Wiki/Biography
Milind Deora was born on Saturday, 4 December 1976 (age 47 years; as of 2023) in Bombay, Maharashtra. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius. In 1993, he studied at The Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai, Maharashtra. In 1995, he attended Sydenham College of Economics, Mumbai, Maharashtra. In 1999, he pursued a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Questrom School of Business, Boston University. Although born into a family with a political background, he never had the desire to become a politician.
Milind Deora as a kid
While studying in Boston, he worked in the private sector before embarking on his journey to the Lok Sabha. From an early age, he had a passion for music and explored various genres. While in Boston, he discovered the genre that shaped his adult musical journey: the blues. After encountering Stevie Ray Vaughan’s album “Austin City Limits,” Deora became fascinated with blues guitar and familiarized himself with legendary figures like Jimi Hendrix and B.B. King. In an interview, he expressed that sharing the stage with Buddy Guy, a blues legend and one of his heroes, was a fantastic experience for him. Milind brought his love for the blues back to India and joined different blues bands.
Milind Deora (left) playing guitar on stage
One of these was Tightrope, a well-known Delhi-based group in the genre until 2011. He also played with Soulmate, a talented group of blues musicians from Shillong. After finishing his education and coming back to Mumbai, Deora dedicated himself to assisting underprivileged children in South Mumbai. During this period, he founded an NGO called Sparsh, aimed at aiding financially struggling schools. The NGO provided free computer education to over 100 schools and distributed uniforms and textbooks to students in need.
A collage of Milind Deora doing various activities for welfare of children
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 11″
Hair Colour: Salt and Pepper
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
Milind’s father’s name is Murli Deora, who was a politician. His father represented the Mumbai South constituency in the 12th Lok Sabha, serving as a Member of Parliament from 1984 to 1996 and again in 1998. He died in 2014.
Milind Deora’s father
His mother’s name is Hema Deora, who is an Olympic athlete.
Milind Deora’s mother
He has a brother, Mukul Deora, who works as a disc jockey.
Milind Deora’s brother
Wife & Children
Milind got married to Pooja Deora on 9 November 2008. Pooja is the daughter of film producer Manmohan Shetty. She serves as the joint Managing Director at Adlabs Imagica Theme Park and is the owner of Walkwater Media in Mumbai.
Milind Deora with his wife
Together, they have a daughter, Miraya.
Relationships/Affairs
Milind was in a relationship with Pooja Deora. They met in college and began dating in 2005. They maintained their relationship for three years before tying the knot in 2008.
Religion
He follows Hinduism.
Milind Deora worshipping at a temple
Address
He resides at 2W, Ramalayam Building, 44 Dr. Gopalrao Deshmukh Marg, (Pedder Road) Mumbai- 400026.
Signature
Milind Deora’s signature
Career
Member of Parliament
He entered the 14th Lok Sabha by winning the 2004 elections and later became the youngest member of the 15th Lok Sabha at the age of 27. Winning with a margin of 10,000 votes, he defeated Jaywantiben Mehta of the BJP. In 2004, he worked on the Standing Committee on Defence and was a member of the Consultative Committee in the Ministry of Defence. On 7 August 2006, he joined the Consultative Committee in the Ministry of Urban Development. Upon winning the election, he called for increased financial assistance from the central government to fund urban infrastructure projects. Mumbai and Maharashtra greatly benefited from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. Following discussions in Parliament, he obtained 1200 crore rupees (12 billion) for the BMC to comprehensively revamp the Storm Water Drain Project. He initiated the conversation about the Right to Information in Parliament on behalf of the UPA-1 Government. He employed MPLADS funds for public welfare initiatives such as constructing public toilets, repairing drainage lines, fixing roads, and beautifying locations like Marine Drive, Gateway of India, and Jhaveri Bazar.
Milind Deora inaugrating MPLAD Inauguration Program
He persuaded the state government to expedite projects such as the Bandra-Worli sea link and the Mumbai Metro. Furthermore, he obtained funds from both the Central and State governments for hospitals, including G.T. and J.J. In the 2009 Lok Sabha election, Deora once more emerged victorious in the Mumbai South Constituency, securing a lead of 1,12,682 votes. He participated in 88% of the parliamentary sessions and raised 274 questions that spanned a range of topics from Home Affairs to Finance and from Urban Development to Environment and Forests. He was a member of the Committee on Information Technology and also served on the Consultative Committee in the Ministry of Civil Aviation. On 1 May 2010, he joined the Committee on Estimates. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he lost to Shiv Sena leader Aravind Sawant by a margin of more than 1.5 lakh votes.
