Father's Name Late Shri Padmaprabha Gowder

Mother's Name Smt. Marudevi

Date of Birth 15.08.1937

Place of Birth Kalpetta, Distt. Wayanad (Kerala)

Marital Status Married

Date of Marriage 02 Jun 1959

Spouse's Name Smt. Usha Veerendra Kumar

No. of Sons One (1)

No.of Daughters Three(3)

Educational Qualifications
M.A. (Phil.), M.B.A.
Educated at Zamorin College, Kozhikode, Vivekananda College,
Madras (Tamil Nadu) and Cincinatti University (U.S.A.)

Profession
Political & Social Worker, Writer, Businessman

Permanent Address
Ananda Mandiram Puliyarmala Estate, P.O. Kalpetta North, District Wayanad- 673 122 (Kerala)
Tels. (04936) 202355, 202484

Present Address
27, Canning Lane, New Delhi - 110 003
Tels. (011) 23782264, 23715386, 9868180585 (M)

Position Held

1968-70 All India Treasureir, Samyuktha Socialist Party

1970 onwards Member, National Executive, Socialist Party, S.S.P., J.P. and J.D.

1974 National Secretary, Socialist Party

1975 Convenor, Opposition United Front, Kerala

1977 Secretary, J.P., Kerala

1983 Vice-President, J.P., Kerala

1987-91 Member, Kerala Legislative Assembly

1987 Minister of Forests, Government of Kerala

1988 Chairman, Policy Planning Committee, J.D. Kerala

1993 President, J.D., Kerala

1996 Elected to 11th Lok Sabha

21Feb.- 9June 1997 Minister of State, Finance (Deptt. of Expenditure)

10June 1997- March 1998 Minister of State for Labour (Independent charge) with additional charges as Minister of State, Urban Affairs & Employment (Independent charges) and Parliamentary Affairs

2004 Re-elected to 14th Lok Sabha (2nd term)

Member, Committee on Agriculture

16 Aug. 2006-onwards Member, Committee on Empowerment of Women

5 Aug. 2007 Member, Committee on Agriculture
Member, Parliamentary Forum on Water Conservation & Management

Book Published
(i) Samanwayathinte Vasantham, (ii) Budhante Chiri, (iii) Gattum Kanacharadukalum, (iv) Ramante Dukham, (v) Atmavilekkoru Theerthayatra (vi) Prathibhayute Verukal Thedi, (vii) Changampuzha Vidhiyute Vettamrigam, (viii) Amasonum Kure Vyakulathakalum (all in Malayalam)

Literary Artistic & Scientific Accomplishments
Awarded, (i) Kerala Sahitya Academy - C.B. Kumar Endowment Award, (ii) C. Achutha Menon Award, (iii) G. Sankarakurup Literary Award, (iv) Darsana Award, (v) Bharat Soorya Award and (vi) Dubai Malayalee Association Award

Social And Cultural Activities
Social activist in the forefront of all people struggles in Kerala during the last five decades; President, (i) A.K.P. Jain Boarding Trust; and (ii) A.K. P. Jain Temple Trust

Special Interests
Reading on an electic variety of subjects, environment and newspaper management Reading on an eclectic variety of subjects, environment and newspaper management.

Favourite Pastime and Recreation
Phtography, music and reading

Sports and Clubs
Cricket

Countries Visited
Widely travelled (more than 22 countries)

Other Information
Deputy Speaker, Student`s Union, Zamorin`s College, Kozhikode, 1953; Chairman and Managing Director, `Mathrubhumi` since 1979; Chairman, Press Trust of India, 1988; Director, P.T.I. ; President, India News Paper Society; Member, (I) International Press Institue and (ii) Commonwealth Press Union ; avid collector of watches & pens (a taste inherited from his father)

Presently, he is the President of Kerala unit, Member of National Executive and Leader of Parliamentary Party of Janata Dal (Secular).

Courtesy : www.loksabha.nic.in