Margaret Alva

Politician

Indian Mangalore, Karnataka

Quick Info

ProfessionPolitician
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth14/04/1942
Age83 years
BirthplaceMangalore, Karnataka

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Bio/Wiki

Real NameMargaret Nazareth
NoteShe changed her name from Margaret Nazareth to Margaret Alva after her marriage

Physical Stats & More

Height168 cm (5' 6")
Eye ColorBlack
Hair ColorSalt & Pepper

Educational Qualification(s)

College/University
  • Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru
  • Government Law College, Bengaluru
Degree(s)
  • Bachelor of Arts at Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru
  • Bachelor of Laws at Government Law College, Bengaluru

Personal Life

ReligionChristian
Address
PermanentNear Custom's Quarters, Uttara Kannada, Distt. Karwar, Karnataka, India
Present12, Safdarjung Lane, New Delhi – 110003, India
Hobbies
  • Oil Painting
  • Interior Decoration
  • Ikebana (Japanese art of flower arrangement)

Relationships & More

Marital StatusWidowed
Marriage Date24/05/1964

Family

HusbandNiranjan Thomas Alva (advocate, businessman, died 2018)
Children
  • Niret Alva (Founder & CEO at Miditech Private Limited)
  • Nivedith Alva (politician, convenor of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee)
  • Nikhil Alva
  • Manira Alva (Vice President at Vital Voices Global Partnership)
Parents
FatherP. A. Nazareth
MotherE. L. Nazareth
Siblings
  • John Mohan Nazareth
  • Pascal Alan Nazareth (former Ambassador of India to Japan, author of book β€˜Gandhi: The Soul Force Warrior.’)
  • Corinne Rego
  • Joan Peres
Others
Father-in-lawJoachim Alva (lawyer, journalist, politician)
Mother-in-lawViolet Alva (lawyer, journalist, politician)

Career

Politics
Political PartyIndian National Congress (INC)
Governor
  • Governor of Uttarakhand (2009-2012)
  • Governor of Rajasthan (2012)
  • Governor of Gujarat (additional charge) (7 July 2014 – 15 July 2014)
  • Governor of Goa (12 July 2014 – 7 August 2014)
  • Governor of Gujarat (additional charge) (07/07/2014 – 15/07/2014)
  • Governor of Goa (12/07/2014 – 07/08/2014)
Key Positions
  • President of Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) (1975-1978)
  • Chairperson of SAARC Technical Committee on Women (1985-1986)
  • Chairperson of UN Expert Group meeting on Women in Decision making, Vienna (1987)
  • Vice-Chairman of Rajya Sabha (1983-1985)
  • Joint Secretary of All India Congress Committee (1975-1977)
  • General Secretary of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (1978-1980)
  • General Secretary of All India Congress Committee (2004-2009)
  • Secretary General of Indian National Congress
Parliamentary ServiceMember of Rajya Sabha (1974-1997), Member of Lok Sabha from Uttara Kannada constituency (1999-2004)
Minister
  • Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs (1984-1985)
  • Minister of State for Youth and Sports and Women and Child Development (1985-1989)
  • Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (1991-1996)
Awards
  • Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award (1991)
  • Dr. T.M.A. Pai Foundation Outstanding Konkani Award (1991)
  • First Nelson Mandela Award (2007) for minority Empowerment
  • Political Participation Award (2017)
Notable Achievements
  • Founder of Karuna NGO focused on women and child welfare
  • Championed four major legislative amendments to strengthen women's rights in India
  • Spearheaded the Women Reservation Bill ensuring one-third of local council seats for women
  • Oversaw Rajiv Gandhi's 28-point plan for women and child rights (1985-1989)
  • Published autobiography 'Courage & Commitment' (2017)

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. She was chosen as the opposition's pick for the 14th vice-presidential election.
2. She was a Member of the Parliament, Rajya Sabha from 1974 to 1998.
3. She held office as the Governor of Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand.
4. She played a vital part in advancing the Women Reservation Bill.
5. She was granted an honorary doctorate in Literature from the University of Mysore in 1989.
6. She entered politics in 1969 influenced by her husband's parents, both Congress MPs.
7. She was among India's youngest Rajya Sabha MPs at age 32.
8. She became the first female Governor of Uttarakhand on 06/08/2009.
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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