Mrs. Margaret Alva – Mangalorean Star
Margaret Alva, former minister for women in the government of Rajiv Gandhi. She set themes that became the basis for understanding the condition of women in India. She stated that for 50 years, India had failed to involve 50% of the population in development. Women have been treated as recipients of welfare, rather than as equal human beings. Women must be included as decision-makers if India is going to achieve the future that it needs and deserves!!
Campaigner, social activist and champion of the women’s cause, Margaret Alva, is a multihued political personality. Born in Mangalore, Karnataka, on the 14th April 1942 to her proud parents, father – Late Shri P.A. Nazareth and Mother – Smt. E. L. Nazareth.
Alva moved to Bangalore to pursue her studies. She graduated with a BA, B.L., Hon. Doctorate at Mt. Carmel College and Government Law College, Bangalore. She chose to start her professional career as an advocate. She married Shri Niranjan Alva on the 24 May 1964, with whom she has one daughter and three sons.
One of her greatest interests lies in foreign affairs and women’s development, for which she has been an ardent campaigner. She is the Founder President of “Karuna”, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) for women and children. She is a Congress candidate from the Kanara (Karnataka) constituency.
Margaret has a wide variety of interests and is well known for her creativity. She has completed a course in oil painting, interior decoration and Ikebana. Much of her spare time is passed painting, listening to music and traveling to destinations all around the world. As well as Margaret is a member of three clubs: India International Center, Delhi Gymkhana Club, and Bangalore Club.
Margaret Alva on Pope John Paul II:
Encounters
An unusual Pope
By Margaret Alva
Pope John Paul II stood out for three issues during his reign. First was his relentless fight for ‘life’, whether it was against abortion, euthanasia, violence or war. Second, he stood for reconciliation. He was the first Pope to visit the Holy Mosque and the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. He celebrated Diwali in India, to show that he was reaching out to other faiths. He apologized for the injustice done to Jewish people for the silence and even collaboration of the church during the genocide (by Adolf Hitler). He went to Africa and said sorry for slavery and injustices done by Christian governments. He was responsible for the return of religion to Eastern Europe.
Third, he was a man of faith who did not sit in his ivory tower at the Vatican, but took the Vatican to the people by traveling to 129 countries. His special appeal lay with the youth but he was not popular with the liberals inside and outside the Catholic Church because of his strict adherence to the Christian values.
I represented India at the Global Parliamentarians’ Meeting organized by the Italian Parliament in 2001 to celebrate 2,000 years of Christianity. I had the special opportunity of being one of the 12 Parliamentarians from around the world chosen for a special audience with His Holiness. He participated in the deliberations and gave guidance as we debated the future of the world and the religion. Despite the tiring schedule and indifferent health, his zeal and sense of humour were in evidence.
During his interaction with our delegation, when my turn came, I knelt before him. I had met him during his visits to India. He held my hand and asked: “How are things in India?” I answered: “We have problems. We need your prayers.” He said “I am always with you,” and blessed me. The Pope had a special interest in India. He ame here twice and on his first visit, in 1986, he travelled for 10 days, visiting different parts. The last paper he signed as Pope was to promote three Indian bishops. We will always remember him as the People’s Pope.
Mrs. Margaret Alva’s message to Mangalorean.Com readers:
There is no substitute for hard work. She states that “only support I gave my children was stand guarantee to their media company.” That’s why my children have turned out hardworking, honest people.
