Margaret Alva, former minister for women in the government of Rajiv Gandhi. She set themes that became the basis for understanding the condition of women in India. She stated that for 50 years, India had failed to involve 50% of the population in development. Women have been treated as recipients of welfare, rather than as equal human beings. Women must be included as decision-makers if India is going to achieve the future that it needs and deserves!!

Campaigner, social activist and champion of the women's cause, Margaret Alva, is a multihued political personality. Born in Mangalore, Karnataka, on the 14th April 1942 to her proud parents, father - Late Shri P.A. Nazareth and Mother - Smt. E. L. Nazareth.

Alva moved to Bangalore to pursue her studies. She graduated with a BA, B.L., Hon. Doctorate at Mt. Carmel College and Government Law College, Bangalore. She chose to start her professional career as an advocate. She married Shri Niranjan Alva on the 24 May 1964, with whom she has one daughter and three sons.

One of her greatest interests lies in foreign affairs and women's development, for which she has been an ardent campaigner. She is the Founder President of "Karuna", a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) for women and children. She is a Congress candidate from the Kanara (Karnataka) constituency.

Margaret has a wide variety of interests and is well known for her creativity. She has completed a course in oil painting, interior decoration and Ikebana. Much of her spare time is passed painting, listening to music and traveling to destinations all around the world. As well as Margaret is a member of three clubs: India International Center, Delhi Gymkhana Club, and Bangalore Club.




Margaret Alva on Pope John Paul II:
Encounters
An unusual Pope
By Margaret Alva

Pope John Paul II stood out for three issues during his reign. First was his relentless fight for 'life', whether it was against abortion, euthanasia, violence or war. Second, he stood for reconciliation. He was the first Pope to visit the Holy Mosque and the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. He celebrated Diwali in India, to show that he was reaching out to other faiths. He apologized for the injustice done to Jewish people for the silence and even collaboration of the church during the genocide (by Adolf Hitler). He went to Africa and said sorry for slavery and injustices done by Christian governments. He was responsible for the return of religion to Eastern Europe.



Third, he was a man of faith who did not sit in his ivory tower at the Vatican, but took the Vatican to the people by traveling to 129 countries. His special appeal lay with the youth but he was not popular with the liberals inside and outside the Catholic Church because of his strict adherence to the Christian values.

I represented India at the Global Parliamentarians' Meeting organized by the Italian Parliament in 2001 to celebrate 2,000 years of Christianity. I had the special opportunity of being one of the 12 Parliamentarians from around the world chosen for a special audience with His Holiness. He participated in the deliberations and gave guidance as we debated the future of the world and the religion. Despite the tiring schedule and indifferent health, his zeal and sense of humour were in evidence.

During his interaction with our delegation, when my turn came, I knelt before him. I had met him during his visits to India. He held my hand and asked: "How are things in India?" I answered: "We have problems. We need your prayers." He said "I am always with you," and blessed me. The Pope had a special interest in India. He ame here twice and on his first visit, in 1986, he travelled for 10 days, visiting different parts. The last paper he signed as Pope was to promote three Indian bishops. We will always remember him as the People's Pope.

Mrs. Alva's Brief Profile

Key Positions Held:

· 1972-73 - Convener, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Women's Front
· 1974-80 - Member, Rajya Sabha; Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of External Affairs
· 1975-76 - Convener, Congress Parliamentary Party; Member, Committee on Information and Broadcasting
· 1975-76 - Member, Executive, Congress Parliamentary Party
· 1975-77 - Joint Secretary, All India Congress Committee
· 1978-80 - General Secretary, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), Karnataka
· 1980-86 - Member, Rajya Sabha (2nd term); Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of External Affairs
· 1983-85 - Member, Panel of Vice-Chairmen, Rajya Sabha
· 1983-88 - National Convener, Mahila Congress
· 1984-85 - Minister of State, Parliamentary Affairs; Member, Committee on Public Undertakings
· 1985-89 - Minister of State, Youth Affairs, Sports, Women and Child Development in the Ministry of Human Resource Development
· 1986-92 - Member, Rajya Sabha (3rd term)
· 1990-91 - Chairman, Committee on Papers Laid on the Table, Rajya Sabha
· 1991 - Minister of State, Personnel, Public Grievances and
· 1992-98 - Member, Rajya Sabha (4th term)
· 1993-95 - Deputy Chief Whip, Congress Party, Rajya Sabha
· 1993-96 - Minister of State, Personnel, Public Grievances/Pensions with additional charge of Parliamentary Affairs
· 1996-97 - Member, Committee on External Affairs
· 1996-98 - Member, Committee on Public Accounts; Member, Committee on Ministry of Information/Broadcasting
· 1999 - Elected to 13th Lok Sabha; Panel of Chairmen
· 1999-00 - Member, Committee on Transport and Tourism; Member, House Committee; Member, General Purposes Committee
· 2000-01 - Chairman, Committee on the Empowerment of Women
· 2000- - Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Tourism

