LASKAR, SHRI NIHAR RANJAN, M.A., LL.B.  [Congress (1)—Assam, Karimganj, (Res. Sch. Castes), 1980]  s. of Shri Nibaran Chandra Laskar; b. at Nizfulbari Village, Cachar District, May 1, 1932; ed. at Government H.E. School, Silchar, St. Anthonys’ College Shillong, Cotton College, Gauhati and Aligarh Muslim University; m. Smt. Panna Laskar; October 27, 1957; 1 s. and 2 d.; Advocate; actively associated with the Youth movement in Assam State, between 1947-54; presently Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare; Member, (i) Silchar Municipal Board, 1945-60, (ii) Central Advisory Board for Harijan Welfare, 1963-65, (iii) Food and Agricultural Organization Committee, 1964, (iv) Central Advisory Board for Post and Telegraph, 1965-67, (v) National Users’ Consultative Committee for Railways,  1970-71; Associate Member,  Delimitation Commission of India for the State of Assam, 1962 and 1973; Member, (i) Third Lok Sabha, 1962-67, (ii) Fourth Lok Sabha, 1967-70, (iii) Fifth Lok Sabha, 1971-77 and (iv) Sixth Lok Sabha, 1977-79; Member, Executive Committee, Congress Party in Parliament 1967-1969; Secretary.  Congress Party in Parliament, 1969-70 and 1970-71; Member, (i) Public Accounts Committee, 1962-63 and 1963-64, (ii) Estimates Committee, 1977-78 and 1978-79: was also member of various other select and Joint Committees of Parliament between 1962-79: Chairman, Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 1976-77; Member, (i) Indian Delegation to the United Nations, 1971 and (ii) Indian Parliamentary Delegations to West Asian countries and U.K., 1969 and 1972 respectively.  

Social activities:  Associated with, various public institutions in Assam.  

Favourite pastime and recreation:  Witnessing games like football and cricket, visiting countryside and mixing with people.  

Special interests:  Mixing with children.  

Sports and clubs:  Tennis and Cricket, Member, (i) Silchar Tennis Club, (ii) Silchar Sporting Club and (iii) Aligarh University Sports Club.  

Travels abroad:  U.S.A., U.K., France, West Germany, Italy, Iran, Turkey, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Sweden, Mexico, U.S.S.R.. Iraq and Holland.  

Permanent address:  Silchar, P.O., Cachar District, Assam.