Vijay Darda Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Bio/Wiki
Full name(s)	• Vijay Jawaharlal Darda [1]PRS Legislative Research • Vijay J. Darda
Profession(s)	• Politician • Journalist • Businessman • Author • Philanthropist
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)	in centimeters- 168 cm in meters- 1.68 m in feet & inches- 5’ 6”
Weight (approx.)	in kilograms- 70 kg in pounds- 154 lbs
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Black
Politics
Political Party	Indian National Congress (INC)
Political Journey	• 1998: Became a Rajya Sabha member for the first time as an independent candidate. • 2004: Re-elected as a Rajya Sabha member. • 2010: Re-elected as a Rajya Sabha member again.
Bills Presented	As a member of Rajya Sabha, he has presented several bills. • 23 December 2005: The Electronic Waste (Handling and Disposal) Bill • 23 December 2005: The National Commission for Hygienic Food, Packed Drinks and Water Bill • 3 March 2006: The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2006 (To amend articles 105 and 194) • 3 March 2006: The Whistle Blowers (Protection in Public Interest Disclosures) Bill • 14 March 2006: The Pathological Laboratories and Clinics (Regulation and Control) Bill • 28 July 2006: The Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (Amendment) Bill • 28 July 2006: The Rajya Sabha Secretariat (Administration) Bill • 28 July 2006: The Tele-Shopping (Protection of Consumer’s Rights) Bill • 8 December 2006: The Mobile Camera Phone Users (Code of Conduct) Bill • 8 December 2006: The Children School Bags (Limitation on Weight) Bill • 8 December 2006: The Personal Data Protection Bill • 27 April 2007: The Consumer Goods Price Fixation Board Bill • 27 April 2007: The Prevention of Atrocities on Women Bill • 27 April 2007: The Compulsory Registration of Marriages Bill • 24 August 2007: The Supreme Court (Establishment of a Permanent Bench at Nagpur) Bill • 24 August 2007: The Information Technology and Infotainment Facilities in Villages Bill • 24 August 2007: The Divorced Women (Protection and Welfare) Bill • 31 July 2009: The Compulsory Medical Preparedness in Schools Bill • 31 July 2009: The White Asbestos (Ban on Use and Import) Bill • 19 December 2008: The Special Courts for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Bill • 19 December 2008: The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill • 19 December 2008: The Gymnasiums and Fitness Centres (Regulation) Bill • 11 May 2012: The Prevention of Atrocities on Women Bill • 11 May 2012: The Pathological Laboratories and Clinics (Regulation and Control) Bill • 28 November 2014: The White Asbestos (Ban on Use and Import) Bill • 28 November 2014: The Supreme Court (Establishment of a Permanent Bench at Nagpur) Bill • 28 November 2014: The Personal Data Protection Bill • 4 December 2015: The Gymnasiums and Fitness Centres (Regulation) Bill • 4 December 2015: The Electronic Waste (Handling and Disposal) Bill • 4 December 2015: The Consumer Goods Price Fixation Board Bill • 29 April 2016: The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill • 29 April 2016: The Prevention of Atrocities on Women Bill
Awards & Honours	• 1983: Best Produced Newspaper Award (Printing Technology) by President of India, Giani Zail Singh • 1987: Outstanding Youth Person Award by Indian National Jaycees (Chapter: Yavatmal Cotton City Jaycees, Maharashtra, India) • 1990-91: Feroze Gandhi Memorial Award by the then Prime Minister of India, P. V. Narasimha Rao • 1996: Nemichand Shrishrimal Foundation Award for Excellence in Journalism. • 2001: Ten Outstanding Businessmen, Industrialists & Professionals Award • 2003: Late Vidyadhar Gokhale Memorial Award of 7th Maharashtra Cine Natya Paritoshik awarded by Maharashtra Kala Niketan, Mumbai • 2006: Brijlal Biyani Award for Journalism • 2007: Late S. M. Garge Journalism Award for Excellence in Journalism • 2007: Yavatmal Bhushan Award awarded by Yavatmal Rotary Club, Maharashtra, India • 2010: Late P. Y. Deshpande