RSS thinker, among four, nominated to Rajya Sabha

RSS thinker and well-known author and newspaper columnist Rakesh Sinha is among four eminent persons nominated by President Ram Nath Kovind, on the recommendation of the PM, to fill vacancies in the nominated categories. Eight other nominated members have not completed their terms.

Others nominated are Ram Shakal, a Dalit farmer leader and three-term Lok Sabha member from Robertsganj in Amritsar, well-known classical dance exponent Sonal Mansingh and internationally renowned authority on stone carving Raghunath Mohapatra.

Sinha, who teaches in Motilal Nehru College of Delhi University, is the founder and honorary director of the Delhi-based thinktank India Policy Foundation.

Dancer Sonal Mansingh, who runs the Centre for Indian Classical Dances she founded in 1977, has been performing Bharatnatyam and Odissi for over six decades. She is also a well-known choreographer, teacher, orator and social activist.

Practising since 1959, Mohapatra has trained over 2,000 students and contributed to the preservation of traditional sculpture and ancient monuments, and has worked on the beautification of the Sri Jagannath Temple, Puri. His famous works include a 6-feet high statue of the Sun God carved in grey sandstone, in the Central Hall of Parliament and the Wooden Buddha placed in the Buddha Temple in Paris.