Derek O'Brien (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Derek O'Brien
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O'Brien in 2019
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| Leader of Trinamool Congress in Rajya Sabha | |
| Assumed office 19 August 2011 |
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| Appointed by | Mamata Banerjee |
| Preceded by | Mukul Roy |
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
| Assumed office 19 August 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Arjun Kumar Sengupta |
| Constituency | West Bengal |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 March 1961 Calcutta, West Bengal, India (present-day Kolkata, India) |
| Political party | All India Trinamool Congress |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 1 |
| Parent | Neil O'Brien |
| Alma mater | Scottish Church College (BA) |
| Occupation | |
Derek O'Brien was born on March 13, 1961. He is a well-known Indian politician, a familiar face on television, and a famous quizmaster. He serves as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, which is one of the two houses of the Indian Parliament. He represents the state of West Bengal and is a member of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) political party.
Derek O'Brien is the main national spokesperson for his party. He also leads the AITC group in the Rajya Sabha. Before becoming a politician, he was very famous as the quizmaster for the popular Bournvita Quiz Contest and other quiz shows.
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About Derek O'Brien's Family and Early Life
Derek O'Brien comes from an Irish family background. His family's story in India began when an Irish soldier arrived in the 1860s. Later, his family members married into the Bengali community.
He lives in Kolkata, a big city in India. He can speak, read, and write Bengali, which is his first language. His grandfather, Amos O'Brien, was the first Christian to lead the English Department at Banaras Hindu University.
Derek O'Brien went to St. Xavier's Collegiate School in Kolkata. He also spent some time at St. Columba's School, Delhi in Delhi. Later, he studied at Scottish Church College in Kolkata for two years.
He is the oldest of three sons. His parents were Joyce and Neil O'Brien. His father, Neil O'Brien, worked in publishing and was also a famous quizmaster. Derek O'Brien is married to Tonuca Basu, who is a doctor. He also has a daughter named Aanya from his earlier marriage to Rila Banerjee.
Derek O'Brien's Career in Quizzing and Media
Derek O'Brien's first job was as a journalist for Sportsworld magazine. After that, he worked at an advertising agency called Ogilvy in 1984. He became the Creative Head for their Kolkata and Delhi offices.
Becoming a Quizmaster
At the same time, he started a career as a quizmaster and quiz show host. His father, Neil O'Brien, was a pioneer in quizzing in India. In 1988, Derek O'Brien hosted his first quizzes for a wide audience. These included the Bata North Star Quiz and the Maggi Quiz for Schools.
In 1990, he teamed up with Economic Times for the Brand Equity Quiz, which was for businesses. In 1991, he left Ogilvy and started his own company. It was first called Big Ideas, and now it's known as Derek O'Brien and Associates. This company focuses on knowledge, education, and publishing.
Quizzing Around the World
Derek O'Brien has hosted quizzes in many countries. These include the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the United States. In 2008, he even went to Pakistan to host a TV quiz for schools.
He won the Indian Television Academy award for Best Host in a Television Gameshow three years in a row (2003–2005). This shows how popular and good he was at hosting quizzes.
Speaking Engagements
Derek O'Brien has also given talks at famous universities. These include Harvard, Yale, and Columbia universities in the United States. He has also spoken at many top colleges in India, like the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
Derek O'Brien's Political Journey
Derek O'Brien joined the Trinamool Congress party in 2004. At that time, the party was not in power in West Bengal. He has said that he was inspired by the leader of the Trinamool Congress, Mamata Banerjee. He felt she was the only person who could challenge the government that was in power then.
Becoming a Party Spokesperson
Soon, Derek O'Brien became a spokesperson for the Trinamool Congress. This meant he would speak for the party to the media and public. He became known as a politician who spoke good English and had a professional background.
He gained national attention during a big protest led by Mamata Banerjee in Singur in 2006. This protest was about the government trying to take land from farmers. He also played a key role in helping his party use social media to reach more people.
Derek O'Brien often appears on news television shows. He shares his views on political and policy matters. He has also written articles for major newspapers like Times of India and Hindustan Times.
In 2011, the Trinamool Congress won the election in West Bengal. After this victory, Derek O'Brien was chosen to become a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha.
First Term in Rajya Sabha
He officially became a Member of Parliament on August 19, 2011. He is one of 16 MPs from West Bengal in the Rajya Sabha. In 2012, his party made him their Chief Whip in the Rajya Sabha. This role involves making sure party members vote as the party wants.
In 2012, he voted in the election to choose the 13th President of India. It is believed that his vote was the first cast by an elected member of the Anglo-Indian community. This is because members of this community were usually nominated, not elected, to Parliament before.
He also spoke at the United Nations General Assembly in 2012. He was part of the Indian parliamentary group there.
Working on Parliamentary Committees
As an MP, Derek O'Brien has worked on many important parliamentary committees. These committees study different topics and help make laws. From 2017 to 2019, he was the Chairman of the Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture.
Currently, he is a member of several important committees. These include the General Purposes Committee, the Business Advisory Committee, and the Ethics Committee. He also works on committees related to Human Resource Development and Transport, Tourism, and Culture. He has spoken in Parliament on many different issues, like railways and justice for young people.
Second Term in Rajya Sabha
Derek O'Brien's second term as an MP in the Rajya Sabha started on August 19, 2017. It is expected to end on August 18, 2023.
Sometimes, there are strong disagreements in Parliament. On September 20, 2020, during a debate on a new law, Derek O'Brien protested. He was suspended for one week along with eight other MPs because of his actions during the protest.
He was suspended again on December 21, 2021, while protesting against another law. On December 14, 2023, he was suspended once more after a disagreement with the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. These suspensions happen when an MP's actions are seen as disruptive to the Parliament's rules.
Current Committee Work
He is a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs. In 2022, he wrote to the head of this committee about a serious issue. He wanted to discuss an alleged app called "Tek Fog." He said this app could affect national security by manipulating information on social media.
Derek O'Brien as an Author
Besides his political and quizzing work, Derek O'Brien is also an author. He has written several books. His popular books include Inside Parliament: Views for the Front Row, which shares his experiences in Parliament. He also wrote Derek Introduces the Constitution and Parliament of India, which helps explain how India's government works.
Other books he has written include My Way, a motivational book, and Speak Up Speak Out, which is a collection of pieces for public speaking. He has also written many reference, quiz, and textbooks.