Memorial Pashik Chandrabhage Tiri Award • 2011: International Jurist Award by President of the Supreme Court of the UK, Lord Philips in London • 2016: Giant International Journalism Award • 2022: Global Peace Award during the International Sufi Rang Mahotsav 2022 organized by Chishty Foundation at Ajmer (Rajasthan) on 7 October 2022 • 2022: Global Achiever (Best Politician) Award at the World Summit for Global Achievers 2022 ceremony on 17 October 2022 • Mahakaruna Award from Bhikkhu Sanghasena, Founder President & Spiritual Director of Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre, Leh (Ladakh)
Personal Life
Date of Birth	14 May 1950 (Sunday)
Age (as of 2023)	73 Years
Birthplace	Yavatmal, Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India
Zodiac sign	Taurus
Signature
Nationality	Indian
Hometown	Yavatmal
School	Government Multipurpose High School, Yavatmal (passed in 1967)
College/University	• Harvard University, Massachusetts • Bhavan's College, affiliated with Mumbai University
Educational Qualification(s)	• Diploma in Journalism and Printing Technology (1970) from Bhavan's College [2]MyNeta • Bachelor's degree in Arts from Harvard University
Religion	Jainism [3]Hindustan Times
Caste/Sect	Shwetambar
Hobbies	• Singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, and poetry • Playing cricket, football, and cycling
Controversy	Conviction in Coalgate [4]Business Standard [5]Hindustan Times On 13 July 2023, a Delhi court convicted Vijay Darda and former coal secretary H.C. Gupta, along with five others, in a coal block scam case in Chhattisgarh. The court found them guilty of criminal conspiracy and cheating under Sections 120-B and 420 of the IPC and under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The case was reopened in 2014 after rejecting the CBI's closure report. Vijay Darda, the chairperson of the Lokmat Group, was accused of misrepresenting facts in letters to the then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to secure a coal block for JLD Yavatmal Energy Pvt Ltd. The 35th Screening Committee had allocated the coal block to the company. Devender Darda, K.S. Kropha, K.C. Samria, JLD Yavatmal Energy Pvt Ltd, and its Director Manoj Kumar Jayaswal were also convicted. This marked the 13th conviction in the coal scam, which caused controversy during the UPA-II government. The CAG had criticized the government for the inefficient allocation of 194 coal blocks, estimating a loss of Rs 1.86 lakh crore to the exchequer. The Court sentenced him and his son to four years jailtime on 26 July 2023.
Relationships & More
Marital Status	Widower
Marriage Date	16 February 1971
Family
Wife/Spouse	Jyotsna Darda (Died on 23 March 2013 due to cancer)
Children	Son- Devendra Darda (Businessman) Daughter- Purva Darda Kothari
Parents	Father- Jawaharlal Darda (Freedom fighter, Maharashtra cabinet minister of Energy and Industry, and the founder of Lokmat publications; died on 25 November 1997) Mother- Veenadevi Darda
Siblings	Brother- Rajendra Darda MLA from Aurangabad East Assembly from 1998 to 2013 and Maharashtra cabinet minister of Education and Industry) Sister- None
Other Relatives	Daughter-in-law- Rachana Darda Son-in-law- Sunit Kothari Grandson- Aryaman Darda
Style Quotient
Car Collection	Tata Nano
Money Factor
Assets/Properties	Movable Assets Cash: Rs. 3,95,662 Bank Deposits: Rs. 6,10,22,356 Bonds, Debentures and Shares in companies: Rs. 2,23,71,513 NSS & Postal Savings: Rs. 16,38,676 LIC: Rs 4,00,000 Motor Vehicles: Rs. 2,51,900 Jewellery: Rs. 86,86,845 Others: Rs. 11,70,43,016 Immovable Assets Agricultural Land: Rs. 2,41,16,193 Non-Agricultural Land: Rs. 2,48,63,384 Buildings: Rs. 3,28,93,196 Houses: Rs. 5,97,98,414 Others: Rs 3,28,000  Note: The given estimates of movable and immovable assets are according to the year 2010. It excludes the net worth of his wife. [6]MyNeta
Net Worth (approx.)	Rs. 35 crores 35 lakhs Note: The net worth was for the financial year 2009-2010. It excludes the net worth of his wife. [7]MyNeta

