Full Name: Arvind Kejriwal
Born On: 16 June 1968 (age 43)
Born at : Hissar, Haryana
Organization: Parivartan (परिवर्तन) - citizen's movement
Political movement:
Right to Information
Jan Lokpal Bill
Awards:
Ramon Magsaysay Award: Arvind Kumar Kejriwal (Hindi: अरविंद केजरीवाल) (born 16 June 1968) is an Indian social activist fighting for greater transparency in Government. He was awarded Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership in 2006, for activating India's Right to Information movement at grassroots and social activities to empower the poorest citizens to fight corruption by holding the government answerable to the people.[1] Kejriwal is also a Saathi (fellow) of the Association for India's Development[2] [3]
Early life
Arvind Kejriwal was born in Hissar, Haryana[4] in 1968.[5] His father was an engineer and he spent most of his childhood living in small northern Indian towns like Sonepat, Mathura and Hissar. Kejriwal graduated from IIT Kharagpur as a Mechanical engineer in 1989.[6]
Career
Kejriwal joined Tata Steel after his graduation from IIT Kharagpur. After quitting his job with Tata Steel[when?], he took time off to work with the Missionaries of Charity and the Ramakrishna Mission in the northeast.[7]
Kejriwal joined the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 1995 and worked as an Additional Commissioner of Income Tax in Delhi.[8] In January 2000, he took a sabbatical from work and founded Parivartan - a Delhi based citizens’ movement which works on ensuring a just, transparent and accountable governance. Thereafter, in February 2006, he resigned from the job, to work full-time at 'Parivartan'.[9]
Right to Information
He along with Aruna Roy and others, campaigned for the Right to Information Act, which soon became a silent social movement, Delhi Right to Information Act was passed in 2001[4] and eventually at national level Indian Parliament passed the Right to Information Act (RTI) in 2005. Thereafter, in July 2006, he spearheaded an awareness campaign for RTI across India.[10] To motivate others Arvind has now instituted an RTI Award through his organisation.[11] Through individual and community cases, Arvind has taken on many deeply entrenched public bureaucracies in India, including the Income Tax department, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Public Distribution System (PDS), the Delhi Electricity Board, and others.[7]
Jan Lokpal Bill
As a member of India Against Corruption Kejriwal is an active participant in the movement for the enactment of Jan Lokpal Bill. He is considered a key figure along with social activist Anna Hazare. On August 16 2011, Hazare was arrested four hours before the planned indefinite hunger strike. Rajan Bhagat, spokesman for Delhi Police, said police arrested Hazare under a legal provision that bans public gatherings and protests at the park in Delhi where he was planning to begin his hunger strike. Kejriwal was also arrested along with other key members of the India Against Corruption movement.
Personal Life
Kejriwal is married to Sunita, who is an IRS officer and his batchmate from training academy in Mussoorie.[6] They live just outside Delhi with their two children.[8]
Other Awards
• 2004: Ashoka Fellow, Civic Engagement.
• 2005: 'Satyendra Dubey Memorial Award', IIT Kanpur for his campaign for bringing transparency in Government.[4]
• 2006: Ramon Magsaysay Award for Eminent Leadership.
• 2006: CNN-IBN, 'Indian of the Year' in Public Service [12]
• 2009: Distinguished Alumnus Award, IIT Kharagpur for Eminent Leadership.
• 2010: Policy Change Agent of the Year, Economic Times Corporate Excellence Award along with Aruna Roy.
Books
The Right to Information : Vyawharik Margdarshika - Co-Author - Vishnu Rajgadia, Published by Rajkamal Prakashan, New Delhi. in the year 2008
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By Babushahi Bureau,
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