Pratap Keshari Deo
{{Short description|Indian politician (1919–2001)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Pratap Keshari Deo
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1919|10|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = Bhawanipatna ,Odisha ,British India
| residence =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2001|10|8|1919|10|5|df=y}}
| death_place = New Delhi, India
| office = Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
| constituency = Kalahandi, Odisha
| term = 1957–1980
| predecessor = Giridhari Bhoi
| successor = Rasa Behari Behara
| party =
| religion =
| spouse =
| children =
| website =
| footnotes =
| date = |
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| source = https://loksabha.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/1156.htm
}}
Maharaja Pratap Keshari Deo (5 October 1919 – 8 October 2001) was an Indian politician. He was the last ruler of Kalahandi State from 1939 to 1947. Post-independence, he was elected from the Kalahandi constituency in Odisha to the Lower House of the Indian Parliament the Lok Sabha.{{cite web | url=http://164.100.47.194/loksabha/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/1156.htm | title=Biographical Sketch Member of Parliament | publisher=Lok Sabha | accessdate=20 October 2017}}{{cite book|author=Prasanta Patnaik|title=Lok Sabha Polls in Orissa, 1952-1991|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=usyNAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=20 October 2017|year=1996|publisher=Kalinga Communications (Publication Division)|page=183}}{{cite book|author=India. Parliament. Lok Sabha. Committee of Privileges|title=Report|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C28KAAAAIAAJ|accessdate=20 October 2017|year=1967|publisher=Lok Sabha Secretariat.|page=15}} He was deputy Leader of the Opposition, Orissa Legislative Assembly, 1952—1956.{{Cite web|title=Members Bioprofile|url=http://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/1156.htm|website=loksabhaph.nic.in|access-date=2020-05-12}}
Maharaja of Kalahandi State
During the time Deo ruled Kalahandi, a major irrigation project was initiated on the Indravati River to build Indravati Dam,{{Cite web|title=Latest Releases|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/releases98/lyr2001/roct2001/08102001/r081020018.html|website=pibarchive.nic.in|access-date=2020-05-12}} and along with engineer Bhubaneswar Behera and administrator Ram Chandra Patra he visualized and prepared the blueprint. This plan was disrupted by governmental changes in the early post-independence period. In 1948 Kalahandi lost its state status and was merged into Odisha{{Cite web|title=Latest Releases|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/releases98/lyr2001/roct2001/08102001/r081020018.html|website=pibarchive.nic.in|access-date=2020-05-12}}
Political career
Deo was a Member of Orissa Legislative Assembly and subsequently of the Lok Sabha. As a member of Swatantra Party Deo aligned with Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo who became the chief minister in 1967.
Deo initiated Kalahandi Science College in 1960, the predecessor of Kalahandi University.{{Cite web|title=Government College (Autonomous), Bhawanipatna|url=http://gacbhawanipatna.org/|website=gacbhawanipatna.org|access-date=2020-05-12}}
As a member of parliament, Deo continued to push for the Indravati Dam and rail connectivity from Kesinga to Ambaguda via Bhawanipatna and Junagarh. In 1962-1963 he had pointed out in the Parliament that Parkers had done a railway line survey from Kesinga to Nabarangpur to join Kothavalasa-Kirandul (KK) line, because Koraput-Kothavalasa and Koraput-Rayagada are e-special category railway routes having many tunnels and high-level bridges; the speed is limited (often less than 50 kmph) and number of wagon can’t exceed 30 during mineral transportations in these two routes.{{Cite web|title=‘Speed up Junagarh Rd-N'rangpur rly line works'|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2019/state-editions/---speed-up-junagarh-rd-n-rangpur-rly-line-works-.html|last=Pioneer|first=The|website=The Pioneer|language=en|access-date=2020-05-12}} Subsequently, Lanjigarh–Junagarh section under East Coast Railway Zone was completed in March 2014, which was sanctioned when local MP Bhakta Charan Das was minister of state for railway in 1990-91.
Deo had a special interest in archeology{{Cite web|title=Members Bioprofile|url=http://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/1156.htm|website=loksabhaph.nic.in|access-date=2020-05-12}} and established the archeology society of Kalahandi.
Deo died in New Delhi on 8 October 2001, at the age of 82.{{cite web |title=Lok Sabha Debates, 19 November 2001 |url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1177458/ |website=Indian Kanoon |access-date=4 February 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://loksabha.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/1156.htm Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Deo, Pratap Keshari}}