Mrs. Alva’s Brief Profile
Key Positions Held:
• 1972-73 – Convener, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Women’s Front
• 1974-80 – Member, Rajya Sabha; Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of External Affairs
• 1975-76 – Convener, Congress Parliamentary Party; Member, Committee on Information and Broadcasting
• 1975-76 – Member, Executive, Congress Parliamentary Party
• 1975-77 – Joint Secretary, All India Congress Committee
• 1978-80 – General Secretary, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), Karnataka
• 1980-86 – Member, Rajya Sabha (2nd term); Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of External Affairs
• 1983-85 – Member, Panel of Vice-Chairmen, Rajya Sabha
• 1983-88 – National Convener, Mahila Congress
• 1984-85 – Minister of State, Parliamentary Affairs; Member, Committee on Public Undertakings
• 1985-89 – Minister of State, Youth Affairs, Sports, Women and Child Development in the Ministry of Human Resource Development
• 1986-92 – Member, Rajya Sabha (3rd term)
• 1990-91 – Chairman, Committee on Papers Laid on the Table, Rajya Sabha
• 1991 – Minister of State, Personnel, Public Grievances and
• 1992-98 – Member, Rajya Sabha (4th term)
• 1993-95 – Deputy Chief Whip, Congress Party, Rajya Sabha
• 1993-96 – Minister of State, Personnel, Public Grievances/Pensions with additional charge of Parliamentary Affairs
• 1996-97 – Member, Committee on External Affairs
• 1996-98 – Member, Committee on Public Accounts; Member, Committee on Ministry of Information/Broadcasting
• 1999 – Elected to 13th Lok Sabha; Panel of Chairmen
• 1999-00 – Member, Committee on Transport and Tourism; Member, House Committee; Member, General Purposes Committee
• 2000-01 – Chairman, Committee on the Empowerment of Women
• 2000- – Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Tourism
Did you know?
• Doctorate of Literature by the University of Mysore, 1989
• UN Expert Group meeting on Women in Decision-making, Vienna, 1987
• National Committee on Child Labor, 1979
• Commonwealth Observer Group for Elections in Cameroon
Positions Held:
• Member, All India Congress Committee
• 1972-73 Convener, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Women’s Front
• 1974-80 Member, Rajya Sabha
• Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of External Affairs
• 1975-76 Convenor, Congress Parliamentary Party
• Member, Committee on Information and Broadcasting
• Member, Executive, Congress Parliamentary Party
• 1975-77 Joint Secretary, All India Congress Committee
• 1978-80 General Secretary, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), Karnataka
• 1980-86 Member, Rajya Sabha (2nd term)
• Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of External Affairs
• 1983-85 Member, Panel of Vice-Chairmen, Rajya Sabha
• 1983-88 National Convener, Mahila Congress
• 1984-85 Union Minister of State, Parliamentary Affairs
• Member, Committee on Public Undertakings
• 1985-89 Union Minister of State, Youth Affairs, Sports, Women and
• Child Development in the Ministry of Human Resource Development
• 1986-92 Member, Rajya Sabha (3rd term)
• 1990-91 Chairman, Committee on Papers Laid on the Table, Rajya Sabha
• Member, Executive, Congress Parliamentary Party
• 1991 Union Minister of State, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
• 1992-98 Member, Rajya Sabha (4th term)
• 1993-95 Deputy Chief Whip, Congress Party, Rajya Sabha
• 1993-96 Union Minister of State, Personnel, Public Grievances and
• Pensions with additional charge of Parliamentary Affairs
• 1996-97 Member, Committee on External Affairs
• 1996-98 Member, Committee on Public Accounts
• Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
• 1999 Elected to 13th Lok Sabha
• Member, Panel of Chairmen
• 1999-2000 Member, Committee on Transport and Tourism
• Member, House Committee
• Member, General Purposes Committee
• 2000-2001 Chairman, Committee on the Empowerment of Women
• 2000-2004 Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Tourism
• Literary Artistic & Scientific Accomplishments
• Course in oil painting, interior decoration and Ikebana
Awards, Honors and Achievements:
Best All Round Student, Mt. Carmel College, 1961; Conferred,
1. The Hon. Degree of Doctorate of Literature by the University of Mysore, 1989
2. Mahila Siromani Award, 1991
3. Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award, 1991; and
4. Dr. T.M.A. Pai Foundation Outstanding Konkani Award, 1991;
She is the President of Delhi Y.W.C.A., 1975-78; Delhi Foundation of Deaf Women, 1975-82; and World Women Parliamentarians for Peace, 1986-88 and Chairperson of: (i) Foreign Students’ Welfare Committee of Indian Council of Cultural Relations, 1982-84; (ii) SAARC Technical Committee on Women, 1985-86; and (iii) UN Expert Group meeting on Women in Decision making, Vienna, 1987
General Secretary – All India Catholic University Federation, 1961; Joint Secretary, Government Law College Students Union, 1963-64.
