The veteran leader, politician,
parliamentarian, administrator, freedom fighter, statesman and culture
enthusiast held many key positions in different fields. In his political
career, which spans over nearly four decades, he was Cabinet Minister at
the Centre as well as the state of Rajasthan. He held several important
portfolios, which includes Shipping, Communi-cations, External Affairs,
Textiles and Defence. He was also the chairman of the Joint
Parliamentary Committee in the 1990s to go into the Harshad Mehta
securities scam.
Mirdha was the president of the
Indian Federation of United Nations Associations (IFUNA), honorary
president of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA),
Geneva and president of the Indian Society of International Law. He has
represented India at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.The
statesman also takes an interest in sports. He has been the Chairman of
National Institute of Sports, deputy chairman of the Organizing
Committee for the IXth Asian Games.
A culture enthusiast, Mirdha has
served as the chairperson of the Lalit Kala Akademi twice, first between
1975 and 1980, and later, from 1990 to 1995. He was also the Chairman of
National Academy of Fine Arts.
The 80-year old Mirdha was born in
Kuchera village in the district of Nagaur, Rajasthan. He had his master
degree in law from Allahabad and Lucknow University and did his
International Studies from Geneva.
For the last couple of months,
Sonal Mansingh has been facing a campaign against her and has been
charged with ‘autocratic and undemocratic’ style of functioning. Mirdha,
who succeeded Mansingh, was appointed to the post by a presidential
order for five years. He is expected to infuse a new life to the
controvercy ridden Academy.
