Siddhartha Shankar Ray Foundation
About Us
Siddhartha Shankar Ray Foundation is a philanthropic society formed in memory of Late Siddhartha Shankar Ray. The society was formed by Mr. Rajesh Chirimar with due permission from Mrs. Maya Ray, wife of Late Siddhartha Shankar Ray. The society undertakes various socially beneficial activities throughout the year. Some of the major activities include distribution of clothes and relief materials among the poor, sponsoring the education of poor children, sponsoring the medical treatment of economically weaker persons, supporting expansion and development of established educational institutions, promotion of sports, etc.
The society is registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act.
About Siddhartha Shankar Ray Foundation
About Shri Siddhartha Shankar Ray
Shri Siddhartha Shankar Ray was an Eminent Barrister, Former Chief Minister of West Bengal, Former Union Minister, Governor of Punjab, Former Indian Ambassador to the US and a personality par excellence. He was also a Sports lover and a University Blue. He was born on 20th October, 1920 and was the grandson of Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das.
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Not only was he an excellent lawyer, he was also an astute politician belonging to the Indian National Congress. Mr. Ray was a close confidante of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, who was his childhood friend. In 1957 he was elected to the Bhowanipore Assembly seat which he won by a large majority, becoming the youngest member of the West Bengal Cabinet under the leadership of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. He was appointed as Minister of Tribal Welfare and Law Department, West Bengal. In 1962, he was re-elected to the state's Legislative Assembly as an Independent Candidate. In 1966, he became the Union Cabinet Minister of Education & Youth Services for the Government of India. He was also the Union Cabinet Minister of West Bengal Affairs of the Government of India.
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After the Congress won the General Election of 1972, he became the Chief Minister of West Bengal from March 19, 1972 to June 21, 1977. He took office shortly after the Bangladesh Liberation War and his administration was faced with the massive problem of resettling over a million refugees in various parts of the state. The crackdown on Naxalites also took place during this period.
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Later, he had the distinction of serving as the Governor of Punjab from April 2, 1986 to December 8, 1989. When Ray was sent as India's Ambassador to the United States. He remained in the United States from 1992 to 1996. Prior to that, he was the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from 1991-1992.
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