New Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Mr. Vayalar
Ravi
Mr. Vayalar Ravi assumed office of the Union Minister
for Overseas Indian Affairs on 29th January 2006.
He is a law graduate, who hails from the village
of Vayalar in Alappuzha District of Kerala.
Mr. Ravi was first elected to the Lok Sabha in
1971 and re-elected to the house in 1977. He is
founder leader of the Kerala Students’ Union
and played a key role in organizing the National
Students’ Union, and was a prominent leader
of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC).
He took up the mantle of Home Minister in his home
State of Kerala, following his election to the Kerala
Assembly in 1982. After his stint in Kerala, Mr.
Ravi got elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1994 and
then again in 2003.
Mr. Vayalar Ravi became a member of the All India
Congress Committee (AICC) in 1967 and the Congress
Working Committee (CWC) in 1972, and later functioned
as AICC general secretary. He has also led several
Indian delegations to the United Nations, and is
considered a fine orator. Mr. Ravi is married to
Ms. Mercy, who is currently a Member of the Legislative
Assembly of Kerala.