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Kapil Sibal

Personal Profile

Kapil Sibal
  • Date of Birth:
    August 8, 1948
  • Zodiac Sign:
    Leo
  • Place of Birth:
    Jalandhar, Punjab, India
  • Sex:
    Male
  • Hair Color:
    White
  • Eye Color:
    Brown
  • Nationality:
    Indian
  • Education:

    St. Stephen's College

    Harvard Law School, USA

Family

Kapil Sibal
  • Father:
    Hira Lal Sibal
  • Mother:
    Kailash Rani Sibal
  • Spouse:
    Late Nina Sibal
  • Son:
    Amit, Akhil

Career

Kapil Sibal

Trivia

Kapil Sibal
  • Kapil Sibal is a prominent Indian politician and former lawyer and is currently the Union Minister for Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences in the Government of India.
  • Previously he was elected to the Rajya Sabha in July 1998, and remained Additional Solicitor General of India, (December 1989 – December 1990) and President, Supreme Court Bar Association, on three occasions (1995-96, 1997-98 and 2001-2002).
  • He joined the Bar association in 1972. He qualified for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), and was offered an appointment, but declined the offer and instead he decided to set up his own law practice.
  • He was designated as a Senior Advocate in 1983.
  • He has been the Additional Solicitor General of India between 1989 and 1990.
  • He has contributed several articles on various prominent issues such as security, nuclear proliferation, terrorism etc., in national dailies and periodicals.
  • He won a landslide victory in the constituency of Chandni Chowk for the Indian National Congress against popular TV star Smriti Irani of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
  • Kapil Sibal led the first Indian expedition to the Arctic and was responsible for setting up an Indian Research Station ‘Himadri’ there in July, 2008.
  • Kapil Sibal was the first Indian Minister to have traveled to the icy continent of Antarctica and stayed at the Maitri base in sub-zero temperatures, for getting a first hand experience about the hardships being faced by the Indian scientists.
  • Kapil Sibal announced an upgrading of India's scientific facilities at the Maitri, besides augmenting the fleet strength of the piston bully vehicles required to travel on ice.

Quotes

Kapil Sibal
  • "This is one of the most historic orders of the Supreme Court. It gives a ray of hope to the victims of both the incidence at Godhra train as well as what happened after it. At last, the people of Gujarat and the people of the country are thankful to the court for continuing to live up to the expectations of the people."
  • "This is a mandate for Sonia Gandhi, PM and Rahul Gandhi."
  • "Together with our alliance partners we will have a safe majority."
View all Quotes: Kapil Sibal

Biography

Kapil Sibal
Last Updated: Thursday, September 24, 2009

Kapil SibalKapil Sibal comes from an illustrious Punjabi family.  He has been a Member of Parliament for over 10 years - first in 1998, as Member of the Rajya Sabha, and then in 2004, elected to the Lok Sabha from the Chandni Chowk Parliamentary Constituency. His father, Shri H.L. Sibal, a renowned advocate, was rendered homeless along with his entire family during partition and started his life afresh. In 1994, he was named a "Living Legend of the Law" by the International Bar Association. In 2006, the Government of India honoured him with the ‘Padma Bhushan’ award for his distinguished services in the field of Public Affairs.  Kapil Sibal’s two sons, Amit and Akhil, having both studied at Cambridge University, received degrees from the prestigious Harvard and Stanford Universities respectively. Both of them are now practicing law in India.

Kapil Sibal moved to Delhi in 1964. He graduated from St. Stephen’s College. After obtaining a law degree, he qualified for the IAS in 1973, but instead chose to set up his own law practice and went on to receive high praise from the courts. He then attended the world-famous Harvard Law School in the United States. In 1989, he was appointed the Additional Solicitor General of India. In 1994, he was the only lawyer to have appeared in the parliament, and that too successfully, to defend a Supreme Court Judge during impeachment proceedings.

Kapil SibalHe has been amongst the most articulate speakers in the Congress Party and was the official Spokesperson of the Party for the 1999 and 2004 Lok Sabha elections.  He articulated the partys position throughout the course of the negotiations on the Indo - US Nuclear Deal and is regarded as one of the most successful Ministers in this Government. He believes that science & technology provide the foundation for a modern and resurgent India, as well as perceives it as a vehicle that can completely transform the life of the common man for the better. He has given a new high profile to science and technology- both at the political and at the academic level.

He is always on the side of justice and has never shied away from challenging Shri L.K. Advani or Shri Narendra Modi. He has always espoused the cause of secularism and his clear position against the fascist and divisive forces of India is reflected in his parliamentary speeches. He has not lacked in speaking out against elements that seek to destroy Indias national and cultural heritage and dreams of, and works towards, a truly “Modern India." His generosity in giving, empathy with the less fortunate, desire to serve people and above all, willingness to fight injustice, married together with his integrity and honesty make him an ideal choice for election. The constituency of Chandni Chowk will continue to be well served under his leadership, just as he will be its proud representative.

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