Who was the first Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha in independent India?

Introduction / Context:

The Lok Sabha, as the lower house of Parliament, functions under the leadership of a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker. While the first Speaker, G. V. Mavalankar, is widely remembered, exams also test your knowledge of the first Deputy Speaker. Basic awareness of the early presiding officers of Lok Sabha is part of Indian political history and parliamentary procedure. This question asks you to identify the first Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The office in question is the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
• The time frame is the early years after independence.
• Options include G. V. Mavalankar, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar, and Dr P V Cherian.
• We assume familiarity with the fact that G. V. Mavalankar was the first Speaker, not Deputy Speaker.

Concept / Approach:

In the first Lok Sabha, G. V. Mavalankar served as the Speaker, and M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar served as the first Deputy Speaker. Later, Ayyangar himself became the Speaker after Mavalankar. Recognising this sequence helps you identify M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar as the first Deputy Speaker. The other names in the options are famous figures, but they did not hold this specific office at that time.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Historical lists of Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the Lok Sabha clearly show that the first combination was G. V. Mavalankar as Speaker and M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar as Deputy Speaker. After Mavalankar's demise, Ayyangar was elevated to the office of Speaker. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan is prominently noted as the first Vice President of India and ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, which confirms his association with the upper house. This cross check reinforces that Ayyangar is the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option A, G. V. Mavalankar, was the first Speaker, not the first Deputy Speaker. Option B, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, was the first Vice President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, not a presiding officer of the Lok Sabha. Option D, Dr P V Cherian, is not recorded as the first Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha. These options may appear because of the prominence of these personalities, but they do not match the specific office asked in the question.

Common Pitfalls:

A common mistake is to confuse the Speaker with the Deputy Speaker and to pick G. V. Mavalankar since he is strongly associated with the early Lok Sabha. Another pitfall is mixing roles between the two Houses of Parliament, for example linking Radhakrishnan with the Lok Sabha rather than the Rajya Sabha. To avoid confusion, remember the pair for the first Lok Sabha: Mavalankar as Speaker and Ayyangar as Deputy Speaker.

Final Answer:

The first Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha in independent India was M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar.