From GV Mavalankar to Om Birla… how did the Lok Sabha Speaker form an unbreakable bond with Akbar Road

Vivek Shukla, New Delhi: Om Birla has been elected the Speaker of the Lok Sabha for the second time. This way he/she will have a government residence at 20, Akbar Road in the capital. With the formation of the first Lok Sabha in 1952, the bungalow number 20, Akbar Road, which is full of Jamun and Amaltas trees, had an unbreakable bond with the lower house of the Indian Parliament. That bond still remains. In fact, in 1952, Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar of the Congress was elected unopposed as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Mavalankar was allotted the bungalow at 20, Akbar Road. After that, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha continued to live in this double-storey bungalow.

This is how this bungalow made history

After Mavalankar’s death in 1956, Congress’s Ananthasayanam Iyengar and Om Birla stayed in this 20, Akbar Road for the remaining tenure. Only a few government bungalows in Lutyen Zone are double storey. This is one of them. It was constructed by 1925. That means it is almost 100 years old now. Meanwhile, it would be appropriate to tell that the bungalow at 10, Rajaji Marg (formerly Hasting Road) is also double storey. Two former presidents APJ Abdul Kalam and Pranab Kumar Mukherjee also stayed in this bungalow. If we look into the pages of history, we will know that Sardar Hukum Singh, Neelam Sanjeev Reddy, Balram Jakhar, Ravi Rai, Shivraj Patil, P.A. Sangma, GMC Balayogi, Meera Kumar and Sumitra Mahajan also stayed in 20, Akbar Road. All of them adorned the post of Lok Sabha Speaker. Balayogi, the speaker of the 12th Lok Sabha, died while living in this 20 Akbar Road. he/she was the first Lok Sabha speaker from the Dalit community in the country.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla made 3 unique records, he/she is the first leader in the country to do so

The journey from Jakhar to Birla

Balram Jakhar was elected the Speaker of the Seventh Lok Sabha on 22 January 1980. The manner in which Jakhar conducted the proceedings of the House in the Lok Sabha was appreciated everywhere and he/she became the darling of all sections of the House. As long as he/she lived at 20, Akbar Road, his/her residence was always open to the farmers and writers of the country. he/she was elected from Sikar parliamentary constituency in the 1984 general election. he/she was once again unanimously elected the Speaker of the Eighth Lok Sabha. he/she had the honour of becoming the Speaker of the Lok Sabha twice in a row. Now Om Birla has become the Speaker of the Lok Sabha for the second time in a row.

Om Birla created a record as soon as he/she won, but will he/she get a chance to create history as Lok Sabha Speaker?

Sumitra Mahajan’s Feasts

Meanwhile, Sumitra Mahajan used to host banquets for MPs while staying at 20, Akbar Road. At her banquets, guests enjoyed Mango Rabdi, Rabdi Malpua, Shrikhand, Sabudana Khichdi, Moong Dal Kachori, Kairi Pana and Thandai among other delicacies. It is said that Sumitra Mahajan used to meet young MPs specially so that she could give them detailed information about the proceedings of the Parliament. The bungalow at 20, Akbar Road also underwent many changes with changing times. For example, a lift was installed in it in 1978. At that time, the Speaker of the 7th Lok Sabha, K.A. Hegde used to live in it. Its bedrooms are on the first floor. A lift was installed keeping in mind his/her health. This is an eight-bedroom bungalow. Hardly any bungalow had a lift before this. There are large gardens in front and behind the bungalow at 20, Akbar Road. Various types of plants and flowers are planted in them. There are also servants’ houses in the rear portion of the bungalow.

Om Birla was re-appointed as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, read the full story behind this decision here

Akbar Road from where to where

In fact, the most powerful and important personalities have lived on Akbar Road since independence. Akbar Road starts from India Gate and goes up to Race Course. There are a total of 26 government bungalows on both sides of this nearly three-and-a-quarter-kilometre-long road. There are some private bungalows here as well. Incidentally, bungalow number 24 on this Akbar Road has been the headquarters of the Congress since 1978.