 M.L.A, Thanesar INC1991–1993 State Minister for Science, Technology and Electronics INC2005 Working President, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee INC2007–2008 Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha INC2007 – present Member, Committee on Rural Development INC2008 Member, Committee on External Affairs Member INC2008 – 2014 Re-Elected as M.P., Rajya Sabha INC2010 Member, Committee on Official Language INC