M. M. Jacob
Encyclopedia
Mundakkal Mathew Jacob, popularly known as M. M. Jacob, is an Indian
politician. He was born at Ramapuram
, Kottayam district
, Kerala state
to Shri Ulahanan Mathew and Shrimati Rosamma Mundakkal. He married Achamma Kunnuthara from Tiruvalla
, Kerala (since deceased) and has four daughters Jaya, Jessy, Elizabeth, and Rachel. He was appointed Governor of Meghalaya
in 1995 and again in 2000 for a second term. He also discharged the function of the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh
as well for some time in 1996.
, Cochin, Loyola College, Madras, and the Lucknow University. He is a graduate in Law and has a Masters Degree in Political Science. He holds a diploma in Income Tax Law as well. He did a course in social work
in the University of Chicago
, U.S.A.
As a student, he held key positions in the college and university student bodies. He is a good orator, both in Malayalam
and English
. He was also a good athlete participating in sports and games. He was a cadet of the Travancore University Labour Corps (later called the N.C.C) and the Indian Air Training Corps (I.A.T.C).
in the High Court of Kerala in 1952 and practised as a lawyer specialising in Taxation matters at Kottayam
, Kerala.
Shri Jacob was a delegate from the State to attend the All India Bhoodan Conference and Sarvodaya Sammelan organised at the initiative of Acharya Vinobha Bhave at Bodh Gaya, Bihar
in 1954 and blessed by the then Rashtrapati, Dr. Rajendra Prasad
.
as its President and Gulzarilal Nanda
, Union Minister, as Chairman, commenced work to enlist public cooperation for India's Planned development. Jacob served as Camp Director to train voluntary workers for the B.S.S. at the first such camp held in Kerala in 1954. Thereafter, he moved to the National Capital Delhi and conducted Camp leaders' and Camp organisers' training programmes for almost two years. He also worked as Zonal Organiser for South India
for "labour and social service camps for student and youth" - a scheme under the Union Ministry of Education. Later he took the assignment as Chairman, Bharat Sevak Samaj, Kerala State and Vice-Chairman, Central B.S.S New Delhi.
Shri Jacob served as Training Supervisor and Liaison Officer for the Pilot Project - "Work and Orientation Centre" at Kalamasserry, Cochin to train unemployed educated youth in various trades and crafts - a scheme formulated by the Govt.of India, Ministry of Labour - in 1957.
He worked as full time Social Worker and organised various programmes like Lok Karya Kshetras, Urban Social Welfare Projects, Slum Service Centres, night shelters, and Plan information centres at the instance of the Public Cooperation Division of the Planning Commission through B.S.S. He represented central B.S.S in the All India Panchayat Parishad-Conference held at Udaipur
with the initiative of the then Union Minister, S.K. Dey, and attended by Local self-government, Ministers of various States, and national leaders like Jaya Prakash Narain.
and Bariapur (West Bengal). Shri Jacob was one of the main leaders who organised and conducted these camps. On behalf of International Coordination Committee for work camps for peace UNESCO, Paris, Shri Jacob served as Advisor to work camps for Rural Development in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka
) in 1960.
In India, Shri Jacob toured various parts of the country organising and conducting labour and social service camps for students and youth, including many inter-state youth camps. Shri Jacob served as organiser and Director of the Gandhi Centenary National Integration Inter University Camp at Trivandrum.
and later in Rajagiri
. At the initial stages of the institutes, he also served as a member of the Governing Board. He used to visit many schools of social work and management education in the country and deliver lectures.
Extensive Experience in Boards and Corporations.
He was Chairman Kerala State owned Plantation Corporation, Ltd (1974–78) and the first Chairman of "Oil Palm India Ltd"(1977–1978). He served as a member of the Governing Board of Hindustan Latex (1975–78) (Govt. of India), the Indian Coffee Board (1973–75) and the Indian Rubber Board under the Commerce Ministry, Govt. of India for many years. Worked as Chairman National Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs, Kerala Branch (1974–76). He also served as Director of Indian Overseas Bank
(1977–82) Kerala State Red Cross etc. He was in the State Tourist Advisory Board, Small Scale Industries Board (SISIS - 1975) etc. at the State level before being elected to the Parliament. Active in Y.M.C.A movement and served as Chairman Board of Management Y.M.C.A Institute of Engineering Faridabad
(1991–94).
