Ravi Shankar Prasad

Ravi Shankar Prasad Biography

•Full name-  Ravi Shankar Prasad
•Born- 30th August, 1954 in Patna, Bihar
•Political Party- Bharitya Janata Party (BJP)
•Spouse- Dr. Maya Shankar
•Residence- (permanent)- 42, East Boring Road, Nageshwar Colony, Ward No.4, P.S.Budha Colony,Patna 800001
•Residence- (present)- 21, Mother Teresa Crescent, New Delhi 110011
•Presently in office-  MP in the Rajya Sabha from Bihar
•Post held (incumbent)- General  Secretary of the BJP.
•Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha

Ravi Shankar is seasoned politician with a keen insight in politics and a distinguished attorney at law. With loads of experience and hardwork the minister as stands out prominently as a member of the Bharitya Janta Party. He might be the most talked but certainly with his political prowess and tact he has and continues to be one of the most reliable ever at the aid of the party.

Ravi Shankar Prasad Early Life- Ravi Shankar Prasad was born into a prominent family in Patna. His father was   Thakur Singh was a senior advocate at the Patna High Court. His father was also the founders of the Jan Sangh and Party which is now a part of the Bharitya Janata Party (BJP).  Ravi Shankar earned his BA (Hons), MA and LLB from the Patna University. In student years itself he was an active part of student movements.

He worked under Jayaprakash Narayan as student activist and was imprisoned during the emergency.  He was associated with the Akhil Bharitya Vidya Parishad (ABVP).During his college days he was chairman of the Patna Students Union and Senate committee and   member of the Senate, Finance Committee, Arts and Law Faculties of the University.

Ravi Shankar Prasad Lawyer- He started practicing in the Patna high Court in 1980.  He was designated senior Advocate of the Patna High Court in 1998 and senior advocate of the Supreme Court in 2000. Prasad was the main lawyer arguing the PIL filed against Laloo Prasad Yadav in the Fooder Scam.  He also represented the former deputy PM Lal Krishna Advani in Bihar Banking Service Recruitment Board before the Patna High Court.

The other high profiles cases that he has attended include the Landmark Narmada Bachao Andolan Case, T. N. Thirumpalad v. Union of India, Rameshwar Prasad v. Union of India (the Bihar Assembly Dissolution Case), and Yash Pal's case on medical education in India. He also appeared as the main litigant Lawyer for the Ayodhya title suit that was filled in the Allahabad High Court.

Ravi Shankar Prasad Political career- Prasad was a part of national assignments in the youth level before actually before his plunge into mainline politics. His first stinct as Member of Parliament was in 2000. In 2001 he was offered the Minister of State (Coal and Mines). He attributed with steaming in reforms in the ministry. In the year 2002 he was entrusted with additional charge the ministry of Law. He is attributed for preparing the bill amending  the People Representation Act and also  and also instrumental in speding up the procedures for fast tarck courts.  As minister for Information and Broadcasting the same year he was responsible for establishing Goa as the permanent location for the Goa film festival. 

As part of his official assignments in 2002 he led a group of Ministers for the Non- Aligned Movement Ministerial Meet in Durban, South Africa. Later that year he met Yasir Arafat and to express his solidarity to the movement. He also led the Commonwealth Delegation of Ministers in St. Vincent and Grenadines and led a delegation to the various film festivals in Cannes, Venice and London. With his party Ravi Shankar Prasad first became a member of the Executive in 1995.

He was oversaw the efforts of the party in Uttarkhand Assembly elections. He was appointed as the Chief National Spokesperson of the BJP in 2007. In 2010, Prasad was appointed as the General Secretary of the BJP. In 2012, Prasad was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar for a consecutive 3rd term and will now lead the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Rajya Sabha as Deputy Leader of Opposition.

Ravi Shankar personal Life- He is married to Maya Shankar and the couple have two children.  Not much is known about his family life. Not many know that he has played and tennis at various university level tournaments.  He is also a member of the Bankipur Club, Patna Golf Club and Delhi Golf Club. His other interests include classical music, travelling. He is also one person who enjoys reading he particularly loves reading historical, biographical and legal literature.

Ravi Shankar Prasad Quotes-
•Judicial Perspective- “There has to be a proper balance between the obligation to maintain the authority and dignity of courts and the need for openness and the right to question.”

Ravi Shankar Prasad Controversies- He has tried to remain aloof as far controversy is concerned.  

Ravi Shankar Prasad Books- Ravi Shankar  has written many articles on contemporary legal and constitutional issues, which have been published in leading newspapers like The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Statesman, The Pioneer, Hindustan and Dainik Jagran, etc. He has not written any books so far however he has penned introductions and prefaces for many books.