Union Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology
In July 2011, he joined the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology with a dedication to tasks such as reinforcing the regulator, enhancing e-infrastructure, and delivering value-for-money services. During his time as the Minister of Telecommunications, Milind dealt with the challenges of Mobile Tower Radiation. When he assumed office in 2004, the telecommunication density in India surged from under 10% to more than 70%. This rapid change brought about fresh worries and heightened awareness regarding potential health hazards linked to the radiation emitted by the increasing number of mobile phones and radio towers in the country.
Milind Deora trying to solve the issue of Mobile Tower Radiation
Union Minister of State for Shipping
In 2011, during a cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Murli Deora resigned as the Minister of Petroleum just before the reshuffle. Milind was then chosen to join the Union Cabinet, taking on the role of Minister of State for Communications and IT. A year later, he also assumed responsibility for the Ministry of Shipping.
Milind Deora with Manmohan Singh
In October 2012, he was assigned the responsibility of the Ministry of Shipping. To celebrate the maritime heritage of the state, he proposed establishing a heritage museum and an elevator as part of the Vizhinjam lighthouse tourism project. This project was undertaken by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships in partnership with the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, utilizing a public-private partnership model. After becoming the minister of shipping, he said,
Through our lighthouses, the Ministry of Shipping has established a National Automatic Identification System Network along India’s coastline. This is used for coastal surveillance to track vessels fitted with transponders up to a distance of 50km. We are also developing a Tourism Policy for our lighthouses and have identified over two dozen lighthouses around India that will be taken up in Phase 1.”
Milind Deora at one of the lighthouse
Initiatives taken by Milind
Youth Parliament
Milind organizes the Youth Parliament, an annual trip to the Indian Parliament in New Delhi during the winter session. This initiative offers around eighty students from 20 colleges in Mumbai the opportunity to witness and experience a day in the Lok Sabha, gaining insights into the workings of the parliamentary proceedings. In the 2013 Youth Parliament, nearly a hundred students from 20 city colleges actively took part in parliamentary discussions at the BSE Ltd convention hall. Sachin Pilot, the Minister of State for Corporate Affairs was invited as the chief guest. This was one among several initiatives led by Deora. Throughout the day, Mumbai’s youth delved into detailed discussions on a range of issues, including Direct Benefit Transfers, the Juvenile Justice Act, Mobile Tower Radiation, Telangana state reorganization, FDI in Retail, Uniform Civil Code, Fiscal deficit, and NRHM.
Milind Deora during Youth Parliament with students
UthSpeak
In October 2013, Deora introduced @UthSpeak, a non-political Twitter account aimed at providing a platform for youth to voice their opinions. This account remained impartial and did not reflect his personal views or any party biases. The objective was to engage in discussions on vital issues affecting the country, addressing one topic each month. It sought to connect the youth with India’s decision-makers, as the suggestions shared on the platform resulted in active interactions between Uthspeak and the authorities.
Details about Uth Speak
Campa Cola Housing Society
In 2013, the BMC issued an order to demolish the upper levels of seven buildings constructed in the 1980s, including those in Campa Cola Compound in Worli. Milind personally accompanied representatives from the Campa Cola Housing Society to meet the Chief Minister, supporting their case and ensuring that the concerns of the residents were acknowledged. Together, the residents of Campa Cola, with Milind’s support, secured a six-month postponement of the demolition.
A collage of Milind Deora helping people of Campa Cola Housing Society
Tariff Authority for Major Ports
In 2014, when the choice to dissolve the Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP) was made, Milind indicated that the Shipping Ministry was contemplating further actions to ensure greater fairness in pricing at all ports.
Direct Mayor Direct Accountability
In 2014, Milind initiated the Direct Mayor Direct Accountability campaign, seeking to enhance the mayor’s accountability to Mumbai’s voters for improved transparency and governance coordination. The objective was to directly elect the Mayor. His appeal to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra received around 5,000 votes.
Local Body Tax
While serving as the MLA, Milind Deora facilitated discussions between a group of traders and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Through three meetings on this issue, he played a key role. In a meeting arranged by Milind, where traders’ representatives were present, it was announced that the imposition of Local Body Tax in Mumbai would be delayed until a consensus was reached between the trading community and the Maharashtra Government.