Member of:
1. Indian Committee for International Women’s Year, 1975
2. Indian Delegation to U.N. Conference for International Women’s Year at Mexico, 1975;(iii) Indian Delegation to the United Nations
3. General Assembly, 1976 and 1998
4. Central Youth Advisory Board, 1976-77
5. National Children’s Board, 1977-78
6. National Adult Education Board, 1978-79; (vii) National Committee on Child Labour, 1979
7. Governing Council of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, 1982-84
8. Bar Council of India Panel of Eminent Persons for Asia and the Pacific for HRD (ESCAP)
9. Governing Council of SID, Rome; and
10. Commonwealth Observer Group for Elections in Camaroon; daughter-in-law of late Joachim Alva and Violet Alva, freedom fighters and the first couple in the Indian Parliament; elected to IPU Co-ordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians, 2000.; Spokesperson, Congress Parliamentary Party
When I spoke to her, my first impression was – what a lovely person she is, very down to Earth, kind and no air about her whatsoever.
Mangalorean.com salutes Mrs. Margaret Alva and wishes her all the best in her future endeavors!
Submitted by: Dr K.B. Mallya
Comments:
ritesh, India:
namasthe madam,,,,you made us feel proud…(Mangalorians)
c.Joseph raaj, India:
Madam is so kind and very good, she wholeheartedly served the people with out seeing any caste, creed or religin.now at present stage she should come to take pay leadership to rebuild the party. In congress party there are very few people to work hard.if respected madam Sonia gandhi keeps her in mind to give good high post to her means, defently she will work hard
Vitthalrao B. khyade, India:
Shardabai Pawar Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Shardanagar, Malegaon(Baramati) Dist. Pune – 413115. “Dr. APIS” Social Spectrum
14 April : Birth Day of Hon. Margaret Alva
—————————————-Margaret Alva (born 14 April 1942), née Margaret Nazareth, is the governor of the Indian state of Rajasthan and has previously been governor of Uttarakhand. She took over in Rajasthan from the Punjab governor, Shivraj Patil, who had been holding an additional charge of that state. She is a senior figure in the Indian National Congress and was Joint Secretary of the All India Congress Committee.
Margaret Alva was born Margaret Nazareth on 14 April 1942[1] in a Christian family at Mangalore, Karnataka. She obtained a BA degree from Mount Carmel College Bangalore and a law degree from Government Law College in the same city.[2] She was a keen and appreciated debater during her time at college and had some involvement in students\’ movements.[3]
Alva combined her work as an advocate with involvement in welfare organisations, eventually becoming president of the Young Women\’s Christian Association. One of her early involvements was with the Karuna non-governmental organisation, which she founded and which was focused on issues relating to women and children.[2][4]
She married Niranjan Alva on 24 May 1964, with whom she has one daughter and three sons, including Niret Alva.[5] The couple had met as students at Government Law College[3] and her husband now operates a successful export business, which has given her financial security that has been beneficial to her later career.[2]
Politics
Beginnings
Alva\’s decision to enter politics in 1969 was strongly influenced by her husband and father-in-law, Joachim Alva, the latter and his wife, Violet Alva, being Members of Parliament representing the Indian National Congress. She has acknowledged this encouragement, saying that \”I never had to face any family constraints on my political activites\” and she has also said that the death of Violet in 1969 provided the impetus. She aligned herself with the Congress (Indira) faction led by Indira Gandhi and worked for its state unit in Karnataka.[2][3] She served as Joint Secretary of the All India Congress Committee between 1975-77 and as General Secretary of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee between 1978-80,[1]
Rajya Sabha
In April 1974, Alva had been elected to the Raiya Sabha as a representative of Congress. She served a six-year term and was then re-elected for a further three six-year terms, in 1980, 1986 and 1992. During her time in the Rajya Sabha, she was its vice-chairman (1983-85) and also served terms as Union Minister of State in the ministries for Parliamentary Affairs (1984-85) and for Youth and Sports and Women and Child Development, an arm of the Ministry of Human Resource Development. She also served on various House committees, which garnered her a considerable degree of procedural expertise,[2] and was briefly Minister for Science and Technology.[4]
