Prakash Keshav Javadekar

Prakash Keshav Javadekar is an Indian politician. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and currently serving as the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, and Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.

Personal Life:

Prakash Javadekar was born to Shri. Keshav Krishna Javadekar and Smt. Rajani Javadekar on 01-30-1951, in Pune. His father was a journalist with the ‘Kesari’, a Marathi newspaper founded by the revolutionary leader Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. His mother was a primary school teacher. He completed his early schooling from a Zilla Parishad School and high school from the Government Aided High School in the Tehsil Town of Mahad, District Raigad in Maharashtra.

Since his school days, he was influenced by the work of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh and its services for the nation and thus, became a member of the RSS. His wife Dr. Prachee Javadekar is an education researcher and consultant and is a former Director of Indira Institute of Management, Pune. He has two sons Dr. Ashutosh Javadekar who is a dentist and an artist, and Apoorva Javadekar, who is Assistant Professor of Finance at Indian School of Business

During the early years of his career, he worked with a Public Sector Bank in Maharashtra State for about a decade from 1970 to 1981 and also for the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad during the same period. Thereafter, he left the job and started to work full time for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since its formation on the 6th of April, 1980. He has held a number of key positions in various Organizations, Committees, and the Government. He is most renowned for his contribution as a charismatic Spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Student Politics and a BJP Karyakarta:

Prakash Javadekar joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in 1969 which proved to be a stepping stone for his political journey. In 1972, under the leadership of Late Shri Gopinath Mundeji, Prakash Javadekar was the Secretary of a Committee of Students which felicitated Shri Jaiprakash Narayanji. During his college days in M.E.S. College of Commerce, Pune, he became closely acquainted with renowned Professor of History Late Shri Shreepati Shastri and RSS Pracharak Late Shri Damu Anna Date, who played a vital role in shaping his political ideology. Prof. Yashwantrao Kelkar and Prof. Bal Apte of the ABVP were also great influencers in those days.

Being a proactive student leader during these days, he led various Students’ Agitations successfully. Due to his popularity amongst students owing to his selfless and dedicated work, he was elected as Senate Member of Pune University in 1975.

The darkest period in Independent India’s history came in 1975 when the Emergency was imposed by the then Indira Gandhi Government. There was a national call to fight and restore democracy and freedom of expression. By this time, Prakash Javadekar had graduated and was working with the Bank of Maharashtra, but he had remained active within the ABVP.

Under his leadership, ABVP organized a Satyagraha in 11 colleges in Pune at 11 a.m., on 11th December 1975 to protest against the Emergency rule. As a student leader and member of the Senate, he offered Satyagraha on the premises of Pune University. Soon he was arrested and put in the Yerawada Jail, first under preventive detention, in which he was sentenced for 3 months and later under MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) for over 13 months.

However, the authoritarian regime could not stop Prakash Javadekar’s fight for democracy. Even in jail, he along with fellow activists started a weekly titled ‘Nirbhay’ which became very popular among the 400-odd political prisoners there. Influenced deeply by the then RSS Chief Shri Balasaheb Devras, who was also detained in Yerawada Jail, he organized various programs along with his colleagues inside the jail against the Emergency.

That proved to be a major turning point in the life of Prakash Javadekar. Thereafter, he has always remained active in public life. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980 on its formation.

To focus and concentrate on the party work, Prakash Javadekar resigned from Bank of Maharashtra in 1981 and started working as a full-time worker of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was assigned the responsibility of General Secretary of Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morch (BJYM). He worked relentlessly in the State of Maharashtra and in the subsequent year was made the Member of National Executive of BJYM and National Convener of Unemployment Cell of BJYM. He wrote extensively on the issues relating to unemployment and organized various protests in the State and at the National level on the issue of unemployment.

Prakash Javadekar, along with other leaders, spearheaded the ‘Sangharsha Rath’ a yatra throughout Maharashtra and mobilized thousands of youth in Mumbai on March 10, 1989. This was a first of its kind ‘Rath’ deployed by the BJYM or the BJP. He was meanwhile elevated as All India Secretary and General Secretary of BJYM under the leadership of Kalraj Mishraji, Satyadev Singhji, Pramod Mahajanji, and Rajnath Singhji. He was an invitee of the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) in 1985. Thereafter, he shouldered a number of responsibilities in the party, as a lawmaker, and in the Government.

