Siddhartha Shankar Ray (English: Siddhartha Shankar Ray, born- 20 October, 1920, Calcutta; died- 6 November, 2010) was the former Chief Minister of West Bengal and senior Congress leader. He was the Chief Minister of West Bengal state from 1972 to 1977. Siddhartha Shankar Roy was the grandson of Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das. During the regime of former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi, he was appointed as the Governor of Punjab from April 2, 1986 to December 8, 1989.
Siddhartha Shankar Roy was born on 20 October 1920 in Calcutta (present Kolkata), Bengal Presidency. He belonged to an elite Vaidya family.
His father’s name was Sudhir Kumar Rai and mother’s name was Aparna Devi.
Father Sudhir Kumar Rai was a well-known barrister of the Calcutta High Court and was also a respected member of the Indian National Congress.
Siddharth Shankar Roy’s mother Aparna Devi was the eldest daughter of the famous barrister and nationalist leader Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das.
Siddharth ji was married to Maya Rai. Maya Rai grew up in England. He is Thomas J. Manton, who was a member of the United States House of Representatives.
Siddharth Shankar Roy’s political career started with the help of Congress leader Ashok Kumar Sen.
In 1960, Siddharth Shankar Roy was appointed Minister of Education and Youth Affairs in the Union Cabinet.
When Rajiv Gandhi was in power at the Centre, Siddharth ji held the post of Governor of Punjab state (1986-1989).