Discover the life and career of Ranjan Bhattacharya, a prominent figure known for his connection to former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This detailed biography explores his business ventures, political associations, and controversies.

Biography/Wiki

Ranjan Bhattacharya, often called “Ranjan Da,” is a businessman and bureaucrat with deep roots in Indian politics. Born on December 28, 1959, in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, he hails from Patna, Bihar. He comes from a respected family of doctors and identifies as a Bengali Brahmin Hindu.

Physical Appearance

Standing approximately 5’9″ tall and weighing around 70 kg, Ranjan has black eyes and black hair.

Family, Girlfriend, & Wife

His parents were both doctors. He met Namita Bhattacharya (foster daughter of Atal Bihari Vajpayee) in college in 1976, and they married in 1983 after a seven-year courtship. Their daughter, Niharika Bhattacharya, completes their family. Atal Bihari Vajpayee played a significant fatherly role in Ranjan’s life, addressed as “Baapji.”

Career

Ranjan’s education included schooling at St. Edward’s School (Shimla), St. Columbus School (Delhi), and St. Michael’s High School (Patna). He graduated with an Economics Honours degree from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi (1979) and also completed a Hotel Management Diploma from the Oberoi School of Hotel Management (1981).

At 24, he joined the Oberoi Group, becoming General Manager at the Oberoi Palace in Srinagar. He transitioned to entrepreneurship in 1987, establishing a hotel in Manali under Orchid Resorts Private Limited. He later sold this hotel in 1993 to Raj Chopra.

His appointment as an OSD (Officer on Special Duty) in the Prime Minister’s Office during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s brief 13-day tenure in 1996 significantly impacted his career and visibility in political circles. He remained influential within business and political spheres during Vajpayee’s subsequent terms (1999-2004), though maintaining a lower public profile.

Controversy

In 2012, Arvind Kejriwal’s team criticized Ranjan, labeling him “Sarkari Damad” (government son-in-law). Allegations involved connections between industrialists and politicians contributing to inflation, based on an audio recording of a conversation between Ranjan and lobbyist Niira Radia.

Facts

Ranjan’s personal interests include Cuban cigars, red wine, and long drives.

He recounted an anecdote about Atal Bihari Vajpayee initially struggling to remember his name, often addressing him by other names like Banerjee, Mukherjee, or “Bengali Babu.”

In 1997, he founded Talent Marketing, a firm providing reservation services mainly to US brands associated with Carlson Hospitality Worldwide Marketing. He has been linked to the allocation of a significant NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) contract to Malaysian firms.

Additional Information