Hardeep Singh Puri
Union Minister (IC) for Housing & Urban Affairs and Civil Aviation
Minister of State for Commerce & Industry | Government of India (INDIA)
Ancestry:
Rawalpindi (undivided British India)
Birthplace & Residence:
New Delhi (INDIA)
A DIPLOMAT & POLITICIAN
He has dedicated over 40 years to public service as a teacher, diplomat and author. Today as a Minister in the Union government, he is actively working on India’s urban transformation; robust growth of the Civil Aviation sector; and in shaping the nation’s trade and industrial policy.
I was born in Delhi in 1952. My parents, Sardar Bhagat Singh Puri and Bibi Kundan Kaur, were forced to flee from Rawalpindi and Peshawar, respectively, and relocated to Delhi. My father was a diplomat and mother was a homemaker. My younger brother, Pradeep Puri, is also a former Civil Servant.
I was educated primarily in Delhi, and completed my graduate and post-graduate studies in history from the prestigious Hindu College, Delhi University. I received a first in order of merit during my BA, and also graduated with a first division in MA.
Having completed my studies, I was appointed as a lecturer on the teaching faculty of the prestigious St Stephens College, Delhi University.
Serving India is in my blood
A year later in 1974, I joined the Indian Foreign Service, where I would serve for the next 39 years. I served to secure India’s national interests in crucial postings in Japan, Sri Lanka, Switzerland (Geneva), United Kingdom, Brazil and USA – the last four in Ambassadorial capacities, and was the Coordinator of the UNDP/UNCTAD Multilateral Trade Negotiations Project to help developing countries in the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations. From 1994 to 1997, I served as Joint Secretary to the Government of India in Ministry of Defence and from 1997 to 1999, as Joint Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of External Affairs. I also served as Secretary to the Government of India (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs.
In 2009, I became the first Sikh to be appointed Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations in New York. I also served as President of the United Nations Security Council and as the chairman of the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee.
Inspired by these experiences I have also published several books, research papers and journals. This includes:
• Separating the Wheat from the Chaff: Decoding Dominant Narratives (Konark Publications, 2019),
• Delusional Politics (Penguin Random House, 2019),
• Perilous Interventions: The Security Council and the Politics of Chaos (Harper Collins, 2016).
She has been a big support throughout my life
I married Lakshmi on 9 February 1975. She is a graduate from the University of Delhi and is post-graduate in History from Punjab University. She is fluent in English, Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi and knows French and Japanese.
Topper of our batch, Lakshmi joined the Indian Foreign Services in 1974, and has served in Japan, Sri Lanka, Switzerland and Hungary – the last in Ambassadorial capacity. She has also been the Assistant Secretary-General at the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of United Nations Women. We are proud parents to two daughters, Himyani and Tillotama.
On 28 February 2013, I retired from the Indian Foreign Services and joined the New York-based non-profit organisation, International Peace Institute, as Senior Vice President. I was also Secretary-General of the Independent Commission on Multilateralism.
Back in India, I was appointed Chairman of Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), an autonomous think-tank under the aegis of the Ministry of External Affairs, to promote India’s trade, investment and economic interests in the world.
Joining politics was a decision taken to serve my India
Since my days at Delhi University, I have been apolitically active citizen. During this period of time, I was associated with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and contested college elections. From winning the student elections as Prime Minister of the Hindu college parliament to being inducted in the Council of Ministers in September 2017, my political journey has been a fulfilling one.
As Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, I am proud to state that PM Modi’s government has overseen building of over 60 lakh household toilets, sanctioned 93 lakh affordable homes, and commenced work on 100 smart cities (completed 1,289 smart city projects). Post the national elections 2019 along with my charge of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, I was also made Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Minister of State for Commerce & Industry.
Philosophy
I am strong believer in the Gandhian philosophy of ‘Sarvodaya’ through ‘Antodaya’. Sustainable and inclusive development that reaches the farthest first is the only recipe to pull millions of people out of poverty.
As a minister leading social development programmes like ‘Swachh Bharat’, ‘Housing for all’ and ‘Smart Cities’ – I have tried to ensure, that those at the bottom of the pyramid have access to essential goods and services.
I love…
listening to classic rock music by stalwarts like Pink Floyd and Bob Dylan.
I’d suggest the youth…
Adopt the core tenets of Sikhism in their everyday life. Kirat Kamai, Vand Chakko, and Simran and Naam Japo are as relevant today as they were five centuries ago.
Success Mantra
As a diplomat, my guiding principle for success was to project and protect India’s National Interest. This principle has stayed with me and I continue to serve the people of India with the same fervour as a minister.
The world doesn’t know that…
That I was the first Sikh to preside over the United Nations Security Council and to chair its Counter-Terrorism Committee
AKA
Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri | Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Puri
Gallery
ISBN : 9788193397695