National Spokesperson:

Prakash Javadekar has played a crucial role as a party Spokesperson. Right from contributing to the Media strategy to the drafting of Election Manifestos, his role has always been appreciated. During the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government, Shri Javadekar was appointed as BJP’s National Spokesperson in 2003. This was the beginning of his political leadership at the National front.

As the National Spokesperson, his insistence on a deep study of issues brought forth the scams of the previous UPA government including the NSEL scam, 2G Scam, Coal Scam, and Maharashtra Government’s irrigation scam. One such definitive moment was when his complaint compelled the Central Vigilance Commission to seek a probe in the Coal Scam.
These expose played important role in the downfall of the UPA government and the landslide victory of the NDA in the subsequent 2014 Lok Sabha Elections

A career as a Legislator:

Prakash Javadekar was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council from Pune Region Graduate Constituency in June 1990. He got re-elected in 1996 and continued till 2002. During this period, he was actively raising his voice on issues of criminalization of politics and corruption within and outside the House. He was also given the responsibility of a Spokesperson of BJP, Maharashtra. Acting as Chief of Publicity Wing of State BJP, he produced six very popular docu-dramas and films for various elections.

During the Shivsena-Bjp led government, Shri Javadekar was made Executive Chairman of the State Planning Board, Maharashtra between 1995 and 1999 and tasked with chalking out the IXth Five-Year Plan of the State. In 2000, He was also appointed as the Chairman of the State IT Task Force where he submitted various reports and initiated dynamic computerization and citizen-friendly IT applications in the State. After his appointment as the Chairman of the Working Group on “IT for Masses” by the Government of India, he successfully negotiated the MIT Media Lab Asia project.

Shri Javadekar is presently in his third term as a Rajya Sabha member. First, he was elected to the Upper House from Maharashtra in May 2008. His second term as a Rajya Sabha member was from Madhya Pradesh from June 2014 to March 2018. Since April 2018, Prakash Javadekar has been a member of Rajya Sabha representing Maharashtra. As a proactive parliamentarian, he has served with distinction in Parliamentary Standing Committees of Defence, HRD, and Consultative Committee of Power. He was also a member of the Committee on Subordinate Legislation. During his first tenure as Member of Rajya Sabha, he vociferously raised his voice on a number of issues like farmers’ welfare, labor and pension laws, the formation of Telangana, pressing economic issues before the country, and most importantly he shed light on a number of scams.

Union Minister:

Prakash Javadekar is currently Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change (EFCC), Information & Broadcasting (I&B), and Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises (HI&PE) in the PM Narendra Modiji-led NDA Government’s second term. During the 2014-19 NDA government, Prakash Javadekar was inducted into the Council of Ministers as Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Information & Broadcasting. and also the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs. He was elevated as a Cabinet Minister on July 5, 2016, and assigned the Human Resource Development portfolio.

Literature and Interests:

A voracious reader and an articulate writer, Prakash Javadekar has written a number of booklets on several issues that affect the Common Man. In his public life, he has fought against unemployment, poverty, inequality, and justice and the same sentiments are visible in his writings.

His first book, ‘Bekaricha Jwalamukhi’ (1986) highlighted the grave issue of unemployment. He critiqued IMF loans in the book ‘Nanenidhiche Karz’ (1987). Farmers’ issues have taken center stage in his political journey. He has addressed the critical issue of farm loan waivers in ‘Shetkaryanchi Karzmukti’ (1988). Higher inflation is a major problem that severely affects the poor, on which his book ‘Mahagaicha Bhasmasoor’ (1999) is based.

Prakash Javadekar has also written over 300 articles in various newspapers on diverse contemporary issues.

