Vayalar Ravi

Vayalar Ravi Biography

Vayalar Ravi is a noted politician of Indian national congress from Kerala. He was the Founder President of the Kerala Students Union (KSU). Currently he serves as the Union Cabinet Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs. He is a member of the Rajya Sabha. Ravi was born in Vayalar of Alappuzha District, Kerala in an Ezhava family on June 4, 1937. His wife Mercy Ravi was a member of Kerala Legislative Assembly and a renowned social worker and writer. She was his main inspiration in his political career and shared a deep bond with him as well.

Vayalar Ravi has served a long term under Manmohan Singh’s Government. He has worked in office in Minister of Science and Technology, Minister of Earth Sciences and Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises from 14 August 2012 to 28 October 2012. Earlier he has served in the office of Minister of Civil Aviation during the period, January 19, 2011 – December 18, 2011. Now he serves as the Union Cabinet Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs in Manmohan Singh’s cabinet and one of the most influential congress leaders.

Ravi was the Founder President of the Kerala Students Union (KSU), the students' wing of Indian National Congress in Kerala. In 1971, he was elected to the 5th Lok Sabha from Chirayinkil constituency of Thiruvananthapuram district. In the next Lok Sabha elections conducted in 1977, he was elected again and he served for two years. He was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1982 and became Home Minister. He served the post till 1986 before resigning from the position due to a disagreement with Chief Minister K. Karunakaran. He has been elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1994 and 2003. After 2009, Ravi was re-inducted to the Cabinet for the second UPA government and retained the portfolio of Overseas Indian Affairs giving addition responsibility of Ministry of Civil Aviation though he resigned the position later.

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Updated: March 20, 2014