History Today: When India's Rajya Sabha held its first meeting

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13-05-2025

On May 13, 1952, the first Rajya Sabha meeting occurred in Delhi's old Council Chamber of Parliament House. Dr S Radhakrishnan was elected as the first Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. On this day in 1989, thousands of Chinese students launched a hunger strike in Beijing's Tiananmen Square during the pro-democracy protests read more
The Council of States' first session began with a Presidential address to both the Upper and Lower Houses, a tradition that endures annually. Representational image
One of the most important days in the history of India is May 13. It was on this day in 1952 that the newly constituted Council of States sat together for the first time. This 'Second Chamber' of the Parliament of India, was later named the Rajya Sabha in 1954.
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On this day in 1989, thousands of Chinese students launched a hunger strike in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, marking a critical escalation in the pro-democracy protests that had gripped China for weeks.
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First Rajya Sabha meeting
It was on May 13, 1952 that the newly formed Council of States sat for the first time in the Parliament. It came to be known as the 'Second Chamber' of the Parliament of India which was later named Rajya Sabha.
Following the adoption of the Constitution in 1950, the need for a bicameral legislature was formalised to ensure a more balanced and representative form of governance. The Rajya Sabha was envisioned as a body that would provide a forum for sober and considered debate, acting as a check on hasty legislation from the directly elected Lok Sabha.
The inaugural session was held in the old Council Chamber of Parliament House in New Delhi. Dr S Radhakrishnan, who would later become India's second President, was elected as the first Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, in his capacity as Vice President of India. In his address, Dr Radhakrishnan emphasised the importance of high moral standards, reasoned debate and the role of the Rajya Sabha in representing the states and union territories fairly.
The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Parliament. Representational image
At the time of its inauguration, the Rajya Sabha had 216 members, including 12 nominated by the President for their contributions to literature, science, art and social service. The remaining members were elected by the legislative assemblies of the states and union territories.
The Council of States' first session began with a Presidential address to both the Upper and Lower Houses, a tradition that endures annually and after every general election. However, in contrast to modern parliamentary sessions, this address was not followed by a Motion of Thanks, and a Question Hour session, now a regular occurrence, did not take place. The Upper House of the Parliament of India is presently structured with a capacity of 250 members.
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Thousands of Chinese students began a hunger strike on Tiananmen Square
On this day in 1989, thousands of Chinese students launched a hunger strike in Beijing's Tiananmen Square marking a critical escalation in the pro-democracy protests that had gripped China for weeks. The movement, initially sparked by the death of reform-minded leader Hu Yaobang, had grown rapidly as a result of frustrations over corruption, lack of political freedoms and calls for government accountability.
As a peaceful and symbolic act, a hunger strike was initiated by university students with the objective of compelling the Chinese leadership to engage in dialogue and respond to their demands, which centred on freedom of the press, greater transparency and democratic reforms. The students, identifiable by their white headbands and banners, proclaimed their dedication to nonviolence and patriotism, despite the growing physical risks they faced in the extreme heat of Beijing.
Tiananmen Square is filled with thousands during a pro-democracy rally in Beijing, China on May 17, 1989. File image/AP
By mid-May, the square was densely populated with tens of thousands of supporters, students and observers. The timing of the hunger strike was deliberately chosen to coincide with a scheduled state visit by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, marking the first such visit since the 1960s. Recognising the presence of international media covering the summit, the students hoped that global attention would serve to amplify their message and exert pressure on the Chinese government to issue a positive response.
The hunger strike, while serving to galvanize public support for the demonstrators, concurrently established the conditions for the subsequent military suppression. The initial appeal for reform, spearheaded by students, would tragically culminate in the Tiananmen Square massacre in less than a month's time, specifically on June 4, 1989, when the Chinese People's Liberation Army violently suppressed the burgeoning pro-democracy movement.
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This Day, That Year
On this day in 1981, Pope John Paul II survived an assassination attempt in St Peter's Square, Vatican Square.
British politician Winston Churchill faced the House of Commons for the first time in 1940.
The US declaration of war on Mexico was approved in 1846.