Shyam Nandan Prasad Mishra

Shyam Nandan Mishra (20 October 1920 – 25 October 2004) was an Indian independence activist and politician from Bihar. He was Member of Parliament for many years in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Initially a member of the Indian National Congress, he was later Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha as a Congress (O) leader, and then a Janata Party MP and Minister for External Affairs in Charan Singh's government. He was imprisoned both during the Quit India Movement and the Emergency.

Early life, family, and education Shyam Nandan Mishra was born in Gonawan, Patna, India on 20 October 1920. His father was Murlidhar Mishra. Shyam Nandan was educated at Sursand, Muzaffarpur and Law College, Patna. He took active part in the Indian Independence Movement and was imprisoned in connection with the Quit India Movement during 1942–1943.

Parliamentary career Mishra's political career began with his membership in the Provisional Parliament of India, as the Constituent Assembly was called after the promulgation of the Constitution, between 1950–52. He was Parliamentary Secretary to the first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, from June 1951 to May 1952.

After the Emergency, Mishra was re-elected from Begusarai as a Janata Party candidate as the party swept the 1977 election. He was made Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Jan Lokpal Bill. Two years later, Mishra was appointed Minister for External Affairs in Charan Singh's ministry.

Death Mishra died on 25 October 2004 at his daughter's residence in Kadamkuan, following a cardiac arrest. In his condolence message at his death, the Governor of Bihar, Justice Mandagadde Rama Jois, who had, during the Emergency, challenged Mishra's detention in the High Court of Karnataka, said "The nation has lost a great partiot, a freedom fighter, a true Gandhian and a Congressman. Mishra was an expert in planning and economy."