Vasant Sathe

Vasant Sathe
Union Minister ofInformation and Broadcasting
In office 1980–1982
Member of ParliamentfromAkola (Lok Sabha constituency)
In office 1972–1977
Member of ParliamentfromWardha (Lok Sabha constituency)
In office 1980–1991
Personal details
Born	(1925-03-05)5 March 1925 Nashik,Bombay Presidency,British India
Died	23 September 2011(2011-09-23)(aged 86) Gurgaon,Haryana,India
Political party	Indian National Congress
Spouse	Jayashree Sathe
Children	3
Residence(s)	Nagpur,Maharashtra
Website	www.vasantsathe.com

Vasant Purushottam Sathe(5 March 1925 – 23 September 2011) was an Indian politician of theIndian National Congressparty. He was a lawyer by training and became a parliamentarian in 1972 and a cabinet minister during the 1980s. He was a socialist and came to prominence in the congress after Indira Gandhi split the party for a second time in 1978. He was also known for his tenure as UnionMinister of Information and Broadcastingwhen he initiated the process which led toIndian televisionmoving into colour broadcasting for the Asian Games 1982 andHum Logthe first colour Indian soap-opera.

Early life

Vasant Purushottam Sathe was born on 5 March 1925 atNashik,Maharashtra, to Purushottam Sathe.

He received his early education at Bhonsla Military School,Nashik,and did his master's in economics and political science at Nagpur Mahavidyalaya, followed by a degree in law at Morris College,Nagpur University.

Political career

Sathe joined the Socialist Party upon at its inception in 1948 after which he joined the Congress. He made his debut as a Member of Parliament in 1972 for theAkolaconstituency in theVidarbharegion of Maharashtra. In the 1980s he moved to theWardhaconstituency. He won from Wardha in 1980, 1984 and 1989, but lost in 1991 and 1996. Sathe worked as a Union Cabinet minister for theGovernment of India.He is known for his candidness on issues of critical concern to the country and his unconventional lifestyle. He propagated the Presidential form of government for India.

He was a member of the Consultative Committee of the Planning commission in 1972 before holding key portfolios as the Union Minister ofMinistry of Information and Broadcastingin 1980, Chemicals and Fertilizers in 1982, Steel, Mines & Coal in 1985, Energy in 1986, and Communications from 1988–1989.

He was also the Chairman of Indo-Japan Study Committee from 1992–95 and became President of theIndian Council for Cultural Relationsin 1993. He has represented India atUNESCO,the World Peace Congress and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

In 2005 he released his auto-biographyMemoirs of a Rationaliston his 81st birthday.

Personal life

Sathe married the late Jayshree Sathe on 7 February 1949. He has 3 children: Two daughters Suhas and Suniti and a son, Subhash who is an industrialist at Gurgaon near Delhi.

He died following a heart attack on 23 September 2011 inGurugram,India. He complained of chest pain late in the evening and was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Books

• Towards Social Revolution: A Case for Economic Democracy,Vikas Pub., 1985.ISBN0-7069-2580-7.
• Restructuring of Public Sector in India,Vikas Pub. House, 1989.
• National government: agenda for a new India,UBS Publishers Distributors, 1991.ISBN81-85273-66-9.
• Two Swords in One Scabbard: a Case for Presidential Form of Parliamentary Democracy,NIB Publishers, 1989.
• Tax Without Tears: For Economic Independence and National Integration,
• The Challenge of Change: Key Issues for a Developing Society,Allied Publishers, 1989.
• India to be a Global Power.
• Memoirs of a Rationalist,Om Books International, 2005.ISBN81-87107-40-5.

External links

• 9th Lok Sabha: Members Bioprofile: Vasant SatheLok Sabha
• Interview with Vasant SatheatIndian Express