Arvind Kejriwal has made a name for himself in Indian politics with his unconventional style and dedication to anti-corruption activities. He was born on August 16, 1968, in Siwani, Haryana, India. Arvind Kejriwal is one of the significant leaders who are involved as the Chief Minister of Delhi and also, he initiated Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Therefore, let us discuss about Arvind Kejriwal’s education, life, family background, caste system, scandals and net worth.
Early Life and Education
Arvind Kejriwal is the son to Gobind Ram Kejriwal (father) and Gita Devi (mother), born into a middle-class family in Hisar. His father worked as an electrical engineer while his mother was a housewife. The upbringing made him fierce irrespective of consequences; integrity and being hardworking were other virtues taught by his parents. Following that he studied at Campus School Hisar before joining Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur where he pursued Mechanical Engineering.
After graduating from IIT Kharagpur in mechanical engineering, Kejriwal joined Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 1995 after passing the civil services examination. In addition to that during his tenure as an officer in government service sector he had first-hand experience about corruption issues prevailing within India’s bureaucratic system thereby shaping him to be what he is today politically speaking.
Political Journey
Kejriwal’s journey into politics began with his involvement in social activism and the Right to Information (RTI) movement. He played a significant role in drafting the Lokpal Bill, a bill aimed at fighting corruption at all levels of governance. His activist work gained a lot of attention making him one of the leading faces in India’s anti-corruption drive.
In 2012, together with other activists, Kejriwal established Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had as the objective to create a platform where common people could participate in governing themselves and also fight corruption. The party found considerable resonance particularly among youth and urban voters.
In 2013, AAP secured a historic debut by winning 28 seats out of 70 in the Delhi Legislative Assembly elections. Kejriwal was sworn in as Chief Minister of Delhi but resigned after forty-nine days because other political parties were against the Lokpal Bill.
However, AAP won by huge margin during subsequent election held in 2015 when it won sixty-seven seats out of seventy available. Kejriwal took oath as Chief Minister of Delhi for second time concentrating on such important issues like education, healthcare infrastructure development etc.
Family and Personal Life
Arvind Kejriwal, who met his wife, Sunita, while both were students at IIT Kharagpur, is married. His spouse herself is an officer of IRS and stood by Kejriwal’s side during his political career. There are two children in the family: their daughter is Harshita and son named Pulkit.
Kejriwal’s politics aside, despite his busy schedule which affects people’s lives adversely, he has been known for his simplicity and down-to-earth attitude. He wears simple clothes that have become a symbol of just how plain he can be; thus, appearing like one holding a democratic public office.
Caste and Controversies
Arvind Kejriwal’s caste has always raised eyebrows among many people as well as sparked a myriad of debates. The community in which he was born into belongs to Banias caste that has always been associated with trade and commerce since ages back. Nevertheless, Kejriwal’s political beliefs cross barriers such as castes but have more emphasis on governance issues like corruption and social welfare.
Over the course of his political career there have been numerous instances when he was attacked by critics from every corner of the world and controversies started surrounding him. Due to confrontational approach on this matter, it resulted in clashes between them leading even to court cases against each other over this issue. At the same time though, there has been massive support for him from among general population who perceive him as an icon for honest governance because they see him as a beacon hope.
Among the major controversies surrounding Kejriwal was his decision to resign as the Chief Minister of Delhi after 49 days. To some, it was a principled step against corruption while others considered his governance ineffective.
Another issue that led to arguments in India is Kejriwal’s open conflict with the central government and other political parties. For instance, there was a continuous row between him and the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi over resource allocation for more than a year causing paralysis in the administration of national capital.
However, despite these challenges, he has stuck to his principles by using mechanisms such as public referendums and town hall meetings to directly engage with the citizens.
Net Worth
As of 2022, Arvind Kejriwal’s net worth comes around $2 million. The main source of his wealth arises from his earnings from being a chief minister as well as from his investments and other assets he owns. Yet Kejriwal is famous for living frugally and generally disclosing details about his earnings and possessions whenever possible in order to promote transparency in public life.
In the end, Arvind Kejriwal’s transformation from protester to a well-liked political leader mirrors the dreams and trials of current Indian politics. Indians are still inspired by his openness, responsibility, and people-centric governance as he runs Delhi among other Indian complications. The man remains like a hope for change and better life because he currently leads the government of Delhi which is also a tough game in India’s politics.