Why not nominate K.J.Yesudas to Rajya Sabha?

By O.J.George
Kottayam: Our musician par excellence, K.J.Yesudas, would be a befitting nominee representing Kerala in the Rajya Sabha as a Presidential nominee.

It is now time for the nation to mull about the nominees for the Rajya Sabha, which has 250 members of whom 12 are nominated by the President.

The 12 members are nominated on the basis of their special knowledge and practical experience in fields such as literature, science, art, social service etc.

By adopting the principle of nomination in Rajya Sabha, the Constitution has ensured that the nation must also receive services of the most distinguished persons of the country who have earned distinction in their field of activity, many of whom may not like to face the rough and tumble of the election.

By nominating them to Rajya Sabha, the State not only recognises their merit and confers honour on them, but also enables them to enrich the debates by their expertise and knowledge that they have in different areas.

The first batch of 12 nominated members represented a galaxy of talented persons of proven merit.They were: scholar and educationist Dr. Zakir Husain, renowned historians Dr. Kalidas Nag and Dr. Radha Kumud Mookerji, national poet Maithilisharan Gupta, well-known Gandhian author Kakasaheb Kalelkar, eminent scientist Professor Satyendranath Bose, social worker N.R. Malkani, renowned exponent of classical dance forms Rukmini Devi Arundale, Gandhian scholar and teacher, Dr. J.M. Kumarappa, legal luminary Dr. Alladi Krishnaswami, famous stage actor and cine star Prithviraj Kapoor and eminent medical scientist Major-General S.S. Sokhey.

Speaking about the nominated members, Jawaharlal Nehru said in the House of the People on 13 May 1953:“…The President has nominated some members of the Council of States who, if I may say so, are among the most distinguished, taking everybody in Parliament altogether – it is true, distinguished in arts, science, etc. – and our Constitution in its wisdom gave that. They do not represent political parties or anything, but they represent really the high watermark of literature or art or culture or whatever it may be”.

Since the Rajya Sabha was constituted in 1952, in all, one hundred and five members have so far been nominated to the House.

Among these nominated members we find scholars, jurists, educationists, historians, scientists, poets and litterateurs, engineers, economists, administrators, artistes and social workers of proven ability and outstanding merit.From Kerala, poet G.Sankara Kurup was a member during 1968-72. There were others.Lata Mangeshkar was a member of Rajya Sabha this way.

Yesudas does not need an introduction. He has enthralled the people of Kerala and the nation through his carnatic recitals, Carnatic-Hindustani mix and sheer film songs in thousands.

He is also known for his contribution to national integration and communal harmony.A re-rendition of “jaathi bhedam matha dwesham ethumillathe…….” (without differences of caste, hatred of religions, here is the sojourn of fraternal living) will reverberate in Parliament and through it to the whole world, makikng it a better place for people to live in.