Sompal

Sompal or Sompal Singh Shastri (सोमपालसिंह शास्त्री) is a political leader of Bharatiya Janata Party from Uttar Pradesh, India. He belongs to Bagpat district in Uttar Pradesh. He is very well known at both National and International levels. He created history when he defeated Chaudhary Ajit Singh in Lok Sabha election from Baghpat Seat. He has strong following in the Jat community. He played a major role for the upliftment of farmers and other community members. He had been Minister for Agriculture, Govt. of India and Member of Planning Commission, Govt. of India. He is presently Vice Chairman, State Planning Board, Madhya Pradesh. He is a highly respected expert in agriculture. The sheer comprehensiveness of his knowledge and the command of vast array of facts and figures at his fingertips are impressive. He is articulate in a number of languages including English and Hindi. He is honored with the "shastri" title for Sanskrit scholarship.

Family background

Sompal Singh Shastri was born on 20 January 1942 at village Kakor Kalan in Bagpat district of Uttar Pradesh state in India, in the family of Late Shri Raghuvir Singh Shastri. His father late Shri Raghuvir Singh Shastri was member of Parliament, 4th Lok Sabha 1967-70; Vice Chancellor, Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar 1971-76, Chancellor, Gurukul Kangri University, 1980-82; Secretary General, Punjab Arya Pratinidhi Sabha and Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha (The Apex body of Arya Samaj Organization); a renowned scholar of Sanskrit, Hindi and History, an eminent educationist and a social reformer. His mother late Smt. Gangadevi was a social worker.

His family

He married with Smt Radha on 14 May 1964. He has got one son and two daughters.

Education

He completed his High School from Uttar Pradesh Board, Allahabad,1957; B.A. Hons. (Economics), Delhi University, 1961; M.A. (Economics), Delhi University, 1964; LL.B., Delhi University, 1967

External links

* [http://www.centralchronicle.com/20060610/1006025.htm Make agriculture profitable occupation]
* [http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19980215/04650694.html Sompal strives to break a Baghpat tradition]
* [http://www.india-today.com/itoday/16031998/win13.html India Today Cover story Winners of 1998 ]
* [http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/03/03/stories/2004030300160800.htm National Commission on Farmers, at last : Sharad Joshi ]
* [http://planningcommission.nic.in/aboutus/history/sombody.htm Member's Profile from Planning Commission]
* [http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99sep09/head6.htm Som Pal banks on caste loyalty]
* [http://www.jatmahasabha.com/haryana.htm Jat Mahasabha Haryana]
* [http://www.jatland.com/home/Sompal_Singh_Shastri On Jatland]