Shri Bhagwat Jha Azad

AZAD, SHRI BHAGWAT JHA, B.A., (Hons.), M.A., B.L., [Congress (I)—Bihar, Bhagalpur, 1984]  s. of  late Pandit Jarab Lal Jha; b. at  Kasba Village, Mehrama  P.S., Godda District,  November 28, 1922; ed. at T.N.J.  Collegiate School and T.N.J.  College,  Bhagalpur and Patna University; m. Smt. Indira Jha  Azad, May 1947; 3 s.; Agriculturist and Social  Worker; Union  Minister of  State for (i) Education – March, 1967 – February, 1969, (ii) Labour, Employment & Rehabilitation – February  1969 – March 1971, (iii) Supply  and Rehabilitation  (Independent charge) – October 19, 1980  January  13, 1982, (iv) Labour  (Independent charge) – 14, 1982 – September 1, 1982, (v) Civil Aviation and Civil Supplies (Independent charge) – September 2, 1982  February 14, 1983, (vi) Food and  Civil  Supplies (Independent charge) — February 15, 1983—December 31, 1984; active member of the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee, 1950-1951; Secretary, Students Department and Economics Department, 1950; President, Bihar Provincial Students Congress, 1950; Member, All India Congress Committee since 1952, Special Invitee, Working Committee, All India Congress Committee; was Secretary to the Congress President, Smt. Indira Gandhi in 1959; Member, (i) First Lok Sabha, 1952-57, (ii) Third Lok Sabha, 1962-67, (iii) Fourth Lok Sabha, 1967-70, (iv) Fifth Lok Sabha, 1971-77. (v) Seventh Lok Sabha, 1980-84; Chairman, Committee on Estimates, 1976-77; Attended the 178th and 181st Sessions of the Governing Body of ILO held at Geneva from February 23 to March 6, 1970 and from November 16 to November 20, 1970 respectively; Leader, Indian Delegation to the (i) 54th Session of the International Labour Conference held at Geneva from June 3 to June 25, 1970, (ii) 60th Anniversary Celebrations of the Mongolian Revolution at Ulan Bator from July 9 to July 14, 1981, (iii) International Labour Conference held at Geneva from May 30 to June 12, 1982; Member, Indian Parliamentary Delegation to Turkey, Yugoslavia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Switzerland and several Commonwealth Parliamentary Conferences; Member, Indian Delegation to the United Nations.

Social activities:  Participation in Student, Youth and Kisan Movements and Education.

Favourite pastime and recreation:  Gardening, Poetry, Music, Dance and Drama.

Sports:  Volleyball, Cricket and Badminton.

Travels abroad:  U.S.A., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, Lebanon, U.S.S.R., Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia.

Permanent address:  (1) Kasba Village, Kasba Dudhi Chak P.O., Godda District, Bihar.  (2) Bhikanpur (Bhagalpur), Bihar.