Derek O’Brien Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More
Derek O’Brien Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More
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Hometown: Kolkata
Age: 64 Years
Religion: Christianity
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Profession(s) | Politician, Quiz Master, Author |
| Famous For | Conducting children quiz shows throughout the world |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Eye Colour | Green |
| Hair Colour | Salt & Pepper |
| Politics | |
| Political Party | All India Trinamool Congress  |
| Political Journey | • Derek O’Brien entered politics in 2004 by joining the All India Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee . • Soon Derek O’Brien was appointed as the spokesperson of Trinamool Congress and later nominated as Rajya Sabha member in 2011 when Mamata Banerjee led Trinamool Congress came to power in West Bengal. • O’Brien was the first person among elected Anglo-Indian members to cast a vote to choose the President of India. • Derek O'Brien had chaired the 'Transport' and 'Tourism & Culture' Department's Parliamentary Standing Committee from 2017 to 2019. • He is a member of many parliamentary committees in the current term (2017-2023) such as the Business Advisory Committee, General Purposes Committee, Transport Committee, Tourism and Culture Committee, Human Resource Development Committee, and Ethics Committee. • Derek O'Brien took the honour of addressing the United Nations General Assembly being a part of a delegation of the Indian parliament. • The TMC appointed him the party's national spokesperson in March 2023. check sources NDTV |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 13 March 1961 (Monday) |
| Age (as of 2025) | 64 Years |
| Birthplace | Kolkata, West Bengal |
| Zodiac sign | Pisces |
| Signature |  |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Kolkata, West Bengal |
| School | • St. Xavier's Collegiate School, Kolkata • St.Columba's School, Delhi |
| College/University | Scottish Church College, Kolkata |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor of Arts check sources My Neta |
| Religion | Christianity check sources The Indian Express |
| Food Habit | Non-Vegetarian check sources Financial Express |
| Address | 158, Prince Anwar Shah Road, Kolkata 700045 |
| Controversies | • Derek O’Brien was suspended from parliament because of his unparliamentary behaviour on 20 September 2020 during the farm bills passing, as he tried to tear parliament's rule book and created chaos in the parliament.  • On 21 December 2021, he was again suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the remaining part of the Winter Session after he allegedly threw the rule book towards the chair. The incident took place when the passage of the electoral reforms bill in the House was going on. the oppositon opposed the linking of electoral roll data with the Aadhaar ecosystem as proposed in the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill 2021. check sources India Today • On 8 August 2023, the Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar suspended him for the rest of the Monsoon session; however, he let him back into the House less than an hour later. After Mr O'Brien sought to speak under the pretext of raising a point of order under rule 267, the rule under which the opposition had been seeking a discussion on the Manipur issue since the start of the Monsoon session, the Leader of the House and Union Minister Piyush Goyal then moved a motion to suspend Mr O'Brien for the rest of the Monsoon session. Earlier, on 7 August 2023, the chairman accused Mr O'Brien of making "engaging in theatrics" a habit. Dhankhar said, "Your demeanour was ignoble, does not justify the position you hold. You have upset the decorum of the ecosystem....of House. You have done it on purpose." check sources NDTV |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Family | |
| Wife/Spouse | • First Wife: Rila Banerjee (ex-wife; m.1991) • Second Wife: Dr. Tonuca Basu (m.2006- present)  |
| Children | Daughter- Aanya (From his first wife Rila Chaterjee) Note: He has two children. |
| Parents | Father- Neil O’Brien Mother- Joyce O'Brien  |
| Siblings | Brother(s)--Barry O'Brien, Andy O'Brien |
| Money Factor | |
| Salary (approx.) | Rs. 1,00,000 per month check sources Rajya Sabha |
| Assets/Properties | Non-Agricultural Land worth Rs. 3,65,95,080 Residential Buldings worth Rs. 2,14,80,700 (as of 2016) check sources My Neta |
| Net Worth (approx.) | Rs. 68,96,549 (as of 2016) check sources My Neta |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Derek O’Brien
Derek O’Brien is an Indian politician and quiz master who is famous for conducting school level quiz competitions throughout the world.
Derek O’Brien during a quiz show
Derek O’Brien faced sexual molestation when he boarded a crowded bus on his way back home after his tennis practice at the age of 13. check sources NDTV
When Brien was not able to perform well in the eighth standard due to mid-year school change as a result of his father’s transfer from Delhi to Kolkata, her mother celebrated with family over lunch to motivate him and keep his spirits high.
Derek O’Brien’s grandfather, “Amos O’Brien,” was the first person from his community to serve as the head of the English department at Banaras Hindu University.
Brien learned about quiz hosting and conducting from his father, Neil O’Brien, who hosted India’s first well organised quiz in 1967 at Kolkata.
Derek O’Brien’s father, Neil O’Brien, conducting a quiz competition
O’Brien earned the Indian Television Academy Award for Best Host three times in a row from 2003 to 2005.
He organised quizzes in many countries during his career as a quiz master such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Srilanka, Singapore, Bangladesh, Oman, and the United States.
Derek O’Brien at Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) 2017
After a successful career as a quiz master, O’Brien joined the Trinamool Congress in 2004, which was out of power back then.
Derek O’Brien with Mamata Banerjee
Despite the fact that Derek O’Brien is a well-known leader of the Trinamool Congress, his brother Barry O’Brien is now associated with the BJP.
Derek O’Brien’s brother in a BJP press conference
Derek O’Brien is also a very fine writer, his novel “Inside Parliament” is one of the best selling novels.
Derek O’Brien’s book “Inside Parliament”
When questioned about his unruly behaviour and creating chaos in parliament, Derek O’Brien answered that despite the repeated request of many Rajya Sabha members, the resolution for “Farm Bills 2020” was not put to vote. As per his quote,
The chair has to grant you that right, But today, unbelievably, the right was taken away from the opposition. That is a serious breach of parliamentary rules and parliamentary democracy. This is like taking the parliamentary democracy, shoving a knife inside it and killing it. And so, we protested.”
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References/Sources
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