Biography of Rajesh Pilot

(February 10, 1945 - June 11, 2000)

One of India's most promising politicians and former Union Minister Rajeshwar Prasad alias Rajesh Pilot was born on February 10, 1945, in Baidipura village in Ghaziabad district, Uttar Pradesh. He belonged to a financially weak family and therefore had to sell milk as a young boy. After graduating in Arts, he joined the Indian Air Force and in a short span of time achieved the post of a Squadron Leader. But on Indira Gandhi's call, he stepped into politics.

He entered Parliament in 1980 and remained its member till 1999. He served as the Minister of State for Surface Transport in the Rajiv Gandhi government from 1985 to 1989. In 1999, he was made the Minister of State in the Narasimha Rao government with an independent charge of Communications. His efforts in resolving problems in Kashmir and North-Eastern parts of the country spoke amply of his capabilities. He died in a road accident near Bhandana Roadways in Davasa district of Rajasthan on June 11, 2000.