Did you know?
· Doctorate of Literature by the University of Mysore, 1989
· UN Expert Group meeting on Women in Decision-making, Vienna, 1987
· National Committee on Child Labor, 1979
· Commonwealth Observer Group for Elections in Cameroon

Positions Held:
· Member, All India Congress Committee
· 1972-73 Convener, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Women's Front
· 1974-80 Member, Rajya Sabha
· Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of External Affairs
· 1975-76 Convenor, Congress Parliamentary Party
· Member, Committee on Information and Broadcasting
· Member, Executive, Congress Parliamentary Party
· 1975-77 Joint Secretary, All India Congress Committee
· 1978-80 General Secretary, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), Karnataka
· 1980-86 Member, Rajya Sabha (2nd term)
· Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of External Affairs
· 1983-85 Member, Panel of Vice-Chairmen, Rajya Sabha
· 1983-88 National Convener, Mahila Congress
· 1984-85 Union Minister of State, Parliamentary Affairs
· Member, Committee on Public Undertakings
· 1985-89 Union Minister of State, Youth Affairs, Sports, Women and
· Child Development in the Ministry of Human Resource Development
· 1986-92 Member, Rajya Sabha (3rd term)
· 1990-91 Chairman, Committee on Papers Laid on the Table, Rajya Sabha
· Member, Executive, Congress Parliamentary Party
· 1991 Union Minister of State, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
· 1992-98 Member, Rajya Sabha (4th term)
· 1993-95 Deputy Chief Whip, Congress Party, Rajya Sabha
· 1993-96 Union Minister of State, Personnel, Public Grievances and
· Pensions with additional charge of Parliamentary Affairs
· 1996-97 Member, Committee on External Affairs
· 1996-98 Member, Committee on Public Accounts
· Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
· 1999 Elected to 13th Lok Sabha
· Member, Panel of Chairmen
· 1999-2000 Member, Committee on Transport and Tourism
· Member, House Committee
· Member, General Purposes Committee
· 2000-2001 Chairman, Committee on the Empowerment of Women
· 2000-2004 Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Tourism
· Literary Artistic & Scientific Accomplishments
· Course in oil painting, interior decoration and Ikebana
 

Awards, Honors and Achievements:

Best All Round Student, Mt. Carmel College, 1961; Conferred,
1. The Hon. Degree of Doctorate of Literature by the University of Mysore, 1989
2. Mahila Siromani Award, 1991
3. Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award, 1991; and
4. Dr. T.M.A. Pai Foundation Outstanding Konkani Award, 1991;
She is the President of Delhi Y.W.C.A., 1975-78; Delhi Foundation of Deaf Women, 1975-82; and World Women Parliamentarians for Peace, 1986-88 and Chairperson of: (i) Foreign Students' Welfare Committee of Indian Council of Cultural Relations, 1982-84; (ii) SAARC Technical Committee on Women, 1985-86; and (iii) UN Expert Group meeting on Women in Decision making, Vienna, 1987
General Secretary - All India Catholic University Federation, 1961; Joint Secretary, Government Law College Students Union, 1963-64.

Member of:
1. Indian Committee for International Women's Year, 1975
2. Indian Delegation to U.N. Conference for International Women's Year at Mexico, 1975;(iii) Indian Delegation to the United Nations
3. General Assembly, 1976 and 1998
4. Central Youth Advisory Board, 1976-77
5. National Children's Board, 1977-78
6. National Adult Education Board, 1978-79; (vii) National Committee on Child Labour, 1979
7. Governing Council of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, 1982-84
8. Bar Council of India Panel of Eminent Persons for Asia and the Pacific for HRD (ESCAP)
9. Governing Council of SID, Rome; and
10. Commonwealth Observer Group for Elections in Camaroon; daughter-in-law of late Joachim Alva and Violet Alva, freedom fighters and the first couple in the Indian Parliament; elected to IPU Co-ordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians, 2000.; Spokesperson, Congress Parliamentary Party

When I spoke to her, my first impression was - what a lovely person she is, very down to Earth, kind and no air about her whatsoever.

Konkaniworld.com salutes Mrs. Margaret Alva and wishes her all the best in her future endeavors!

Submitted by: Dr K.B. Mallya
Courtesy: Mangalorean.com