Ambika Soni
Encyclopedia
Ambika Soni is an India
n politician belonging to Indian National Congress
. She currently serves in the Union Cabinet as the minister in charge of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
, after serving in Ministry of Tourism
and Ministry of Culture
from 2006–2009.
She is a member of the Indian National Congress
and is an elected Member of Parliament representing the state of Punjab
in the Rajya Sabha
.
, Bangkok and Post-Graduate Diploma in Spanish Art and Literature from University of Havana
, Cuba
.
(1975–1977). Later, she was elected to the Rajya Sabha
in March 1976 and in 1988, she became the president of All India Mahila Congress.. According to the Hindu newspaper report, Congress party insiders believe that Ambika Soni is on the ascendant and currently among those individuals that Sonia Gandhi trusts the most.
, Ambika Soni's department filed an affidavit questioning the existence of Lord Rama
. Union Minister for Commerce Jairam Ramesh
stated that if he were in Soni's spot, that he would resign. On September 18, 2007 Soni stated "I will not take even a minute to relinquish my post if my leaders (Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi) ask me to do so,"
She is also widely crticised for arm-twisting the media, and trying to gag it.
At the International Colloquium on Freedom of Expression and Human Rights organized by the Press Council of India on April 28th, 2011, she claimed that "Our media is probably the freest in the world,". The Press Freedom Index 2010 (by the Reporters Without Borders group) ranked India at 122 and, the Freedom of the Press 2010 Global Rankings (by Freedom House) ranked India at 72. There are also serious concerns about regulators putting a tight leash on Internet Free Speech.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n politician belonging to Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. She currently serves in the Union Cabinet as the minister in charge of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is a branch of the Government of India is the apex body for formulation and administration of the rules and regulations and laws relating to information, broadcasting, the press and films in India....
, after serving in Ministry of Tourism
Ministry of Tourism (India)
The Ministry of Tourism, a branch of the Government of India, is the apex body for formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and laws relating to the development and promotion of tourism in India...
and Ministry of Culture
Ministry of Culture (India)
The Ministry of Culture is the Indian government ministry charged with preservation and promotion of art and culture.The Minister of Culture holds cabinet rank as a member of the Council of Ministers. The current minister is Dr...
from 2006–2009.
She is a member of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
and is an elected Member of Parliament representing the state of Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
in the Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
.
Early life and education
Born in Lahore in undivided Punjab to Nakul Sen, an I.C.S officer and Indu Nakul Sen in 1942. Ambika did her M.A. (Hons.) from Indraprastha College, Delhi University, followed by Diploma Superiore en Langue Francaise from Alliance FrancaiseAlliance française
The Alliance française , or AF, is an international organisation that aims to promote French language and culture around the world. created in Paris on 21 July 1883, its primary concern is teaching French as a second language and is headquartered in Paris -History:The Alliance was created in Paris...
, Bangkok and Post-Graduate Diploma in Spanish Art and Literature from University of Havana
University of Havana
The University of Havana or UH is a university located in the Vedado district of Havana, Cuba. Founded in 1728, the University of Havana is the oldest university in Cuba, and one of the first to be founded in the Americas...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
Career
Ambika made her political debut in 1975 when she was elected president of the Indian Youth CongressIndian Youth Congress
The Indian Youth Congress is the youth wing of the Indian National Congress party. As of 2006, the Indian Youth Congress has over 245,00,000 members across India, the largest democratic youth organisation in the world....
(1975–1977). Later, she was elected to the Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
in March 1976 and in 1988, she became the president of All India Mahila Congress.. According to the Hindu newspaper report, Congress party insiders believe that Ambika Soni is on the ascendant and currently among those individuals that Sonia Gandhi trusts the most.
Controversy
In the row over the SethusamudramSethusamudram
Sethusamudram is the sea that separates Tamil Nadu, India, from Sri Lanka. It encompasses the Gulf of Mannar, the Palk Strait, and a shoal of islands and bays that separate them called Ram Setu...
, Ambika Soni's department filed an affidavit questioning the existence of Lord Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
. Union Minister for Commerce Jairam Ramesh
Jairam Ramesh
Jairam Ramesh born April 9, 1954, is an Indian economist and an influential politician of the Congress Party in the United Progressive Alliance ruling coalition of center-left political parties heading the Government of India. He is a Member of Parliament representing Andhra Pradesh state in the...
stated that if he were in Soni's spot, that he would resign. On September 18, 2007 Soni stated "I will not take even a minute to relinquish my post if my leaders (Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi) ask me to do so,"
She is also widely crticised for arm-twisting the media, and trying to gag it.
At the International Colloquium on Freedom of Expression and Human Rights organized by the Press Council of India on April 28th, 2011, she claimed that "Our media is probably the freest in the world,". The Press Freedom Index 2010 (by the Reporters Without Borders group) ranked India at 122 and, the Freedom of the Press 2010 Global Rankings (by Freedom House) ranked India at 72. There are also serious concerns about regulators putting a tight leash on Internet Free Speech.
External links
- Smt. Ambika Soni - Profile Govt. of India Portal
- Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Official website