In her HRD role, between 1985-89,[6] Alva oversaw the Rajiv Gandhi-led government\’s 28-point plan intended to improve the rights and involvement of women and children. In addition, she made proposals for various development corporations for women, only some of which materialised, and also campaigned for a greater prominence of women in government and in her party\’s official posts. Her 1989 proposal that 33 per cent of seats in panchayat raj (local government) elections should be reserved for women became law in 1993 and, according to Laura Jenkins, \”marked a further shift from the former abhorrence of reservations as a nationally divisive policy\”. She continued her efforts to improve the lot of women during her period as Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions and Parliamentary Affairs (1991 and 1993-96[6]), where she tried to increase the number of female officeholders in various ministries and government organisations, such as the Union Public Service Commission and the judiciary.[2][7]
Alva has also been involved with women\’s issues and related matters such as population growth on the international stage, notably through various United Nations bodies and in writings.[2][8]
Lok Sabha
Alva was elected to the 13th Lok Sabha as a Member of Parliament in 1999, serving a five-year term.[6] She lost a subsequent re-election attempt in the Uttara Kannada constituency.[9] Between 2004 and 2009, she served as General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee and was an advisor to the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies & Training, a government body that works with newly-elected parliamentary representatives at both national and state level.[4]
Governorships
In November 2008, Alva said that Congress seats for the elections in Karnataka were open to bidders rather than subject to meritocratic appointment. Congress denied her claims and a meeting with the party president, Sonia Gandhi resulted in Alva resigning or being removed from her numerous official responsibilities in the party.[10] Subsequently, Alva patched up her differences with Congress leadership. She has declined to go into details of the 2008 controversy even as her resignation letter continues to be a subject of media speculation.[11]
On 6 August 2009, Alva became the first female Governor of Uttarakhand. Although she said then that she was enthusiastic about the challenges facing the nascent state, she found herself sidelined outside national politics and frustrated by the Bharatiya Janata Party state government. She remained in the post until May 2012, at which time she was appointed Governor of Rajasthan, which was a more important region in political terms. Of her time in Uttarakhand, Alva said that \”The quietude allowed me to recharge my batteries and even spare some time for working on my biography\”. The autobiography is not expected to appear until after her retirement.[12][13][14]
The move to Rajasthan relieved Shivraj Patil, the Governor of Punjab, of his temporary adjunct responsibility for that state which had arisen due to the death of the incumbent governor, Prabha Rau, in April 2010.[15]
References:
1. \”Rajya Sabha Members Biographical Sketches 1952 – 2003\”. Rajya Sabha website.
2. Commonwealth Secretariat (1999). Women in Politics: Voices from the Commonwealth. Commonwealth Secretariat. pp. 75–77. ISBN 9780850925692.
3. Vittal, Gita (2007). Reflections: Experiences of a Bureaucrat\’s Wife. Academic Foundation. pp. 68–69. ISBN 9788171884711.
4. \”Hon\’ble Governor of Rajasthan: Smt. Margaret Alva\”. Government of Rajasthan. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
5. \”Miditech moves on\”. Business Standard. 29 September 2004.
6. \”Governor of Rajasthan\”. Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
7. Jenkins, Laura Dudley (1999). \”Competing Inequalities: The Struggle Over Reserved Legislative Seats for Women in India\”. In Boris, Eileen; Janssens, Angelique. Complicating Categories: Gender, Class, Race and Ethnicity. Cambridge University Press. p. 66. ISBN 9780521786416.
8. Alva, Margaret (2012). \”India\”. In Graham, Kennedy. The Planetary Interest. Routledge. pp. 12, 208. ISBN 9781135358204.
9. \”Margaret Alva to be Uttarakhand governor\”. The Times of India. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
10. \”Cong cuts Alva down to size\”. The Statesman. 13 November 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
11. \”My book will reveal why I quit the AICC: Rajasthan Governor Margaret Alva\”. India Today. Living Media India Limited. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
12. \”Alva sworn in Uttarakhand Governor\”. The Hindu. 7 August 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
13. \”Wanchoo for Goa, Alva for Rajasthan\”. The Telegraph. 29 April 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
14. Sharma, Neena (10 May 2012). \”Eventful stint that lent charm to Governor\’s post\”. The Tribune. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
15. \”Margaret Alva sworn in as Rajasthan Governor\”. Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 12 May 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
File: Dr.APIS.29.March@Nagnath.Kottapalle
Compiled For :
Science Association, Shardabai Pawar Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Shardanagar; Tal. Baramati;
Dist. Pune – 413115 (India).
