Derek O’Brien is a twice-serving member of the Rajya Sabha from Bengal, representing the Trinamool Congress. He is leader of the Trinamool Congress’ parliamentary party in the Upper House and also its chief national spokesperson.
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.
Speeches
February 13, 2026
Zero Hour Intervention: Universal Minimum Annual National Guarantee – UMANG
February 12, 2026
Was this India’s FIRST INTERACTIVE SPEECH from Parliament? Budget speech 2026
December 19, 2025
My speech on the ‘Murder of MGNREGA and The Mahatma Bill’