Youth Welfare and allied Activities.
Shri Jacob served as a Member of the Governing Board of Kerala University Students Welfare, and also served on the editorial Board of the University Youth Journal. He has organised and conducted a large number of student and youth camps on behalf of B.S.S in various parts of India (1955–1965).
in various capacities - as General Secretary and Treasurer of Kerala Pradesh, Chairman, Kerala State Seva Dal board, Convener ideological cell Congress Party in Kerala, and elected member of AICC for many years.
in 1982 and again in 1988. He served as Chairman, Committee on Subordinate Legislation (1984–85) and as the Chairman of the Parliament Standing Committee for the Ministry of Home Affairs (1993–94).
He was elected as Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha in 1986, and later served as a Union Minister of State in the Ministries of Parliamentary Affairs, Water Resources and Home Affairs at different period (1987–93).
(1957) and the International Conference of Work Camp Leaders organised by UNESCO
(1956). He led India's youth delegation to North Vietnam
(1957) and later the Indian youth delegation to China
(1957) Youth delegate to Cleveland International Programme for youth leaders and social workers, USA (1963) and the International Conference of youth leaders from developing countries in Germany (BONN) in 1968. Delegate to International Seminar on 'Social Administration' in Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
, USA (1976). Member of Indian Delegation to Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur
) for the International conference of natural Rubber Producing Countries. (1975). He was the leader of the Indian Delegation to Sri Lanka for the 'International Conference of Natural Rubber Producing Countries' (1980).
in 1986. He was also leader of the Indian Parliamentary Delegation to Zaire
in Central Africa
(1986), Leader of the Indian delegation to Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference in Budapest
(1989) and a delegate at the Disarmament conference organised by Inter-Parliamentary Union and United Nations
at Mexico
(1985).
He attended the United Nations General Assembly
, New York (1985 and again 1993) and the Human Rights Conference held at the European Parliament
in Strasbourg
, France
(1993).
He was a delegate to Human Rights Conference in Vienna
(Austria
) organised by the U.N. (1994). He represented the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (C.P.A) in Accra
(Ghana
) at the seminar of Ghana Parliamentarians (1993) and was Commonwealth Observer to monitor the first non-radical, democratic, general election in South Africa
(1994).
in tribal areas, particularly in Meghalaya
, and has been advocating a marriage of modernity and tradition to strengthen grassroot democracy in tribal areas.
Indian people
Indian people or Indisians constitute the Asian nation and pan-ethnic group native to India, which forms the south of Asia, containing 17.31% of the world's population. The Indian nationality is in essence made up of regional nationalities, reflecting the rich and complex history of India...
politician. He was born at Ramapuram
Ramapuram, Kottayam
Ramapuram is a town in the Kottayam district of the Indian state of Kerala.-General information:The word "Ramapuram" means "the abode of Lord Rama", the village's chief deity. Ramapuram is unique in the sense that it houses the temple of Rama as well as his three brothers in a radius of just...
, Kottayam district
Kottayam district
Kottayam is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The district has its headquarters at Kottayam town, located at 9.36° N and 76.17° E. According to the 1991 census, it is the first district to achieve highest literacy rate in the whole of India...
, Kerala state
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
to Shri Ulahanan Mathew and Shrimati Rosamma Mundakkal. He married Achamma Kunnuthara from Tiruvalla
Tiruvalla
Tiruvalla , is a city and a Taluk headquarters located in Pathanamthitta district in the State of Kerala in South India, spread over an area of 27.94 km2...