Assets/Properties
Movable Assets
- Bank Deposits: Rs. 1,04,91,1003
- Bonds, Debentures, and Shares in companies: Rs. 20,20,43,500
- LIC or other insurance Policies: Rs. 12,47,815
- Motor Vehicles: Rs. 19,80,784
- Other Assets: Rs. 1,80,13,750
Immovable Assets
- Residential Buildings: Rs. 13,59,18,000
Note: The given estimates of movable and immovable assets are according to the year 2019. It excludes the assets owned by his wife.
Net Worth
His net worth is Rs. 46.53 Crores.
Note: The given estimates of movable and immovable assets are according to the year 2019. It excludes the assets owned by his wife.
Facts/Trivia
- He follows a non-vegetarian diet.
Milind Deora’s Instagram post about his eating habits
- Abhishek Bachchan, who played the role of a young politician in the 2009 film Paa, took inspiration from Milind. In an interview, he said,
I modeled my look after Sachin Pilot and Milind Deora in the film. There were no special effects taken for my look in the movie because we wanted to keep the character as normal as possible.”
- In 2012, Milind’s Twitter account was deactivated by the micro-blogging site.
- On 6 June 2013, Deora arranged a live show about the future of IT and Communication in India using Google+ Hangout. The session was hosted by TV anchor Cyrus Broacha.
Milind Deora with Cyrus Broacha
- In 2014, he recommended to the Maharashtra government led by Chavan to include opposition parties in the decision-making process. He stressed the significance of this move, considering that members from different political parties were involved in the Adarsh scam. On 25 December 2013, he tweeted: “If the Adarsh report raises questions, we should investigate them (regardless of party or bureaucracy), provide answers, and not keep it quiet.”
- In 2014, amidst criticism faced by the UPA government for passing an ordinance protecting convicted MLAs/MPs, Deora publicly opposed it. In a tweet, he voiced his apprehension that the ordinance, irrespective of its legal considerations, could undermine the already diminishing public trust in democracy. He wrote on Twitter, “Putting legalities aside, allowing convicted MPs/MLAs to retain their seats during an appeal can endanger the already eroding public faith in democracy.”
- In 2018, he started the Quit Plastic Movement, a citizen-driven initiative aiming to reduce the use of single-use plastic in daily life. In a picture, actor and UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza was pictured receiving a sapling from Deora during a plastic waste recycling event at the World Trade Centre in Cuffe Parade.
Milind Deora with Dia Mirza
- Following Rahul Gandhi’s resignation and the Congress party’s losses in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Deora stepped down from his role as the Mumbai Congress party president.
- Deora recommended the creation of a temporary team comprising three seasoned leaders to manage the Mumbai City unit until the Vidhan Sabha elections. He expressed his willingness to play a national role to help stabilize the party.
- On 14 January 2024, Deora resigned from the Congress party, ending his association with the party and concluding his family’s 55-year connection with the Congress. After leaving the party, he tweeted,
Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of @INCIndia, ending my family’s 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years.”
Milind Deora with Eknath Shinde
- He is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University.
- Milind has a deep passion for playing the guitar, which began when he was seven years old. In an interview, he mentioned that he dedicates time to practising the guitar every day.
- He arranges the Milind Deora Soccer Championship, an annual football tournament for school students. This initiative mainly aimed to encourage the sport, particularly among underprivileged communities. The objective was to broaden the talent search by converting the tournament into a league format for Municipal and Government-funded schools in South Mumbai. In October 2013, Bollywood actor Salman Khan, along with Deora and Aditya Mittal, son of Laxmi Mittal, commemorated the 5th South Mumbai- Milind Deora Junior Soccer Challenger. The event was organized in collaboration with Queens Park Rangers F.C. Over 5000 children, including 4250 from Municipal Schools, representing more than 137 schools (including municipal and government-aided ones), participated in the event, making it the largest community football tournament in India.
A collage of Milind Deora during Soccer Championship
- While serving as the MLA, he noticed the potential of Mumbai’s Khanoji Angre Lighthouse as a new and exciting attraction for the city. Milind expanded his efforts to other lighthouses on the Subcontinent. In India, these beautiful and historically significant structures were not widely recognized as tourist sites. Milind started identifying 15 lighthouses across the country that could be developed into tourist destinations. The Ministries of Tourism and Shipping began working on three of these lighthouses – Dolphin’s Nose in Vishakhapatnam, Mahaballipuram Lighthouse, and Khanoji Angre Lighthouse.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education