God’s Good Man Gone
Born on 24 August 1924 Ram Niwas Mirdha lived a life which not only fulfilling by any measure but also one worth emulating. He was shouldering the responsibility of chairperson of several organizations like Sangit Natak Akadmy, Society for International Law, Surajmal Memorial Education Society, Bharat Krishak Samaj etc. at the time of his death on 29 January2010 as a result of multiple organ failure. Shri Mirdha entered politics after giving up a promising career in Rajasthan administrative service at the instance of the vetran politician Mohanlal Sukhadia. He served as Speaker of Rajasthan Assembly before moving to central political arena, He was inducted as Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs . He handled the portfolios of Defence Production. Communications, T extiles during his various ministerial stints. He was elected Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha during post Emergency years. He was Cabinet Mister in Rajiv Gandhi Government also.
Shri Mirdha was a rare combination of correct political sense, deep understanding of social issues, acumen of a politician, a promoter of Art and Culture and above all a true educationist. His spotless record of public life marked by high integrity and probity brought him at the helm of the Joint Parliaentary Committee (JPC ) appointed to inquire into the Security Scam. As Chairman of the JPC he secured a unanimous report –a difficult thing to achieve in the days of divisive politics. His soft spoken manner and pleasant demeanure combined with deep erudition earned for him the sobriquet ‘God’s Good Man’ from his friends and admirers. In his death the country has lost a vetran of the yester years and the Jat community an icon to be proud of and to be emulated.
