Barrister Nath Pai

Nath Bapu Pai was an Indian Freedom fighter, Barrister and Member of Parliament being a prominent leader of Praja Socialist Party. He was born on 22nd September 1922 in Vengurla, Maharashtra. His real name was “Pandarinath” but he was popularly known as Nath. He attended primary school in Vengurla and completed his matriculation in Belgaum. He completed his graduation at Fergusson College Pune. He studied Law in England and became barrister.

Career
Nath pai was very active during the 1942 Quit India movement. At the young age of 18 years he took part in Freedom struggle and went under ground for sevral months. In 1946 he joined Goa Liberation movement. In 1954, Nath Pai was elected as First Indian President of international Union of Socialist Youth conference held at Copenhagen. In 1957 he was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Rajapur constituency in Konkon. He was reelected twice from the same constituency. He was connected with the Postal Employee’s Union and the Northern Railwaymen’s Union. He played a prominent role in the Central Government Employee’s strikes of 1957 and 1960. He was arrested and lodged in the Bombay jail for leading the strike.
He started his political career with “Congress Socialist Party” and earned recognition as a leading light of the “Praja Socialist Party”. Nath Pai was highly respected and admired by the leaders of all political opinions and shades. Pandit Jawaharlal Neharu always referred to Nath Pai as “A Gentleman Politician”. He spoke French and German fluently. He was known for excellent “Oratory” in Marathi and English. The Konkan Railway was his brainchild. Demand for an indian West Coast railway line were continuously raised by Nath Pai as he actively voiced the concerns of the region.
Honours
The Government of India issued a postal stamp in honour of Nath Pai in 1996.