Rishikesh Shaha

Rishikesh Shaha (1925 – November 13, 2002) was a Nepalese writer, politician and human rights activist.

Political career

Shaha was a member of Nepal Prajatantrik Party 1948-1949. 1951-1953 he was the general secretary of Nepali Rastriya Congress. He then became general secretary of the joint Nepali Congress-Nepali Rashtriya Congress front until 1956. Shaha was Minister of Finance 1960-1964. In 1962 he became chair of the Constitution Drafting Commission. 1967-1971 he represented the graduate constituency in the National Panchayat. In the panchayat, he was one of the most prominent advocates of democratic reforms.

Diplomatic career

Shaha was the Nepalese ambassador to the United States and the Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations UN 1956-1960. In 1961 Shaha was elected by the United Nations General Assembly to chair the International Commission for investigating the death of UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld, who had suffered an air crash over Congo. Shaha was one of the candidates to succeed Hammarskjöld, but was defeated by U Thant. In 1962, Shaha was appointed special ambassador.

Rishikesh

Rishikesh (Hindi: ऋषिकेश; Sanskrit: हृषीकेश) is a city, municipal council and a tehsil in Dehradun district of the Indian state, Uttarakhand. Located in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, it is known as the 'Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas' and 'Yoga Capital of the World'. Rishikesh is surrounded by three districts: Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal and Haridwar. It is approximately 25 km north of the city Haridwar and 43 km southeast of the state capital Dehradun. According to Census of India, 2011 Rishikesh had a population of 102,138 making it the 7th most populated city and the largest municipal council in the state of Uttarakhand. It is known as the pilgrimage town and regarded as one of the holiest places to Hindus. Hindu sages and saints have visited Rishikesh since ancient times to meditate in search of higher knowledge.

In September 2015, the Union tourism minister Mahesh Sharma announced that Rishikesh and Haridwar will be the first in India to be given the title of "twin national heritage cities". Rishikesh is a meat- and alcohol-free city due to its spiritual and mystical environment.

Rishikesh (Uttarakhand Assembly constituency)

24-Rishikesh Legislative Assembly constituency (Hindi: २४-ऋषिकेश विधानसभा निर्वाचन क्षेत्र) is one of the seventy electoral Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly constituencies of Uttarakhand state in India.

Rishikesh Legislative Assembly constituency, currently is a part of Haridwar (Lok Sabha constituency) as per the delimitation in 2008. Prior to the delimitation in 2008, it was a part of Tehri Garhwal (Lok Sabha constituency).

Members of Legislative Assembly

Keys:       BJP       INC

See also

References