, Kerala (since deceased) and has four daughters Jaya, Jessy, Elizabeth, and Rachel. He was appointed Governor of Meghalaya
Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means the Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi . The...
in 1995 and again in 2000 for a second term. He also discharged the function of the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
as well for some time in 1996.
Education
He had his education in the University College, Trivandrum, Sacred Heart College, ThevaraSacred Heart College, Thevara
Sacred Heart College is an Arts and Science College in Kerala, India run by the Congregation of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate which is a Syrian Catholic Christian religious institute for men.-History:...
, Cochin, Loyola College, Madras, and the Lucknow University. He is a graduate in Law and has a Masters Degree in Political Science. He holds a diploma in Income Tax Law as well. He did a course in social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
in the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, U.S.A.
As a student, he held key positions in the college and university student bodies. He is a good orator, both in Malayalam
Malayalam language
Malayalam , is one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India with official language status in the state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. It is spoken by 35.9 million people...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. He was also a good athlete participating in sports and games. He was a cadet of the Travancore University Labour Corps (later called the N.C.C) and the Indian Air Training Corps (I.A.T.C).
Freedom Movement
As a student, Shri M.M. Jacob took an active part in the Freedom movement. He participated in meetings and demonstrations for the freedom of India while in school and college. He was elected General Secretary of the College Union, Thevara (Madras University) and later held elected offices in student bodies in Madras and Lucknow Universities. As a member of the All India Student Federation (in school) and later in college at Trivandrum, in an Independent Student Organisation, he took part in various activities connected with the freedom struggle.As a Lawyer
Shri Jacob enrolled as a lawyerLawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in the High Court of Kerala in 1952 and practised as a lawyer specialising in Taxation matters at Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
, Kerala.
Youth and Social Worker
Shri Jacob was drawn to social and political movements in the early fifties. When Acharya Vinobha Bhave started to propagate Bhoodan movement in the country, to give land to the landless, Shri Jacob joined the movement and organised Youth Leaders' training camps for spreading the message of Bhoodan in many parts of Kerala. He also served as the Joint Secretary of the Bhoodan Mobile Work Squad with Headaquarters at Manganam Asram, Kottayam. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the then Vice-President of India, came to Kottayam and blessed the 'Bhoodan Mobile Work Squad'.Shri Jacob was a delegate from the State to attend the All India Bhoodan Conference and Sarvodaya Sammelan organised at the initiative of Acharya Vinobha Bhave at Bodh Gaya, Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
in 1954 and blessed by the then Rashtrapati, Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Rajendra Prasad
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was an Indian politician and educator. He was one of the architects of the Indian Republic, having drafted its first constitution and serving as the first president of independent India...
.
Bharat Sevak Samaj functionary
Shri Jacob joined Bharat Sevak Samaj in 1954, which is a non-political voluntary organisation, with Prime Minister Jawaharlal NehruJawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
as its President and Gulzarilal Nanda
Gulzarilal Nanda
Gulzarilal Nanda was an Indian politician and an economist with specialization in labour problems. He was the interim Prime Minister of India twice for thirteen days each: the first time after the death of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964, and the second time after the death of Prime...
, Union Minister, as Chairman, commenced work to enlist public cooperation for India's Planned development. Jacob served as Camp Director to train voluntary workers for the B.S.S. at the first such camp held in Kerala in 1954. Thereafter, he moved to the National Capital Delhi and conducted Camp leaders' and Camp organisers' training programmes for almost two years. He also worked as Zonal Organiser for South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
for "labour and social service camps for student and youth" - a scheme under the Union Ministry of Education. Later he took the assignment as Chairman, Bharat Sevak Samaj, Kerala State and Vice-Chairman, Central B.S.S New Delhi.
Shri Jacob served as Training Supervisor and Liaison Officer for the Pilot Project - "Work and Orientation Centre" at Kalamasserry, Cochin to train unemployed educated youth in various trades and crafts - a scheme formulated by the Govt.of India, Ministry of Labour - in 1957.
