A. B. A. Ghani Khan Choudhury Explained
| A. B. A. Ghani Khan Choudhury |
| Birth Date: | 1 November 1927 |
| Birth Place: | Malda, Bengal Presidency, British India |
| Residence: | Sahazalalpur, Malda City, Malda |
| Death Place: | Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Office: | Union Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India |
| Primeminister: | Rajiv Gandhi |
| Term Start: | 1985 |
| Term End: | 1987 |
| Office1: | Union Minister of Railways, Government of India |
| Primeminister1: | Indira Gandhi |
| Predecessor1: | Prakash Chandra Sethi |
| Term Start1: | 2 September 1982 |
| Term End1: | 31 December 1984 |
| Successor1: | Bansi Lal |
| Office2: | Minister of Coal with Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation & New and Renewable Energy (Independent Charge), Government of India |
| Primeminister2: | Indira Gandhi |
| Term Start2: | 1980 |
| Term End2: | 1982 |
| Constituency3: | Malda[1] |
| Office3: | Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha |
| Term Start3: | 1980 |
| Term End3: | 2006 |
| Predecessor3: | Dinesh Chandra Joarder |
| Successor3: | Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury |
| Office4: | Minister of Irrigation and Power, Government of West Bengal |
| Term Start4: | 1972 |
| Term End4: | 1977 |
| Constituency5: | Sujapur |
| Office5: | Member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly |
| Term Start5: | 1967 |
| Term End5: | 1980 |
| Predecessor5: | Ashadulla Choudhury |
| Successor5: | Humayoun Chowdhury |
| Relations: | Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury (brother)
Abu Nasar Khan Choudhury (brother)
Rubi Noor (sister)
Isha Khan Choudhury (nephew)
Mausam Noor (niece) |
| Alma Mater: | University of Calcutta (B.A.) |
| Party: | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse: | Ruth Khan Choudhury |
Abu Barkat Ataur Ghani Khan Choudhury (1 November 1927 – 14 April 2006), known as Barkatda to his supporters,[2] was an Indian politician from West Bengal, India. Choudhury was a senior leader of Indian National Congress party.
Political career
Ghani Khan Choudhury was first elected as an MLA to the West Bengal state legislative assembly in 1957, winning the seat in 1962, 1967, 1971 and 1972. He served as a State Cabinet Minister in the Government of West Bengal from 1972 to 1977. First elected to the 7th Lok Sabha in 1980 from Malda, Choudhury would go on to represent the constituency for eight straight terms, winning again in 1984, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2004. From 1982 to 1984, Choudhury served as the Minister of Railways in Indira Gandhi's and Rajiv Gandhi's governments.[3] He took active part in introducing the Kolkata Metro Railway and Circular Railways in the city of Kolkata, and towards establishing the Malda Town railway station as one of the most important stations of the region. For his contributions, Choudhury is often respected as the architect of modern Malda.
Early life
Ghani Khan was the son of Abu Hyat Khan Chowdhury and Saleha Khatoon.
Controversy
Choudhury had claimed to be a barrister-at-law, called to the Bar from one of London's Inns of Court, while providing biographical information to the Indian Parliament.[4] However, the claim was found to be false by an election tribunal, and Choudhury was criticised by opposition politicians, such as Jyoti Basu (himself a barrister from London, who had also threatened to bring a motion against Choudhury), George Fernandes and Indrajit Gupta.[5] Choudhury attributed the incorrect information to an "oversight".[5]
Personal life
Ghani Khan Choudhury was married to Esther who left India in 1963 and settled in Switzerland. He is survived by his three children, son Simon Hyat Khan Choudhury, daughters Yasmin Khan Choudhry and Neelam Khan Choudhury.[6] Choudhury's siblings, all politicians, are Abu Nasar Khan Choudhury, Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury and Rubi Noor.
Legacy
Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering & Technology (GKCIET), Malda, West Bengal was established in 2010 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India under the mentorship of the National Institute of Technology, Durgapur and in the memory of Choudhury.[7] [8]
External links
- News: Ghani Khan dead . 15 April 2006 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070311040443/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Apr152006/national234122006414.asp . 11 March 2007.
- News: Ghani Khan's death leaves a void in politics . https://web.archive.org/web/20060502070048/http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/15/stories/2006041506511200.htm . dead . 2 May 2006 . 15 April 2006 . The Hindu.
- News: The monarch of Malda . 22 May 2005 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070930061121/http://www.hindustantimes.com/2005/May/22/6996_668283%2C001600560001.htm . 30 September 2007.
Notes and References
- Web site: Biographical Sketch: Member of Parliament 14th Lok Sabha: Choudhury, Shri A.B.A. Ghani Khan . . 7 May 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060615194145/http://164.100.24.208/ls/lsmember/biodata.asp?mpsno=93 . 15 June 2006.
- News: LS polls 2014: Younger bro eyes 3rd term to continue Barkat-da's Malda legacy. 23 April 2014. The Economic Times. 24 March 2019.
- Web site: Railway Ministers. IRFCA. 24 March 2019.
- News: 24 March 1986. WORLD NEWS. 6. Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 18 September 2020.
- News: . Ghani Khan not bar-at-law, charges Bosu . The Times of India . 3 March 1981 . 17.
- News: In Malda after 24 yrs - Ghani children stake claim to property . 17 June 2023 . The Telegraph . 29 January 2007 . en.
- Web site: Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering and Technology . old-website.gkciet.ac.in . 17 June 2023.
- News: West Bengal govt comes to rescue: Malda tech institute gets affiliation . The Indian Express . 8 July 2016 . en.
