Derek O’Brien (Indian Politician) Biography

Quick Info

Profession	Politician, Quiz Master, Author
Nationality	Indian
Date of Birth	13/03/1961
Age	65 years
Birthplace	Kolkata

Latest News about Derek O’Brien

10/09/2025

Derek O'Brien publicly urged the new Vice President, CP Radhakrishnan, to ensure that Opposition notices are not sidelined in the Rajya Sabha. He framed the appeal as a set of practical suggestions for improving parliamentary functioning and protecting debate.

08/08/2025

Derek O'Brien was among the members involved in a Rajya Sabha confrontation over demands for discussion on the SIR issue. Media reports said the Chair did not permit the notices, and the episode added to the sustained opposition pressure on the government over electoral roll revision.

25/07/2025

O'Brien said that discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise was his party's top priority in Parliament. The statement came as the Trinamool Congress pushed for a floor debate on the issue during the monsoon session.

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Bio/Wiki

Derek O'Brien is an Indian politician, renowned quiz master, and author. He is a member of the Rajya Sabha representing West Bengal for the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). He is widely known for hosting the Cadbury Bournvita Quiz Contest for over two decades.
Derek O'Brien is an Indian politician, television personality, quizmaster, and author. He is a member of the Rajya Sabha representing West Bengal for the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). He is widely known for hosting the Cadbury Bournvita Quiz Contest for over two decades.

Physical Stats & More

Eye Color	Green
Hair Color	Salt & Pepper

Educational Qualification(s)

School	St. Xavier's Collegiate School, Kolkata St.Columba's School, Delhi
College/University	Scottish Church College, Kolkata
Qualification	Bachelor of Arts

Personal Life

Religion	Christianity
Food Habit	Non-Vegetarian

Relationships & More

Marital Status

Married

Family

Wife/Spouse	Rila Banerjee (ex-wife m.1991) Dr. Tonuca Basu (m.2006- present) Rila Banerjee (ex-wife, m.1991)
Children	Daughter: Aanya (from his first wife Rila Banerjee)

Parents

Father	Neil O'Brien
Mother	Joyce O'Brien

Siblings

Barry O'Brien
Andy O'Brien

Career

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.
He was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha for a third term on 19 August 2023, representing West Bengal until 18 August 2029.
He serves as the leader of the Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party in the Rajya Sabha.
In 2015, he was appointed as the Chief National Spokesperson for the Trinamool Congress.
He is the National Joint Secretary of the All India Trinamool Congress.

Quiz Hosting

Shows	Cadbury Bournvita Quiz Contest (1994–2014, 2024–present)
Achievements	Hosted the longest-running game show on Indian television for over 20 years. Received the Indian Television Academy Award for Best Host consecutively from 2003 to 2005. Conducted quizzes worldwide, including in Dubai, Singapore, and the United States.

Business

Company	Derek O'Brien & Associates
Role	Founder and CEO
Description	Conducts quiz programs with over 4,000 schools in India and publishes quiz and reference books.

Journalism

Early Career	Began as a journalist for Sportsworld magazine before moving to advertising as Creative Head at Ogilvy.

Authorship

Books	"Inside Parliament" "Bournvita Quiz Contest Quiz Book 2014"

Social Media

Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/quizderek
Twitter	https://twitter.com/quizderek
LinkedIn	https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekobrienmp

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Derek O’Brien, an Indian politician and renowned quiz master, hosts school-level quiz competitions worldwide.
2. At the age of 13, O’Brien experienced sexual molestation on a crowded bus after a tennis practice session.
3. O’Brien’s mother celebrated with a family lunch to motivate him when he struggled academically due to a mid-year school change.
4. His grandfather, "Amos O’Brien," was the first from his community to lead the English department at Banaras Hindu University.
5. Neil O’Brien, Derek’s father, mentored him in the art of quiz hosting, organizing India’s first well-structured quiz in 1967 in Kolkata.
6. He received the Indian Television Academy Award for Best Host consecutively from 2003 to 2005.
7. O’Brien conducted quizzes worldwide, including in countries like Dubai, Singapore, and the United States.
8. Having excelled as a quiz master, O’Brien joined the Trinamool Congress in 2004 when it was in the opposition.
9. Despite his association with the Trinamool Congress, O’Brien’s brother Barry O’Brien is now affiliated with the BJP.
10. An accomplished writer, O’Brien penned the popular novel "Inside Parliament."
11. In response to accusations of unruly behavior in parliament, O’Brien cited the denial of a vote on the "Farm Bills 2020" resolution as a breach of parliamentary democracy.
12. He is the founder and CEO of Derek O'Brien & Associates, which conducts quiz programs with over 4,000 schools in India and publishes quiz and reference books.
13. He began his career as a journalist for Sportsworld magazine before moving to advertising as Creative Head at Ogilvy.
14. He hosts the longest-running game show on Indian television, the Cadbury Bournvita Quiz Contest.

Derek O’Brien Politician, Quiz Master, Author Indian Kolkata