Family:

Prakash Javadekar met Prachee (Medha Dravid), an eco-activist in the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in 1974. As a student activist, she had opposed the Emergency of 1975 vehemently, for which she was jailed. They married in December 1977 and have two sons, Ashutosh and Apoorva. Dr. Prachee Javadekar is a renowned Educationist and Researcher.

Dr. Ashutosh Javadekar is a popular and critically acclaimed writer and singer-music composer. While he stood first in the University of Pune while pursuing an MA in English, his graduation is in dentistry and he is a practicing dentist as well. His wife, Dr. Manasi Javadekar, Ph.D. is working as a professor in a management institute. Aarohi Javadekar, their daughter, is nine years old and has been in the news recently for her handwritten news bulletin during the lockdown.

Dr. Apoorva obtained his Ph.D. in Economics from Boston University and is currently working as Asst. Prof of Finance at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. Revati, his spouse is a Law student and a national badminton player and has represented India in multiple events.
Besides having excellent academic credentials, the family has a keen interest in the literature and arts.

Sewa aur Sangathan

The Paldev Experiment: 

• Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modiji launched the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana with a vision to realize the ideals of Mahatma Gandhiji of converting the ‘Swaraj’ to ‘Surajya’ on 14-10-2014, the birth anniversary of Lok Nayak Shri Jayprakash Narayan. Under this scheme, every Parliamentarian was to adopt a village and transform it to improve education, health, employment, and the environment.
• Prakash Javadekar adopted a village Paldev, from Satana district in Madhya Pradesh and worked on the project with utmost devotion as a result of which the village has seen the transformation in all the parameters. For instance, education improved with increased students’ presence, more efforts by teachers, more awareness amongst parents, and a concerted follow-up.
• The results of the 10th Standard increased from 20% in 2014-15 to more than 80% in 2017-18 and of 12th Standard from 28% to more than 82% during the same time.
• Every family now has insurance for accidental death, a toilet, and a bank account.
• The quality of drinking water improved through a number of interventions.
• Special drive for personal hygiene of women was carried out successfully and 112 cataract operations were conducted successfully.
• Completed vaccination under “Mission Indra Dhanush”.
• Every girl born after October 2014 was given an account under Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana.
• With public participation, a completely barren hill was converted into a green hill.
• A special open theatre, more rooms for the school, and many other works were undertaken through the MPLAD scheme.
• Hundreds of students were given skill training which ensured good jobs to them.
• New Self Help Groups (SHGs) were established and are running successfully.

The Kolvan Success Story:

