BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

SOLANKI, SHRI MADHAVSINH:

B.A. (Hons.), LL.B.; I.N.C. (Gujarat); s. of Shri Fulsinhji and Shrimati Ramba; b. at Village Piludra, Taluka Jambusar, District Bharuch, Gujarat, July 29, 1927; ed. at (i) Bombay University and (ii) Gujarat University; m. Shrimati Vimlabahen, 1950; 3 s. and 2 d.

Journalist, Advocate (High Court) and active political worker; Sub-Editor of a Gujarati Daily, 1950-56; dedicated to the cause of poor and upliftment of backward people of Gujarat; was Lecturer in Law in Motilal Nehru Law College, Ahmedabad; is continuously in Parliamentary life for over 41 years; President, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (three times); was Vice-President, Gujarat Natural History Society for 17 years; was Chairman, Committee on Home Affairs; General Secretary, All India Congress Committee; Member, (i) Legislative Assembly of the erstwhile Bombay State and Gujarat State for 31 years, 1957-88, (ii) All India Congress Committee and the Working Committee of the All India Congress Committee, (iii) Senate, Sardar Patel University, Anand and of its Syndicate for 17 years and (iv) General Purposes Committee, 1994-95,(v) Committee on Commerce,1996-97 , (vi) Committee on Energy, 1996-97, (vii) Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment,1996-97, (viii) Committee on External Affairs and (ix) Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Defence; was earlier Cabinet Minister in Gujarat Government and also Chief Minister four times in 1976, 1980, 1985 and 1989; Union Minister, Planning, June, 1988 to November, 1989 and External Affairs in 1991; elected to the Rajya Sabha in April, 1988 and re-elected in April, 1994.

Travels abroad: Has visited almost all the countries of the world.

Special interest: Literature, poetry, fine arts, music, paintings, wild life, natural history and travelling.

Favourite pastime and recreation: Books, films and travel.

Permanent address: Plot No.32, Sector 19, Gandhinagar (Gujarat).