He worked as full time Social Worker and organised various programmes like Lok Karya Kshetras, Urban Social Welfare Projects, Slum Service Centres, night shelters, and Plan information centres at the instance of the Public Cooperation Division of the Planning Commission through B.S.S. He represented central B.S.S in the All India Panchayat Parishad-Conference held at Udaipur
Udaipur
Udaipur , also known as the City of Lakes, is a city, a Municipal Council and the administrative headquarters of the Udaipur district in the state of Rajasthan in western India. It is located southwest of the state capital, Jaipur, west of Kota, and northeast from Ahmedabad...
with the initiative of the then Union Minister, S.K. Dey, and attended by Local self-government, Ministers of various States, and national leaders like Jaya Prakash Narain.
UNESCO
On behalf of the youth section of UNESCO International Coordination Committee Work Camps and Bharat Sevak Samaj, International Work Camps for peace were held in several parts of India such as BangaloreBangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
and Bariapur (West Bengal). Shri Jacob was one of the main leaders who organised and conducted these camps. On behalf of International Coordination Committee for work camps for peace UNESCO, Paris, Shri Jacob served as Advisor to work camps for Rural Development in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
) in 1960.
In India, Shri Jacob toured various parts of the country organising and conducting labour and social service camps for students and youth, including many inter-state youth camps. Shri Jacob served as organiser and Director of the Gandhi Centenary National Integration Inter University Camp at Trivandrum.
Honorary Visiting Lecturer
Shri Jacob served as honorary visiting lecturer in Social Work at the Institute of Social Work in ThevaraThevara
Thevara is a region in the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. Geographically, Thevara is part of the mainland Kochi , and marks its south-west boundary. It is connected to the water-bound West Kochi via bridges.Thevara is noted especially for being home for the Cochin Shipyard...
and later in Rajagiri
Rajagiri
Rajagiri is the provincial headquarters of the Sacred Heart Province, Kochi , and part of the catholic Carmelites of Mary Immaculate congregation. It is located on a small hill in the outskirts of the rapidly expanding urban center of Kochi, in the southern Indian state of Kerala...
. At the initial stages of the institutes, he also served as a member of the Governing Board. He used to visit many schools of social work and management education in the country and deliver lectures.
Fighting Corruption - Sadachar Samithi
Shri Jacob served as Convener Sadachar Samithi for Kerala State, at the initiative of Gulzarilal Nanda, the then Union Home Minister (1964–67). Established branches of the Samithi in all the districts of Kerala during that period.Cooperative Movement
Shri Jacob played a leading role in the Cooperative Movement. He served as President of Kerala State Cooperative Rubber Marketing Federation (1975–1981). He also served as Director Kottayam District Cooperative Bank, Pala Rubber Marketing Cooperative Society and Director (later, Chairman) of Chitralekha Film Cooperative Society, Trivandrum for over a decade.Extensive Experience in Boards and Corporations.
He was Chairman Kerala State owned Plantation Corporation, Ltd (1974–78) and the first Chairman of "Oil Palm India Ltd"(1977–1978). He served as a member of the Governing Board of Hindustan Latex (1975–78) (Govt. of India), the Indian Coffee Board (1973–75) and the Indian Rubber Board under the Commerce Ministry, Govt. of India for many years. Worked as Chairman National Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs, Kerala Branch (1974–76). He also served as Director of Indian Overseas Bank
Indian Overseas Bank
Indian Overseas Bank is a major bank based in Chennai , with 2018 domestic branches and six branches overseas. Indian Overseas Bank has an ISO certified inhouse Information Technology department, which has developed the software that 2018 branches use to provide online banking to customers; the...
(1977–82) Kerala State Red Cross etc. He was in the State Tourist Advisory Board, Small Scale Industries Board (SISIS - 1975) etc. at the State level before being elected to the Parliament. Active in Y.M.C.A movement and served as Chairman Board of Management Y.M.C.A Institute of Engineering Faridabad
Faridabad
Faridabad is a city in the south-east of Haryana state in northern India, in Faridabad district. It lies at 28º 25' 16" N Latitude and 77º 18' 28" E Longitude. The district shares its boundaries with the National Capital and Union Territory of Delhi to its north, Gurgaon district to the west and...