Some Lesser Known Facts About Vijay Darda

• Vijay Darda is an Indian politician, businessman, journalist, author, and philanthropist. He has served as the chairman of Lokmat Media Group. He has been a three-time Rajya Sabha member. He has also been involved with various social work organizations. In July 2023, he was convicted of corruption in the Coalgate scam and sentenced to four years in jail.

• After completing his formal education, he pursued a career in the press and later ventured into politics.
  

  Vijay Darda (extreme left) during his early years in journalism

• On 15 December 1971, Vijay Darda assumed the leadership of the Marathi Newspaper Lokmat. With his vision, he successfully introduced Lokmat English and Lokmat Hindi newspapers. Throughout his remarkable five-decade-long career, He worked with several national and international media organizations, serving in diverse roles and making notable contributions.
  

  Vijay Darda speaking at a program of Lokmat newspaper

• During his tenure as the President of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) from 1997 to 1998 and Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) from 2010 to 2011, Vijay Darda took proactive measures to safeguard journalists from violence and ensure their safety. He played a crucial role in eliminating anti-dumping duty on newsprint and securing concessional electricity tariffs for newspaper establishments.
  

  Vijay Darda with Bal Thackeray (left) in the late 1990s

• A significant accomplishment of Vijay Darda was the founding of the South Asian Editors Forum (SAEF) in 1999. The idea originated from an editors’ conference held in Colombo during the Kargil War. Taking on the role of Founding President, he sought to utilize the media’s influence in South Asia to ease tensions between Pakistan and India, with a specific focus on resolving the contentious Kashmir issue. His efforts aimed to foster communication and understanding among media professionals in the region to promote peace and cooperation.

• He played a key role in setting up the world’s first statue of ‘Freedom of Press,’ unveiled in 2013 at the Lokmat printing press in Butibori, Nagpur. The inauguration of the statue was done by the Union Home Minister, Sushilkumar Shinde. In addition to his contributions to the media industry, he has served as the chairman of the Lokmat Media Group.
  

  Vijay Darda during the unveiling of the Freedom of Press statue

• He served as a member of the Press Council of India in New Delhi for two consecutive terms, from March 1998 to 2001 and March 2001 to 2004. As the Managing Trustee of the Press Institute of Maharashtra in Pune and a Life Member of The Advertising Club of India in Mumbai, he has made notable contributions to the advertising industry. Additionally, he holds memberships in prestigious international organizations such as the World Association of Newspapers in Paris, France, and the Commonwealth Press Union in London, UK. He is a member of the All India Newspapers Editors Conference in New Delhi and the Indian Languages Newspapers’ Association in Mumbai.

• He is a member of the Committee responsible for deciding comprehensive policies and regulating advertisements in Newspapers & Periodicals. He also serves on the Co-ordination Committee to combat and control attacks on Journalists and Press Establishments. As a member of the Maharashtra State Accreditation Committee, he contributes to providing accreditation facilities to journalists. His role as a member of the Ad-hoc Board of Studies in Mass Communication at Nagpur University and the National Readership Studies Council in Mumbai reflects his involvement in understanding readership trends and insights in the media domain.
  

  Vijay Darda during a press council meeting

• He has also been a member of the Vidarbha Daily Newspapers Association in Nagpur, the International Advertising Association in New York (USA), the Advisory Panel of the Central Board of Film Certification, and the Judging Committee of the 22nd National Awards for Excellence in Printing, Designing of Books, and Other Publications (1980).

• Vijay Darda has also made business ventures in the real estate and investment sectors. He holds the positions of Chairman and Managing Director at Darda Investments & Properties Ltd., the Chairman of Cozy Properties Pvt. Ltd., and a Partner at Mangal Mudran (Printing Press) in Yavatmal.
  

