Anand Sharma is an Indian politician. He is a former federal cabinet minister for commerce, industry and textiles. From June 2014 to 2022, he served as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House of the Indian Parliament as a member of the Indian National Congress. In August 2022, he came into limelight when he resigned as Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Steering Committee of the Indian National Congress after serving the party for fifty-one years.
Wiki/Biography
Anand Sharma was born on Monday, January 5, 1953 (age 71; as of 2024) in Shimla, Punjab, India (now Himachal Pradesh, India). His zodiac sign is Capricorn. He received his BA from RPCSDB College, Shimla in 1973. He received his LLB degree from Himachal Pradesh University Law School, Shimla, in 1977. While in college, he was active in India’s youth movement and served as the leader of some prominent student unions. He is a member of the NSUI Foundation, the prominent student wing of the Indian National Congress party. Later, after joining the Indian National Congress, he served as the president of the Indian Youth Congress.
Anand Sharma (with folded hands) and former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′7″
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye color: black
family
Parents and siblings
His father’s name is PA Sharma and mother’s name is Prabha Rani.
wife and children
On February 23, 1987, he married Zenobia Sharma, a non-practicing doctor.
Anand Sharma (far left) and his wife meet former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi
The couple has two sons.
address
His permanent address is Prabhat Lodge, (Anand Bhawan), Kelston, Shimla – 171001.
sign
Anand Sharma’s signature
Profession
From 1984 to 1986, he served as a member of the Petitions Committee of the Himachal Pradesh Federal Assembly. From 1985 to 1988, he served as a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Lok Pal Bill. From 1987 to 1988, he served as a member of the Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Defense of India. From 1988 to 1990, he served as a member of the Assurance Committee and the Press Council of the Government of India. From August 2004 to January 2006, he served as a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defense. From October 2004 to January 2006, he served in the Ministry of External Affairs (India). On January 29, 2006, he was appointed Minister of State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served until May 22, 2009. On May 22, 2009, he was appointed by the Indian government as the representative of the Indian National Congress Party as the Minister of Commerce and Industry. He serves until May 26, 2014. During his tenure at the Commerce Ministry, he worked to boost Indian manufacturing through huge investments and lower credit costs. He played a key role in the drafting of the 2008 global agreement on nuclear cooperation between India and the United States. In February 2012, he led a business mission organized to improve trade relations between India and Pakistan. More than 120 leaders of the two countries attended the delegation meeting. During the meeting, he focused on amending the existing bilateral visa agreement to facilitate easy travel for sincere business people from both countries. The agreement was earlier signed in 1974 with Makhdoom Muhammad Ameen Faheem, former Minister of Commerce and Chamber of Commerce of Pakistan.
Makhdoom Muhammad Ameen Faheem and Anand Sharma
While serving as Minister of Commerce and Industry, he promoted many foreign investments in India by drafting several new manufacturing policies. In 2011, he advocated for the implementation of India’s first National Manufacturing Policy (NMP), which was drafted to promote the progress of India’s manufacturing industry and aimed to increase its share of GDP from 16% to 25% and create $100 million in revenue. Skilled work within ten years. Soon after drafting this policy, the Indian government established greenfield integrated manufacturing cities and 16 NIMZ National Investment and Manufacturing Zones across the country. Later, he emphasized on allowing foreign direct investment in India’s defense and civil aviation sectors. He also focused on allowing 100 percent foreign direct investment in the retail sector and implemented policies that would allow foreign investors to open multi-brand retail stores in India.
Anand Sharma with other Indian National Congress leaders at political rally
Thereafter, under his guidance. The Government of India implemented an e-commerce project that was conceptualized to improve business and investment conditions in the country. During his tenure as India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, India became a favored investment center for many foreign investors after the global economic crisis. India reportedly earned $190 billion from foreign direct investment during this period. According to some media reports, he tried to increase the optimistic dividends of the country and India’s commodity exports by making multiple revisions to the foreign trade policy from 2010 to 2014, and helped it achieve almost double profits from before. In December 2013, he played an important role at the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali to protect the rights of India and other developing countries to public reserves of food to ensure food security in their respective countries. This led to the Bali ministry signing its first agreement with the WTO, including the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
Anand Sharma at a foreign delegation meeting in Bali in 2013
In 2014, he addressed an international conference in Delhi to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. From July 5, 2010 to March 9, 2016, he served as a member of the Federal Assembly for the Rajasthan constituency. From April 3, 2016 to April 2, 2022, he served as a member of the Federal Assembly for Himachal Pradesh constituency. From June 8, 2014 to April 2, 2022, he served as deputy leader of the opposition in the Federal House.
literary works
Apart from politics, he enjoys writing books on Indian history and famous Indian politicians. In 2007, he published his first book “Gandhi Path”. In 2011, he published another book, “A Nation’s Journey.” In 2016, he wrote the book “In Memory of Jawaharlal Nehru”. In 2017, he published the book “Indira in India”.
Awards, Honors, Achievements
On November 10, 2008, he was awarded the Walter Medal in Ghana. On January 14, 2009, he was awarded the Order of National Commander of Côte d’Ivoire. In 2012, on the 150th anniversary of the first arrival of Indians in South Africa, he was awarded a special award for his contribution to strengthening relations between India and South Africa.
assets/property
movable property
- Bank Deposit: Rs. 3,01,58,000
- Bonds, Bonds and Equity: Rs. 2,00,000
- NSS, Postal Savings: Rs. 24,24,000
- LIC or other insurance policy: Rs 12,00,000
- Motor Vehicles: Rs. 11,10,000
real estate
- Non-agricultural land: Rs. 45,00,000
- Residential Building: Rs. 1,96,00,000 ((my inner tower)
net worth
As of 2019, his net worth is Rs. 3.01 Crores. ((my inner tower)
Note: Net assets exclude cash and bank deposits.
Facts/Trivia
- In 2020, the leader of the Group of 23 Indian National Congress wrote an explosive letter to Indian National Congress Chairman Sonia Gandhi. He was one of those leaders who loudly called for major organizational changes within the party. Anand Sharma wrote in the letter that the party leaders of INC are its co-owners and not slaves. He wrote,
We are the builders of this Congress. We are co-owners, we are not tenants or slaves…why are we condemned when we raise certain issues? “
Anand Sharma attends Himalayan Congress Committee meeting
- Anand Sharma is associated with several Indian social and sports associations and regularly donates to Indian government non-profit organizations working on the country’s disability sector.
- According to Anand Sharma, in his spare time he enjoys playing cricket, hiking, traveling to distant places and reading books on philosophy and history. In an interview with the media, he said that he likes to listen to music, especially Indian and Western classical music.
- On August 21, 2022, he resigned from the post of Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Himachal Pradesh unit of the Congress Party. Addressing a media conference, he accused Congress party superiors of defamatory and insulting behavior. He told the media that despite his lifelong efforts for the party, he had been hurt and humiliated. He added that he had never been invited to major party meetings. He spoke,
I’m not saying I’m the only one…we all have challenges. I’ve had issues over the years that I could have quit: a son with autism.” “I quit my career, I quit my life. I don’t need to be reviled. I was deeply hurt and humiliated. sorry. “
Old photos of Anand Sharma and Sonia Gandhi
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education