B.A. (English and Jurisprudence), M.A., B.C.L. Educated at St. Stephen`s College, Delhi and St. Edmund Hall, Oxford University, Oxford, U.K.
Profession
Advocate Teacher
Books Published
`At Home in India`, a restatement of Indian Muslims (Vikas 1987);`Beyond Terrorism`(UBS 1994);`Sons of Babur` a play in search of India, published by Rupa & Co., 2008 and `If Winter Comes' published by Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., 1991
Positions Held
1991-96 :
Elected to 10th Lok Sabha
June 1991 :
Union Deputy Minister, Commerce
Jan. 1993 -
June 1996 :
Union Minister of State, External Affairs
1996-97 :
Chairman, Department of Foreign Affairs
1998-2000 and
2004-08 :
President, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee
2000-03 :
Chairman, Department of Policy Planning and Coordination (DEPCO), All India Congress Committee
2003-04 :
Special Invitee, Congress Working Committee
2004-05 :
General Secretary, All India Congress Committee
2009 :
Re-elected to 15th Lok Sabha (2nd term)
29 May 2009 -
18 Jan 2011 :
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Corporate Affairs; Minority Affairs
19 Jan 2011 -
12 July 2011 :
Union Cabinet Minister, Water Resources and Minority Affairs
13 July 2011 -
27 Oct 2012 :
Union Cabinet Minister, Law and Justice and addl. charge of Minority Affairs
28 Oct 2012 onwards :
Union Cabinet Minister, External Affairs
Social and Cultural Activities
Chairman :
(i) Dr. Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust;and
(ii) Indian Institute of Export and Import Management;
President :
(i) Delhi Public School Society, 1992-2005;
(ii) Dr. Zakir Husain Study Circle:
(iii) Jasne Gul Pharosan (Phoolwaloon Ke Sair);
(iv) Marcus Murch Memorial Theatre Foundation; and
(v) Pet Welfare Club of India;
Chief Patron, Okhla Industries Association, New Delhi;
Patron :
(i) New Era Public School, New Delhi;
(ii) All India Rajiv Gandhi Pragatisheel Vichar Congress;
(iii) Delhi Amateur Boxing Associaiton;
(iv) Uttar Pradesh Friends Forum;
(v) Sarv Dharam Prem Sandesh Samiti;
(vi) Dipsites Association, (DPS) Alumni;
(vii) Delhi Wushu Association (Regd.);
(viii) Mother Teresa Foundation; and
(ix) SAMLA (South Asian Minority Lawyers Association);
Trustee, Dhiren Bhagat Memorial Trust;
Member :
(i) Majlis-e-Mushawarat;
(ii) Central Wakf Council;
(iii)Maulana Azad Educational Foundation;
(iv) Managing Committee, Crescent Public School;
(v)Executive Council, Jamia Millia Islamia University, 1990-95;
(vi) Governing Body, Mayo College, 1996; and
(vii) University Court, Aligarh Muslim University
Special Interests
Wildlife and Adventure
Sports and Clubs
Cricket and squash
Favourite Pastimes and Recreation
Theatre, reading (history and biographies) and writing columns in media
Countries Visited
Widely travelled
Other Information
Enrolled at the Bar, Supreme Court of India, 1997; appeared in miscellaneous and regular matters in the Supreme Court of India in Constitutional, Commercial and other matters, drafted briefs in various fields of law, including Commercial and Constitutional matters, Arbitration, Contract, Sale of goods, Company law, Service and Labour matter and Opinion work, argued several leading cases of Constitutional Rights, Civil Liberties, including Press Law and Freedom of Expression, 1982-84;O.S.D. in the Prime Minister`s Office with Late Smt. Indira Gandhi, 1981-82; Senior Partner, Talib Luthra & Associates, Extensive Chamber and Court practice, especially in commercial, constitutional airlines, Press Law and Administrative Law; actively involved in Congress Party affairs, particularly minority affairs, since 1985; Spokesperson, All India Congress Committee, 1998-99; designated Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India, Senior Councel, and Chambers for Equity Lex Associates, 1999;Incharge (i) North East States and Programme Implementation; and (ii) five States-Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal; Member, AICC Committee for Future Challenges and Opportunities
Statue of Mahatma Gandhi, Ariana Park
Geneva
Gentleness, self-sacrifice and generosity are the exclusive possession of no one race or religion.
