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Ramesh Pokhriyal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Union Minister of Education | |
| In office 29 July 2020 (2020-07-29) – 7 July 2021 (2021-07-07)[1] | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Himself asMinister of Human Resource Development |
| Succeeded by | Dharmendra Pradhan |
| Minister of Human Resource Development | |
| In office 30 May 2019 (2019-05-30) – 29 July 2020 (2020-07-29) | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Prakash Javadekar |
| Succeeded by | Himself asMinister of Education |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 16 May 2014 (2014-05-16) – 4 June 2024 (2024-06-04) | |
| Preceded by | Harish Rawat |
| Succeeded by | Trivendra Singh Rawat |
| Constituency | Haridwar |
| 5th Chief Minister of Uttarakhand | |
| In office 27 June 2009 (2009-06-27) – 11 September 2011 (2011-09-11) | |
| Preceded by | B. C. Khanduri |
| Succeeded by | B. C. Khanduri |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1959-07-15)15 July 1959 (age 66) Pinani,Uttarakhand, India |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence(s) | Dehradun,Uttarakhand |
| Alma mater | Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University |
Ramesh Pokhriyal "Nishank" (born 15 July 1959)[2] is an Indian politician fromBhartiya Janta Party. He served as the Human Resource Development Minister in the Union Government of India starting from 31 May 2019. The name of his ministry was changed to Education Ministry in July 2020, following the ministry's name change, his title was changed toMinister of Education.[3]
He represented theHaridwar Parliamentary constituency ofUttarakhand in the17thLok Sabha.[4] He was the5th Chief Minister of Uttarakhand from 2009 to 2011. Due to corruption allegations he was asked to resign from his post by the BJP Central Leadership.[5][6]
Pokhriyal was born in Pinani village,Pauri Garhwal,Uttarakhand to Paramanand Pokhriyal and Vishambhari Devi. He received an M.A. degree fromHemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University.[7][8][9]
Pokhriyal married Kusum Kanta Pokhriyal on 7 May 1985, with whom he has three daughters.[10] One of their daughters, Aarushi Nishank is a classical dancer,[11][12] actress, producer and model. His wife died on 11 November 2012 in Dehradun at the age of 50.[13]
Pokhriyal started his career as a teacher inRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated Saraswati Shishu Mandir.[14] He was first elected to public office in the erstwhile undividedUttar Pradesh as a member of theUttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly fromKarnaprayag constituency in1991, defeating a five-time Congress MLA.[14] He was re-elected in1993 and1996 from the same constituency. In 1997 he was appointed to the position of Uttaranchal development minister. He contested2002 election fromThalisain and lost, but in2007 election won the seat. He was alsoUttarakhand's chief minister (from 2009 to 2011). In2012 election he changed his seat toDoiwala and Won. In2014 and2019 election he won and represented asHaridwar MP and the chairman of the Assurance Committee.[10] He was the member of the Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh for three consecutive terms from 1991 to 2002 and member of the Legislative Assembly of Uttarakhand from 2007 to 2014 for two consecutive terms.[15] On 30 May 2019, he was sworn in asMinister of Human Resource Development in the2nd Modi Government.[16][4] Following the ministry's name change to theMinistry of Education (India) in July 2020, he served under the title of Minister of Education.[3]
Pokhriyal has written novels, stories and poems. He has authored more than 100 books inHindi, some of which have been translated to English as well as other Indian languages. Most of his books were published by two private publishers –Vani Prakashan and Diamond Books, and many were published between 2009 and 2011, when he was chief minister of Uttarakhand.
One of his works was adapted into theGarhwali filmMajor Nirala, which was produced by his daughter Aarushi Nishank and released in 2018.[17]
He is honoured by Hindi Writers Guild, Canada in 2021 and was conferred with the "Sahitya Gaurav Samman".[18]
| Lok Sabha | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forHaridwar 2014 – present | Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chief Minister of Uttarakhand 27 June 2009 – 10 September 2011 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Education 31 May 2019 – 7 July 2021 | Succeeded by |