  Vijay Darda with Ratan Tata (left) during a business meeting

• Vijay Darda has had an extensive and diverse career as a member of various committees and forums in the Indian Parliament. He served as a member of both the Standing Committee on Information and the Standing Committee on Finance from 1998 to 2004, a member of the Standing Committee on Technology from 2004 to 2006 and the Konkan Railways Users Consultative Committee in 2005. He also became a part of the Indo-China Society and the Indo-US Parliamentary Forum, serving from 2005 onwards and between 2004 and 2010, respectively.

• During his tenure as Rajya Sabha MP, he held positions such as a member of the Consultative Committee for Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Civil Aviation from 2010 to 2016. In 2008, he took part in the India-Yale Parliamentary Leadership Program in Washington D.C., USA.
  

  Vijay Darda during an India-Yale Parliamentary Leadership Program tour

• Darda’s contributions extended to various specialized committees and advisory groups. He was a member of the Committee on Petitions, the Committee on Subordinate Legislation, the Central Consumer Protection Council, and the Philatelic Advisory Committee of the Department of Posts, among others. He also played an active role in the Indo-Pak Parliamentary Forum, the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Culture, and the Committee on Finance.

• He served as the Vice-President of the India-Israel  Parliamentary Friendship Group from May 2013 to 2014, and as a member of the Parliamentary Forum on HIV/AIDS, the Committee on Commerce, and the Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, and Forests (2016).

• In addition to his parliamentary responsibilities, he was also part of the Advisory Group of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, various Hindi Salahakar Samitis related to commerce, railways, and other sectors, the Bureau of Indian Standards, and the Organizing Committee of the Commonwealth Games 2010.
  

  Vijay Darda with Draupadi Murmu when he was a parliamentary forum member

• Vijay Darda has authored numerous books covering diverse topics, including touching reminiscences of his parents and his own experiences. Some of his notable works include ‘Tapsi: Reminiscences of Veenadevi Darda,’ ”The Indian Emergency as Seen by an Indian’ (English version), ‘Lokmat Congress Centenary Special-1985,’ ‘Sanskar Pushpa,’ discourses of Jain Sadhvi Preeti Sudha Ji, ‘Raktanjali,” a book of inspiring poems dedicated to the Kargil Martyrs and written by Col. V. P. Singh, as well as ‘Straight Thoughts,’ ‘Na Sampanare Shabda,’ ‘Seedhi Baat,’ ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram,’ and ‘Public Issues Before Parliament.’
  

  Vijay Darda with Narendra Modi during the release of one of his books

• He has actively contributed to various social causes, advocating for women empowerment, specially-abled upliftment, religious harmony, and environmental concerns. Notably, he organized a large-scale agriculture exhibition in 2008 in Amravati, Maharashtra, to benefit farmers in the Vidarbha region. His philanthropic efforts extended to establishing hostels in Aurangabad, Nagpur, and Solapur. He donated Rs 40 lakhs for Nepal earthquake relief in 2015 and Rs 71 lakhs to the Army Central Relief Fund in 2022.
  

  Vijay Darda donating sprayers to farmers

• He later provided financial aid to Jeet Singh, the grandson of Shaheed-e-Azam Udham Singh, and supported the marriage of the youngest daughter of Sultana Begum, the great granddaughter-in-law of India’s last Mughal Emperor Bahadurshah Zafar, with a contribution of Rs 2 lakhs. ^[8]The Indian Express Demonstrating a commitment to rural development, he adopted Bhari village in the Yavatmal district under the Parliamentary Ideal Village Development Program, transforming it into a model village at a cost of Rs 1 crore.
  

  Vijay Darda during a program for differently-abled children

• At his residence in Yavatmal, Vijay Darda has honoured his parents by erecting a statue in their likeness, naming it Prerna Sthal as a symbol of inspiration and tribute to their memory.
  

  Vijay Darda with Sri Sri Ravishankar at his parent’s statue named Prerna Sthal

• Some of his envisioned projects include the Wardha-Yavatmal-Nanded railway line and a Rs 200 crore package for the widows of farmers in the Vidarbha region who have committed suicide. He demanded a separate state to be made out of Vidarbha region in Parliament in 2014.

• He developed an interest in wildlife during his childhood and was particularly fond of wildlife photography. ^[9]Hindustan Times