BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

RAJAGOPAL, SHRI OLENCHERY

B.A.,B.L.; B.J.P.(Madhya Pradesh); s. of Shri O. Madhavan Nair and Shrimati O.

Kunhikkavu Amma; b. at Manappadam, Palakkad District, Kerala, September 15, 1929; ed. at (i) High School Alatur, (ii) Victoria College, Palghat and (iii) Law College, Madras; m. Dr. (Shrimati) Shantha Kumari, March 3, 1957 (since deceased); 2 s.

Public Worker; practised as an advocate between 1956-68 at Palghat; courted arrest in 1965 under "All India Change the Plan agitation"; detained under MISA during the Emergency from July 10, 1975 to February 18, 1977; previously associated with Bharatiya Jana Sangh and Janata Party; was Jana Sangh activist; Patron, (i) Madhya

Pradesh Malayalee Sangh, Bhopal, (ii) Maharashtra Malayalee Sangh, (iii) Matha Amritanandamayi Devi Seva Samithi, Delhi and (iv) K.G. Marar Smaraka Samithi and

Trust ; President, (i) Sree Aurobindo Cultural Society, Trivandrum, Kerala, (ii) Anti-Malappuram District Agitation, (iii) Small Farmers' Association and (iv) B.J.S. and later founder President, B.J.P., Kerala; Vice-President, All India B.J.P.; Chairman, Committee on Petitions, 1996-98; Director, Mathruka Pracharanalayam, Cochin; Kerala State General Secretary, Janata Party, 1977-80; was Member, (i) National Executive of Jana Sangh, 1964-77, (ii) Committee on Railways, (iii) Committee on Communications and (iv) Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources; Member, (i) Tea Board, (ii) Committee on Human Resource Development and (iii) Consultative Committee for the Ministry of External Affairs; elected to the Sabha in June, 1992 and re-elected in June, 1998.

Publications : Party Booklets, Publisher and Director of Malayalam Daily `Janmabhoomi' and Chief Editor, `Chithi', Malayalam monthly from Thiruvananthapuram.

Special interest : Spiritual activities of Sadguru Matha Amritanandamayi Devi.

Favourite pastime and recreation : Listening to Amma's bhajans.

Permanent address : Shanthi, Ayodhya Nagar, Palakkad, Kerala-7