Maneka Gandhi

Maneka Gandhi was born on 26th August 1956 in Delhi and educated at Lawrence School, Sanawar. She is the widow of Sanjay Gandhi, the son of Indira Gandhi (former Prime Minister of India). A former model and editor of Surya India magazine, Ms. Gandhi entered politics in 1982 after her husband's death. She formed the Sanjay Vichar Manch in 1983 and joined the Janata Party in 1988. She served as Minister of the Environment from 1989 to 1991 and returned to Parliament in 1998 as the Minister of Welfare and was appointed as chairwoman of the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA). Under her direction, unannounced inspections of laboratories where animals are used for scientific research were conducted, and abominable conditions and cruelty were documented and exposed. The CPCSEA imposed restrictions that brought some of the abuse to a stop. Political upheaval eventually forced her to resign from the position. She continues to serve in Parliament.

Maneka Gandhi's political career:

» 1988-89 General Secretary, J.D.
» 1989 Elected to Lok Sabha (Ninth) from Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh)
» 1989-91 Union Minister, Environment and Forests
» 1996 Re-elected to Lok Sabha (Eleventh) from Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh)
» 1998 Elected to Lok Sabha (Twelfth) for the third time from Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh)

Maneka Gandhi is a renowned activist who works on behalf of animals, poor people and the environment. She has written three books Sanjay Gandhi, Brahma's Hair (a book on the mythology of Indian plants) and Boulababa. Maneka Gandhi was also the recipient of the prestigious Lord Erskine Award from the RSPCA, the 'Prani Mitra Award' and the "Maharana Mewar, Foundation Award" for Environmental work.