Learn about the life and career of Indian politician and lawyer, Ravi Shankar Prasad. This comprehensive biography covers his family, education, political journey, and controversies.

Biography/Wiki

Ravi Shankar Prasad was born on August 30, 1954 (age 70 as of 2024), in Patna, Bihar, India. He earned a BA (Honors) and an MA in Political Science from Patna University, followed by an LLB from the same institution.

His student years were marked by active participation in student politics. He served as the Assistant General Secretary of the Students Union and a Member of the Senate, Arts, and Law Faculties at Patna University. He was also a member of the Finance Committee and involved with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, holding various positions within the organization.

In 1975, during the Emergency, he was arrested for protesting against Indira Gandhi’s government. He was also a human rights and civil liberties activist. His legal career began in 1980 at the Patna High Court.

Family, Wife & Caste

Born into a Kayastha Hindu family, his father, Thakur Prasad, was a lawyer at the Patna High Court and former president of the Bharatiya Jan Sangh in Bihar (a precursor to the BJP). His mother was Bimla Prasad. He has two elder sisters, Pratibha and Sujata, and a younger sister, Anuradha Prasad (Managing Director of News 24).

He married Maya Shankar, a history professor at Patna University, on February 3, 1982. They have a son, Aditya (a lawyer), and a daughter, Aditi.

Career

Prasad’s political career began in earnest in 1995 with his nomination to the BJP’s National Executive Committee. He became a Senior Advocate at the Patna High Court in 1999 and at the Supreme Court in 2000. He notably argued a PIL against Lalu Prasad Yadav in the fodder scam and represented the deity in the Ayodhya Ram Temple Suit.

His parliamentary career started in 2000 with his election to the Rajya Sabha. Under Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government, he held ministerial positions, including Minister of State for Coal & Mines, Law and Justice, and Information and Broadcasting. He played a key role in amending the Representation of the People’s Act.

He served multiple terms in the Rajya Sabha, becoming the All India General Secretary & Chief National Spokesperson of the BJP. In 2016, he was appointed Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology and Law and Justice. He won the Patna Sahib Lok Sabha seat in 2019 and 2024.

Controversies

• In 2005, he survived an assassination attempt.
• In 2017, comments he made about Muslim voters sparked controversy.

Properties/Assets

In 2014, he reportedly owned several vehicles (Toyota Fortuner SUV, Honda Accord, Scorpio SUV, and a Honda City) along with significant investments in bonds, debentures, and shares (around ?8 Crore) and jewellery (?17 Lakhs).

Net Worth & Deposits

In 2014, his net worth was estimated at around ?18 Crore, with bank fixed deposits of ?8 Crore.

Facts

Here are some notable facts about Ravi Shankar Prasad:

• Represented India at the 61st UN General Assembly.
• Played a role in establishing Goa as a center for Indian film festivals.
• Represented India at international meetings in Durban and St. Vincent.
• Active participant in debate competitions, winning accolades at state and national levels.
• Led Indian delegations to film festivals in London, Venice, and Cannes.
• Contributed to promoting e-commerce in India.
• Spearheaded a significant program to expand broadband internet access.

Asset Summary (2014)

“`