M. A. Ayyangar
He helped give voice to India's new democracy, serving as the first Deputy Speaker and a steadying hand in Parliament's formative years.
1891–1978 (age 87)·Indian politician·Birthday: February 4·The Lost Generation
Biography
Madabhushi Ananthasayanam Ayyangar was a lawyer and scholar who stepped into the arena of nation-building. A devoted follower of Mahatma Gandhi, he was imprisoned during the Quit India Movement, his legal career punctuated by the struggle for independence. When freedom arrived, his sharp legal mind and calm demeanor found a critical role in the new republic's legislature. Elected to the Constituent Assembly, he helped draft the Indian constitution. In 1952, he was elected the first Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and later its Speaker, where he was known for his impartiality and deep knowledge of parliamentary procedure. Ayyangar presided over a chamber filled with passionate oratory, ensuring the fledgling traditions of debate and democracy took root. His later service as Governor of Bihar capped a life of public duty, moving from the courtroom to the constitution hall to the speaker's chair, always as a meticulous guardian of India's democratic processes.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
M. was born in 1891, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When M. Was Born
The biggest hits of 1891
M.'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1891Born
President: Benjamin Harrison
1896Started school
First modern Olympic Games held in Athens
President: Grover Cleveland
1904Became a teenager
New York City opens its first subway line
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1907Could drive
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1909Could vote
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1912Turned 21
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1921Turned 30
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1931Turned 40
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1941Turned 50
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1951Turned 60
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 70
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 80
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1978Died at 87
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
Key Achievements
- Served as the first Deputy Speaker (1952-1956) and later the second Speaker (1956-1962) of the Lok Sabha, India's lower house of Parliament.
- Was a member of the Constituent Assembly of India that drafted and adopted the country's constitution.
- Served as the Governor of Bihar from 1962 to 1967 during a period of significant political change in the state.
- Was instrumental in codifying and firmly establishing the rules and conventions of parliamentary procedure in independent India.
Did You Know?
He was a renowned scholar of Telugu and Sanskrit literature alongside his legal and political work.
Before entering politics, he was a successful lawyer and professor of law at Madras Law College.
The 'M. A. Ayyangar Hall' in the premises of the Indian Parliament is named in his honor.
“The constitution is our foundation; we must build the house with care.”
