Biography

Biography

Ms. Mamata Banerjee (Hon'ble Railway Minister, Govt. of India and Chairperson, All India Trinamool Congress), daughter of Late Promileswar Banerjee and Mrs.Gayatri Banerjee, was born in Kolkata. Her father was a freedom fighter and her mother who has supported her family through all its ups and downs, had instilled the spirit of fair play, deep feeling for all human beings and the courage to stand for the down trodden. Such traits in her have been the guiding force, which has driven her to take on the most difficult of challenges and tasks. She holds Bachelor Degrees in Arts (B.A.), Education (B.Ed), Law (LLB) and a Masters degree in Arts(M.A.). Ms.Banerjee, was inducted to the West Bengal Chatra Parishad while as a student of Jogmaya Debi College and worked as a Member of the Working Committee of the Chatra Parishad during 1977-83. Held the post of General Secretary, West Bengal Congress (Indira) from 1979-80 and Secretary, West Bengal Provincial Trade Union Congress. During the period 1983-88, she was the Secretary of the Women's Wing of the Indian National Trade Union Congress and Secretary, South Calcutta District Congress (Indira) for the period 1980-85. In 1984, she was elected as a Member of Parliament from Jadavpur Constituency and held the post of General Secretary of the Youth Congress (Indira) and became a member of the National Council in 1987 and a member of the Executive Committee of the Congress Parliamentary Party in 1988. She has got re elected as a Member of Parliament in 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999 , 2004 and 2009 from the South Kolkata Parliamentary Constituency, making her one of India's most experienced Parliamentarians. She has been a member of several Parliamentary Committees and was appointed as a Minister of State for Youth and Sports, Women and Child Development, Government of India in 1991. She became the Railway Minister of the Government of India in 1999 and Cabinet Minister for Coal and Mines in 2004. Currently she is the Hon'ble Railway Minister,Govt of India. As a Member of Parliament, Ms. Banerjee has travelled across U.S.A., Russia and other countries. In spite of her very busy work schedule, she has authored over twenty books and created over 5000 oil paintings, quite a few of which have been auctioned. The proceeds of such auctions has been donated by her to various social activities. Ms. Banerjee is also an accomplished Poet. Her writings are in Bengali and English. Ms. Mamata Banerjee formed the All India Trinamool Congress on 1st Jan. 1998 and is popularly known as DIDI- the elder sister to all her followers.