10 facts about the life and political journey of Maneka Gandhi
Maneka Gandhi was born into a Sikh family on August 26, 1956, in Delhi, India. Her father, Lt. Col. Tarlochan Singh Anand, was a senior army officer.
Maneka Gandhi married Sanjay Gandhi, the son of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in 1974. This alliance brought her into the political limelight due to the prominent position of the Gandhi family in Indian politics.
Maneka Gandhi has a son named Varun Gandhi, who a prominent politician. Varun Gandhi has had his own political journey, initially joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and serving as a Member of Parliament. He has held various positions within the party and has been active in public life.
After the death of her husband, Maneka Gandhi moved out of the Prime Minister's residence and embarked on her political career independently. This marked a significant transition in her life as she charted her own path in politics and advocacy.
After the death of her husband Sanjay Gandhi in a plane crash in 1980, Maneka entered politics. Initially joining the Janata Dal party, she later formed her own political party, the Rashtriya Sanjay Manch, in memory of her late husband.
Before founding her own party, Maneka Gandhi established the Sanjay Vichar Manch, a political organization, in 1983. This was a platform for her political activities and advocacy work.
Maneka Gandhi has been elected multiple times as a Member of Parliament (MP) from different constituencies. She has represented Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh among other constituencies.
She served as a Union Minister in the Government of India, holding various portfolios including Women and Child Development, and later, Environment and Forests. Her tenure as a minister was marked by initiatives aimed at welfare and conservation.
One of the defining aspects of Maneka Gandhi's personal and political life is her dedication to animal rights activism. She founded the organization People for Animals (PFA) in 1992, which has since become one of India's leading animal welfare organizations.
Alongside her political career, Maneka Gandhi is also an author. She has written several books on diverse topics including animal welfare, cookery, and women's issues.