Maneka Gandhi is a prominent Indian politician and a passionate animal rights activist. A BJP member and current Member of Parliament, she’s known for her significant contributions to both political and social spheres.

Wiki/Biography

Maneka Gandhi was born on Sunday, August 26, 1956, in New Delhi. She celebrated her 67th birthday in 2023. Her astrological sign is Virgo. She received her education at The Lawrence School, Sanawar, Himachal Pradesh, a prestigious boarding school in India. Following this, she graduated from Lady Sri Ram College for Women, New Delhi, and furthered her studies with German at Jawaharlal Nehru University, also in New Delhi.

During her college years, Maneka actively participated in numerous beauty pageants and fashion shows. This sparked her interest in modeling, leading her to take on various modeling assignments while she was studying. One of her early major successes was a widely acclaimed advertisement for Bombay Dyeing.

Physical Appearance

Here’s a summary of her physical attributes:

• Height (approx.): 5′ 5″
• Weight (approx.): 65 kg
• Eye Color: Black
• Hair Color: Black

Family, Caste & Husband

Maneka Gandhi hails from a Sikh family. Her parents were Lt. Col. Tarlochan Singh Anand and Amteshwar Anand. Her father served in the Army, and her mother was the publisher of the magazine, Surya. She has a sister, Ambika Shukla, who also shares her passion for animal rights. She was married to Sanjay Gandhi, son of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Career

Maneka’s involvement in politics began after her marriage to Sanjay Gandhi. While she actively campaigned and attended rallies alongside him, she didn’t actively participate in electoral politics until after his death. Following a disagreement with Indira Gandhi over her political future, she and Sanjay Gandhi’s supporters established the “Rashtriya Sanjay Manch” in 1983.

This party surprisingly won four out of five seats in the Andhra Pradesh assembly elections—a significant achievement for a newly formed political entity. She subsequently contested and lost the 1984 Lok Sabha elections against Rajiv Gandhi. She later joined the Janata Dal and served as its General Secretary before winning her first Lok Sabha election in 1999 on a Janata Dal ticket. Her political career continued with various ministerial roles and a later move to the BJP.

Her long and impactful political career included several ministerial positions, starting from the Ministry of Environment. In 2004 she joined the BJP with her son, Varun Gandhi and since 2014 has been a consistent presence in the Lok Sabha.

Controversies

Maneka Gandhi’s life has not been without controversy. A major fallout with Indira Gandhi in 1982 led to her leaving Indira Gandhi’s home. Later controversies include public statements regarding her son’s political aspirations and a speech that drew criticism for potentially divisive remarks.

Awards and Honours

Maneka Gandhi’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, highlighting her dedication to animal welfare and environmental causes. Some of these include:

• Lord Erskine Award (RSPCA)
• Environmentalist and Vegetarian of the Year
• Prani Mitra Award
• Several other awards for animal welfare and social work

Facts

Maneka Gandhi is widely known for her contributions beyond politics. She founded People for Animals (PFA) in 1992, India’s largest animal welfare organization. She also published the magazine Surya, a political magazine that featured articles and interviews with Indira Gandhi. Additionally, she previously held the distinction of being the youngest MP appointed as a Union Minister.

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