Derek O’Brien is a twice-serving member of the Rajya Sabha from Bengal, representing the Trinamool Congress. He is the leader of the Trinamool Congress’ parliamentary party in the Upper House.

He is chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on transport, tourism and culture, while serving on several other key parliamentary committees.

O’Brien has spoken at, among others, Harvard, Yale and Columbia Universities in the US, and several IIMs, IITs and other premier educational institutions in India.

He addressed the United Nations General Assembly as a member of the Indian parliamentary delegation in 2012. Derek O’Brien began his career as a journalist, shifted to advertising and then went on to become India’s most popular quizmaster.

He has written over fifty bestselling reference, quiz and textbooks. His latest book, Inside Parliament: Views from the Front Row is the top-selling non-fiction book of HarperCollins India.