Ramesh Pokhriyal

Ramesh Pokhriyal "Nishank"
5th Chief Minister of Uttarakhand
In office 27 June 2009 – 11 September 2011
Preceded by	B. C. Khanduri
Succeeded by	B. C. Khanduri
Member of the India Parliament for Haridwar
Incumbent
Assumed office 16 May 2014
Preceded by	Harish Rawat
Personal details
Born	(1959-07-15) 15 July 1959 Pinani, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand
Political party	Bharatiya Janata Party
Spouse(s)	Kusum Kanta Pokhriyal
Residence	Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Occupation	Politician, Poet, Writer
Website	www.rameshpokhriyalnishank.in

Ramesh Pokhriyal "Nishank" (born 15 July 1959)^[1] is an Indian politician belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was Chief Minister of Uttarakhand from 2009 to 2011. He is a currently a Member of Parliament in 16th Lok Sabha. He represents the Haridwar Parliamentary Constituency of Uttarakhand in Lok Sabha and is a member of the Bharatiya Janta Party.^[2]

Personal life

He was born in Pinani Village, Pauri Garhwal, Uttar Pradesh (now Uttarakhand) to Paramanamd Pokhriyal and Vishambhari Devi.

He graduated from Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University Srinagar (Garhwal), Uttarakhand in Arts, and acquired his PHD (With Honours) and D Lit.^[3]

He was married Kusum Kanta Pokhriyal. She died at Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi on November 11, 2012 after a brief illness. Nishank and Kusum Kanta had three daughters Arushi who is Kathak dancer, Vidushi and Shreyashi.^[4]

Political career

Pokhriyal was first elected for the Utter Pradesh Vidhan Sabha from Karnaprayag ward in 1991, and then later in 1993 and 1996 from the same constituency. In 1997 he was appointed for the Uttaranchal Development Minister. He was also Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister (from 2009 to 2011) and is currently a member of Lok Sabha’s 16th session and the Chairman of the Assurance Committee. He is currently a representative of Haridwar constituency in the Lok Sabha^[5] and a senior member of Bhartiya Janta Party.^[6] He is Member of Vidhan Sabha of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand for five consecutive terms from 1991 to 2012. He was elected first time in 1991 from Karnaprayag ward for three consecutive terms.

Pokhriyal was appointed Cabinet Minister for Uttaranchal Development in Shri Kalyan Singh’s Cabinet and in 1999 appointed for Cultural Fulfillment and Endowments in Shri Ram Prakash Gupta’s Cabinet. In 2000, after creation of Uttarakhand state, he was appointed for twelve departments including finance, revenue, tax and water divisions. He was first minister of 12 divisions, including finance, revenue, tax and water, for the State of Uttarakhand. In 2007, he was appointed minister for Health and Family Welfare, Language and Science departments in Uttarakhand. In 2009, he became the youngest Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. In 2012, he was elected Vidhayak for Lok Sabha from Doiwala, Dehradun constituency. In 2014, he resigned from Doiwala, and elected from Haridwar for Lok Sabha.^[7]

Literary career

Pokhriyal has been writing poems and stories from his childhood, but his first collection “Samarpan” was published in 1983. Today, he has over 10 poem anthology, 12 story anthology, 10 novels, 6 kids literature, 2 personal development books which amounts to more than 4 dozens of published works. He has written in all genres of Hindi Literature (poems, novels, short stories, travel journals, etc.) making him a respectable figure in Hindi Literature.^[8]

Awards and honours

• Republic of Mauritius awarded him with Gopio International Award for his contribution towards art, literature, public service and environment conservation.^[9]
• Many national and international literature and social organisations awarded him with Rashtriya Gaurav, Bharat Gaurav, Pride of Uttrakhand Award.
• Indian Government awarded hin with Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan Award for the year 2008 09 for his book “Himalaya ka Maha Kumbh: Nanda Devi Raj Jaat”
• International Open University, Colombo granted him an honorary degree with D. Lit. for his literary work
• Honorary D. Lit. for literature by Graphic Era University, Uttarakhand
• Sahitya Gaurav Samman by Former President Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

See also

• Ramesh Pokhriyal Ministry(2009–11)

References

External links

• Personal website of Ramesh Pokhriyal