With the Best Compliments From: Shardanagar (The Agro – academic Heritage of Grandsire Padmashri Dr. D. G. Alias Appasaheb Pawar
—————————————————————————————– All the mistakes in collection of information from website; it’s compilation and communication belongs exclusively to : Vitthalrao B. Khyade ( And not his pace making Shardanagar ).
lalit kumar, India:
dear madam i am catholic christian resident of L-45 ANSALS SUSHANT CITY KALWAR ROAD JAIPUR.i want to have your kind advice regarding my daughter’s married life as she is being harrased too much.kindly help by suggesting your valuable advice.what steps are to be taken. thanks and regards.tk cr godbless.
Roland Barreto, India:
Dear Madam,
your speech today on the year of faith was very heart touching. I wished you would have said all that you had prepared for the event. When you speak we hear a lot of things that we never heard before. I congratulate you from my heart for all the sincere efforts done by you for humanity and thank God for giving you and your family an opportunity to visit the holy land. Whenever I go for mass I always thank God for giving me that privilege to be present for mass to hear the word of God. I prayed today in a very special manner for a miracle of your husband’s good health and to fulfill all your incomplete dreams. May God bless you and your family. My mail address is barettoroland15 @ yahoo.co.in
richard d’souza, India:
wher are we Mangalorians today
as other comunities are fighting with each other
Ajay Patrick Lobo, India:
I want to connect her. Please can I get her telephone number and email ID
sudhakar, India:
welcome to first mangalorian to be the governor of Rajasthan state having rich indian heritage, human and natural resources . this land mass is highly supporting growth of neem trees rich of ayurvedic values , even in desert and rocky area also.one day this state can become neem garden of india producing neem based ayurvedic produces protecting the health of human being as well as this planet. i hope and pray that madam margaret alva would become president of india one day .
Ram Chandra Singh, India:
Welcome to Jaipur (Rajasthan)
With Regards.
Anurag Chauhan, India:
Ma’am I will be highly obliged if you send me your email I’d as we would like to invite for a event at himjyoti school uttrakhand. For your conscent we will be greatful if you let us know your email address.9997958250 , anuragchauhan@makingadifferenc.org
Makingadifferenceindoon@gmail.com
Mad@makingadifferenc.org
fiona bose, India:
she is an xcellent person. People like her need to travel around and give some encouragement to the public and the women so that they can learn much more from her. there are many people who need guidance, so she will be the right person. Madam please do come to Vijayawada as we are looking forward.
kartik, India:
Wonderful.
T.GEORGE STEPHEN RAJ, India:
PROUD OF BEING A TRUE CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN AS GOVERNOR.
YOUR SERVICES TO PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE ARE ALWAYS REMEMBERED.
Dr Biradar S. S., Associate Professor of English, Govt First Grade college,
Bijapur,Karnataka State. PIN 586101, India:
I have been very much influenced by the political principles and ideologies of Dr Margaret Alva madam since my student life. Her style of functioning and way of speaking are extremely bewitching and heart-touching. she has become role model to remaining women politicians and budding activists. She has been fighting for the rights of the underprevilidged and down-trodden. She never says NO to all those who seek her help and co-operation. Her doors are always kept open for all the needy and the poor.
PRAKASH FRANCIS RODRIGUES, India:
DEAR MADEM I NEED YOUR UTTARKHAND RESIDENCIAL ADDRESS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
PH:09740965706
E MAIL:prakash_katpadi@yahoo.co.in
Ms Sharad Joshi, India:
We appreciate your (Margarat Alva) efforts in improving the social status of our countrymen and hold a good regard for all your efforts. You’ve been a motivational figure to us, whose actions give us the light to progress further. We wish that all your painstaking efforts bear fruitfull results and bring about sea change to the lives of the people.
Once again we pray with all purity that may god keep us always under your blessings.
