Dhirubhai Shah

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Dhirubhai Shah (December 18, 1952–17 March 2008) was elected Speaker of the Tenth Gujarat Legislative Assembly on 19 March 1998. He was the youngest Speaker in the history of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly.

Dhirubhai Shah was born in a Jain family in the village of Bela, Taluka-Rapar, District of Kutch, in Gujarat state. After obtaining degrees in Commerce and Law, he started his legal profession in Gandhidham. Public contacts encouraged him to turn his career to politics. His devotion to social service appealed to the public. His hard work and commitment to the development of the Kutch region were well accepted by the people, which led to his rise as a leader. He built a firm base to his political philosophy during his tenure as the Leader of the Opposition in Gandhidham Municipality. He served the people through various activities and programmes as President of Gandhidham Municipality and also as Vice President of Gujarat Nagarpalika Parishad for 8 consecutive years. He was honoured with the award "Glory of India 1998" for rendering social services by the India International Friendship Society at a Seminar on "Economic Development and National Integrity" held in New Delhi. He was also awarded "Gujarat Gaurav Award 1999" for his contribution in the field of Excellent Parliamentary Procedure by the [International Association of Educators for World Peace], a United Nations agency.

Dhirubhai Shah has attended and participated in a number of national and international conferences. Besides the All India Presiding Officers' Conferences in New Delhi, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, and Bangalore, Mr. Shah has attended the 44th and 45th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conferences held in Wellington, New Zealand and Trinidad and Tobago respectively. He was elected as the Asian Region Member of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (C.P.A.) in September 2000 and attended the 47th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held in Canberra, Australia. He had the honour of attending the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of H.M. The Queen Elizabeth II, the patron of the C.P.A., held in London in March, 2002 and represented the Union of India on the occasion. He also attended the Mid-Year Meeting of the C.P.A. held in Kiribati in 2002.

On 19 November 2003 he was appointed as the Chairman of the Gujarat Finance Commission, a position that he continues to hold.

On January 29, 2005 he suffered a heart stroke on the occasion of his younger daughter's wedding due to which he slipped into coma and since then he is in coma with progressive positive recovery and signs of improvement. It is expected that he would come out of it soon and resume meaningful life again.

Dhirubhai Shah died at his residence in Ahmedabad (Gujarat - India) on 17th March 2008 (11:00pm - 11:30pm approx.) suffering from a sudden heart seizure besides his loved ones. He was 56 yrs of age. His body was cremated on 18th March 2008 in noon hrs. A public prayer was held in his remembrance at Kutchi Bhuvan, Paldi, Ahmedabd on 19th March 2008. Also a similar prayer session was held in his hometown, Gandhidham on 21st March 2008.

On 25th March, 2008 a special condolence session was taken in Gujarat Legislative Assembly in which Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat and Speaker Ashok Bhatt conveyed the condolences to the family among others. The house was adjourned for the day after condolences. It was a historical incident wherein posthumously high honour was given to a former speaker of the assembly.