• Having been brought up in a small village, Prakash Javadekar was drawn towards the activities of Rural Development from the beginning. Hence, when he was an employee of the bank of Maharashtra, he had undertaken various tribal development projects in the villages of Manor and around in the Palghar and Thane districts of Maharashtra but initially these projects failed for a variety of reasons.
• In spite of that, Prakash Javadekar stayed with the tribals for two years from 1977-1979 to gain their confidence and revived the projects successfully. Based on these experiences of tribal area development in Manor and around, he also published a research paper titled “Integrated Rural Development and Bank’s Role in Co-Ordinated Approach”.
• Thereafter, he successfully spearheaded the Government of India’s Watershed Development Projects in 11 villages of Kolvan Valley in Mulshi Tehsil of Pune district under the Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP).
• It so happened that, while traveling to Mulshi from Pune, Prakash Javadekar chanced upon a visit to the Kolvan Valley. But to his dismay, he discovered that the areas which receive around 100mm of rainfall during the monsoon used to become dry by January. Hence, he organized the workers and the farmers of the area to start a project under the DPAP Scheme. He organized a “Pani Yatra” for four days visiting each and every village in the area. This became the basis of planning for watershed development in the valley.
• This was followed by the approval of a scheme which was launched in collaboration with NGOs Gomukh and Gangotri. Gram Shakti, an NGO chaired by Prakash Javadekar emerged as a pioneer in coordinating the entire activity along with Gomukh. All these NGOs having their dedicated Members from the Dnyan Prabodhini joined hands to get the work done. The NGO’s Gomukh, Gram Shakti, and Gangotri came together to develop the first-ever successful Watershed Development Project in the region. Also, Gram Shakti Conducted Skill Development and Training Programmes for villagers to encourage public participation for rural development.
• The program consisted of Contour Trenching on an area of around 150 acres, construction of about 700 loose bolt structures, construction of 80 farm ponds, and 15 cement bunds in addition to forestation of over 100 acres of land.
• Prakash Javadekar involved the Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation in the Kolvan Valley Project. The height of an existing dam at Walen was raised by 7 meters. Another dam at Hadshi was newly constructed. Both the constructions were completed with an expenditure of around Rs.4 crores. More than Rs.1.70 crores were spent under the DPAP. Prakash Javadekar utilized an amount of more than Rs.30 lakhs in various development projects and various needs of local people. In these 4 years, more than 10 villages including Kolvan, Walen, Hadshi, Bhalgudi, Chale, Sawargaon, Chikhlgaon, Dakhne, Hotel, and Karmoli were covered under this program.
• The then Union Rural Development Minister, Shri Venkiah Naiduji dedicated the project to the nation in a grand function held on the 1st of April 2001.
• Shri Sudhakarraoji Naik, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the then President of the Jal Sandharan Parishad were all praises for the successes of the Kolvan Project.
• He went to the extent of saying that this would serve as a model for all the NGOs on how such projects should be carried out effectively.
• This project has not only benefited the local farmers ensuring water security over thousands of acres of land but also acts as a Model Project for Watershed Development.
• As the President of Gramshakti, Mr. Javadekar also instituted a “Gram Shakti Award” of Rs.25000, for an individual who made a significant contribution towards rural development. Shri Gopinath Mundeji received the first award for his internationally acclaimed success in the sugar sector and sugarcane development in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra

Development Work in the Khutiya village of Madhya Pradesh:

• Prakash Javadekar also adopted the village of Khutiya in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh. Due to his efforts following developments were carried out in the village :
• More than 7 new Self Help Groups (SHGs) were established and are running successfully.
• More than 33 girl children were given an account under Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana.
• More than 170 cooking gas connections were distributed under the Ujjwala Yojana.
• The Nasha Mukti Abhiyan was successfully implemented in the village.
• Ensured crop insurance benefits to more than 201 farmers in the year 2017-18
• More than 30 houses have been constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Improved irrigation facility with the construction of check dams and village ponds.

Campaigning for the party:

• As the State Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party, Maharashtra, Prakash Javadekar strengthened the party base across the state.
• As a Campaign Chief and Publicity head of the Party for Maharashtra Legislative Elections in 1990, he came up with a novel idea of audio-video campaigning. Accordingly, he produced 6 video films and 10 audio/music cassettes for the party propaganda during the elections.
• He led ‘Sangharsh Rath’ of about 1.5 lakh Unemployed Youths in the state in 1989 which resulted in attracting the youth towards the party work.
• He is always actively involved in the planning and execution of Party campaigns during various elections.

A full-time Party Karyakarta:

• Prakash Javadekar was one of the first five Karyakartas from Maharashtra to join the BJP on its inception on the 6th of April, 1980. During this time, he used to travel extensively across the country for more than 200 days a year.
• He engaged with youth and the public to understand their problems and made conscious efforts to solve them. As the National Secretary and General Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, he organized and led several protests on the issues of unemployment, inflation, farmers’ issues, etc.
• He has penned hundreds of articles on wide-ranging contemporary social, political, economic, and environmental issues.
• He led a number of delegations to government and other forums to propose and resolve the problems of youth in those days.
• And his journey as a Karyakarta still continues……

Connecting People with the Party’s Philosophy:

• Prakash Javadekar has been following a very unique way of connecting people with the party’s ethos through various initiatives and programs.
  He celebrates Diwali every year with the Swacchata Sevaks at his residence.
• He organizes a ‘Diwali Faral’ program for the party Karyakartas every year.
• He always takes the initiatives for providing necessary Medical and Financial aid to the Divyangs and also to those in need of medical support.
• He is also well known for counseling and career guidance to students and parents.
• He has also been providing necessary aid to schools, study centers, and students.