Question: Who has delivered the first Sukumar Sen Memorial Lecture organized by Election Commission of India on 23rd January 2020?
(a) Mohan Bhagwat
(b) Murali Manohar Joshi
(c) Pranab Mukherjee
(d) Ram Nath Kovind
Answer: (c)
Related facts:
- On 23rd January 2020, the Election Commission of India announced Annual first Sukumar Sen Memorial Lecture Series.
- This Lecture has instituted as a tribute to Late Sukumar Sen.
- Sen (1898-1963) commendably conducted the first two General Elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, thereby putting India firmly on the map of democracy.
- The rationale behind instituting the lecture is to make a positive and constructive intervention in the democratic discourse of the nation within the constitutional mandate of the Election Commission of India.
- Former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, delivered the first of the Lectures on 23rd January 2020.
Sukumar Sen:
- Sukumar Sen was born on 2nd January, 1898. He was educated at Presidency College, Kolkata and University College, London. Sen joined the Indian Civil Services in 1922.
- He served as the first Chief Election Commissioner of India from 21st March 1950 till his retirement 19th December, 1958. He conducted the first two Lok Sabha elections of India held in 1952 and 1957 simultaneously with the Legislative Assembly Elections based on universal adult franchise under challenging circumstances and little precedence to guide him.
- Sen is also credited with conducting the first general elections in the then Sudan in November-December, 1953 as the Chairman of the International Election Commission.
- He was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his distinguished contribution to public life. He was one of the earliest recipients of that award in 1954.
Links:
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1600111