At a glance: Maneka Gandhi- from a 'charming model' to 'union minister of India'

New Delhi: Maneka Sanjay Gandhi is the Union Minister for Women & Child Development.She is also a Member of Parliament from Pilibhit constituency of Uttar Pradesh. Maneka Gandhi is better known as the widow of Late Sanjay Gandhi..While maintaining her low key profile Maneka Gandhi has managed to leave a mark in her field of interest. Unlike the rest of the Gandhi family members, Maneka is not a frequent newsmaker but with her intense efforts towards fighting for environment, Maneka has gained popularity.Born into a Sikh family of Lt. Col. Tarlochan Singh Anand and Amteshwar Anand, Maneka pursued her education from Delhi.In 1973, Maneka and Sanjay met each other in 1973 at a cocktail party thrown by Maneka's uncle Major-General Kapur to celebrate the forthcoming marriage of his son Veenu Kapur. It was love at first sight. The meeting turned out to be a memorable one for both of them.They spent the evening talking. The two developed an instant liking and felt connected; they both agreed to meet again.After a year, the two got married. Sanjay's involvement in politics was increasing with time and Maneka was seen with him almost every time on his tours. She helped him in campaigns.She also founded the news magazine Surya which later played an instrumental role in promoting Congress party after its defeat in 1977 elections. This magazine often contained interviews of Indira Gandhi.With Maneka's help Sanjay Gandhi was able to bring the Congress party back to power within three years.Maneka was just 23 years old and her son, just 100 days old, when Sanjay died in an air crash. Sanjay Gandhi's body was severely mutilated. Thus Maneka was not allowed to see him till his body was stitched up.After Sanjay's death, Maneka's bond with her mother- in- law severed. They would constantly argue with each other.Maneka by then knew that her days in the Prime Minister's house were numbered.Once when Indira Gandhi and Sonia had gone to London, Maneka Gandhi delivered a speech which according to Indira was venomous. She demanded her to leave the house immediately and never return.Maneka left the house and for the first time she got all the attention of the media.After this event Maneka founded her own political party, the Rashtriya Sanjay Manch with Akbar Ahmed Dumpy, an old Sanjay acolyte. It focused on youth empowerment and employment.This party won 4 out of 5 seats in Andhra Pradesh's State Assembly elections.But it couldn't survive for long.Maneka filed her own nomination from her husband's seat, Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. While the election campaign was on high tide Indira Gandhi was assassinated in 1984. Rajiv Gandhi defeated Maneka owing to the sympathy he got after his mother's death.He then became the Prime Minister of India.Maneka had condemned the attack on Indira Gandhi and termed it “frightening act of violence”.Maneka joined the Janata Dal led by V P Singh in 1988 and became the General Secretary for one year. In 1989, Maneka won her first ever election to Parliament and joined V.P. Singh's cabinet as Minister for Environment.It was during this period that Maneka Gandhi took several significant steps to protect environment and ecology, and cracked her whip against people engaged in cruelty to animals.Through her project Old Age Social and Income Security (OASIS) she introduced significant reforms in the India Pension system.Her rigorous attempts towards a better environment gained her the chairmanship of the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA) in 1995.Her spectacular writing skills are displayed in her books like Plant Mythology, Animal Activism and Laws and many others.A prominent member of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), she is also a trustee of Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Shelter and Hospital.In 1996, Maneka contested as an Independent candidate from Pilibhit and again won the elections. Since then she has lost only one out of six elections that she has contested from this Lok Sabha constituency.She created India's Animal Welfare Ministry and became its first Minister. It was by then the only Ministry dedicated to Animals in the world. Maneka Gandhi is an animal lover. As a Minister she banned the use of animals for public performances.Through her initiative, it was made compulsory for all cosmetic and edible products to be labeled as green (for vegetarian) and red (for non- vegetarian) depending on the ingredients.Maneka Gandhi has also served as the Minister for Culture and Programme Implementation. She did a commendable job here too but at the same time she was criticized for constantly trying to get back at Sonia Gandhi on Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) and Nehru Memorial Fund (NMF).Maneka Gandhi saw Culture Ministry as a chance to get back at Sonia and remove her from the governing body of NMML.All this time Sonia was silent to these attacks and never retaliated. Thus Maneka Gandhi was criticized for being rebellious and revengeful.Even though Maneka Gandhi's venture into politics proved propitious, her true calling has always been animal protection and environment.She placed a significant role in formulating programme to safeguard street dogs. She replaced the practice of Municipal killings of homeless dogs with a sterilizing programme.She regulated the sale of air guns which has been responsible for endangering birds like eagles and other small animals. She also put ban on traveling zoos.Maneka Gandhi founded People for Animals (PFA) in 1992. It is the largest organization for animal welfare in India. She is also a patron of International Animal Rescue. Maneka Gandhi is a vegetarian and promotes vegetarianism on grounds of health, humanity, compassion, karmic reasons, spirituality and ecology.She also anchored a weekly Television program named “Heads and Tails” highlighting sufferings meted out to animals due to their commercial exploitation.Maneka Gandhi has been a receipt of several international and national awards. Despite being merely 12th pass, Maneka's intellect and expertise on subjects surpasses those of have attained several degrees.She was awarded Shining World Compassion Award along with a cheque for 20,000 dollars from Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, Environmentalist and Vegetarian of the year 1994, Prani Mitra Award, 1996, Venu Menon Animal Allies Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, Marchig Animal Welfare and selling Prize, Switzerland and many more.Maneka Gandhi meeting peopleManeka, Sonia and Rajiv GandhiManeka and Sanjay GandhiManeka with Varun GandhiManeka and Sanjay GandhiManeka with Indira GandhiManeka with Rajiv, Sanjay, Indira and Sonia GandhiManeka with son Varun and daughter-in-lawManeka in a happy moodManeka with Sanjay GandhiManeka and Sanjay GandhiManeka with Sanjay GandhiManeka watching a paintingManeka with Sanjay and Indira GandhiManeka speaking her mindManeka in a happy moodManeka enjoying a happy momentManeka with son Varun GandhiManeka in her younger daysManeka in a happy moodManeka at a conferenceManeka with family membersManeka in a happy mood