Inder Singh Namdhari, who was chosen as the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly speaker for the third time on Monday, said he listened to his 'inner voice' when he left academics to enter active politics.
Born on December 10, 1942, in Naushera, now in Pakistan, he was initiated into social service by his businessman father Yodh Singh and mother Draupadi Devi.
After obtaining a degree in electronics from the Birla Institute of Technology, Sindhri, Namdhari worked there as a lecturer in telecommunication in 1964-65. In 1966, he entered politics.
A staunch follower of Swami Vivekananda, Sardar Vallabhai Patel and Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Namdhari was jailed during Emergency in the mid 1970s.
During his political career, he was elected to the Bihar assembly in 1980, 1990, 1995 and 2000. Namdhari was the chairman of Bihar State Transport Corporation in 1979 and Bharatiya Janata Party's Bihar unit president in 1988.
Following differences with the BJP, he formed the Sampoorna Kranti Dal in 1995. Between 1995 and 1997, he was appointed Bihar's revenue, land reforms and transport minister.
Namdhari is a strict vegetarian and an avid reader, with a special liking for the works of Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Hariauodh and Guru Govind Singh. He has five daughters and a son.
Namdhari has served as chairman of the assembly committee on state undertakings and as coordinator of the special investigation teams.
Namdhari became the first speaker of Jharkhand, after it was separated from Bihar.
He is an honorary president of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's Jharkhand branch and a standing committee member of the All-India Presiding Officers' Association.
Earlier reports:
Namdhari elected Jharkhand speaker
Arjun Munda wins vote of confidence