(1991–94).
The Chinese Aggression of 1962 & Village Volunteer Force
Shri Jacob served on the Kerala State Citizens' Defence Council and discharged duties as Convener at its student and youth committee constituted by the Govt. of Kerala. He organised several 'citizens' Defence Camps' with the active involvement of the State Government and local bodies to raise village volunteer forces (1962–66).Youth Welfare and allied Activities.
Shri Jacob served as a Member of the Governing Board of Kerala University Students Welfare, and also served on the editorial Board of the University Youth Journal. He has organised and conducted a large number of student and youth camps on behalf of B.S.S in various parts of India (1955–1965).
Youth Hostel Association of India
AS the Secretary of Kerala Youth Hostel Association, Shri Jacob organised 7th national conference of Youth Hostel Association of India in Trivandrum in (1964) - and initiated efforts to build up youth Hostels in Trivandrum and other places (1963–67).As Office-bearer of Political Party
He worked in Indian National CongressIndian 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...
in various capacities - as General Secretary and Treasurer of Kerala Pradesh, Chairman, Kerala State Seva Dal board, Convener ideological cell Congress Party in Kerala, and elected member of AICC for many years.
As Publisher/Editor etc.
He published 'Bharat Sevak' a social workers' journal and was the Chief editor of 'Congress Review', fortnightly published from Trivandrum and the Managing Director of "Veekshanam" - a Malayalam daily newspaper published from Cochin. He has published several papers and articles in journals and periodicals. Besides, he has compiled and published a few books. He has presented many papers in national and international seminars in India and abroad.In the Parliament of India
Shri Jacob was elected to the Rajya SabhaRajya 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 1982 and again in 1988. He served as Chairman, Committee on Subordinate Legislation (1984–85) and as the Chairman of the Parliament Standing Committee for the Ministry of Home Affairs (1993–94).
He was elected as Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha in 1986, and later served as a Union Minister of State in the Ministries of Parliamentary Affairs, Water Resources and Home Affairs at different period (1987–93).
Representing India in World Forums
As a youth leader, he participated in the VI World Youth Festival in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
(1957) and the International Conference of Work Camp Leaders organised by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
(1956). He led India's youth delegation to North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
(1957) and later the Indian youth delegation to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
(1957) Youth delegate to Cleveland International Programme for youth leaders and social workers, USA (1963) and the International Conference of youth leaders from developing countries in Germany (BONN) in 1968. Delegate to International Seminar on 'Social Administration' in Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, USA (1976). Member of Indian Delegation to Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
) for the International conference of natural Rubber Producing Countries. (1975). He was the leader of the Indian Delegation to Sri Lanka for the 'International Conference of Natural Rubber Producing Countries' (1980).
Representing the Indian Parliament and the Commonwealth
As Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha, Shri Jacob attended the Commonwealth Parliament conference in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1986. He was also leader of the Indian Parliamentary Delegation to Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
in Central Africa
Central Africa
Central Africa is a core region of the African continent which includes Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda....
(1986), Leader of the Indian delegation to Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
(1989) and a delegate at the Disarmament conference organised by Inter-Parliamentary Union and United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
at Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(1985).
He attended the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
, New York (1985 and again 1993) and the Human Rights Conference held at the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(1993).
He was a delegate to Human Rights Conference in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
(Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
) organised by the U.N. (1994). He represented the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (C.P.A) in Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
(Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
) at the seminar of Ghana Parliamentarians (1993) and was Commonwealth Observer to monitor the first non-radical, democratic, general election in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
(1994).
Current Activities
Shri Jacob has a keen interest in the traditional forms of local democracyDemocracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
in tribal areas, particularly in Meghalaya
Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means the Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi . The...
, and has been advocating a marriage of modernity and tradition to strengthen grassroot democracy in tribal areas.