Prabha Rau: A veteran of Maharashtra politics

A veteran Congress leader from Maharashtra, Prabha Rau played varied roles in state politics during her over three-decade long innings from being a cabinet minister to heading the party unit before taking up a gubernatorial post.

A known Nehru-Gandhi family loyalist, Rau took charge as Himachal Pradesh governor in July 2008 and later as governor of Rajasthan in January this year following the death of her predecessor SK Singh.

Rau, born on March 5, 1935 at Khandwa in a family of freedom fighters and social reformers of Maharashtra, was a former athlete who had represented the state in a number of sports like long jump, high jump and discus throw.

A post graduate in political science, she started her political career as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1972 and got elected six times from Deoli before entering the 13th Lok Sabha as representative of Wardha parliamentary seat in 1999.

Rau, who hailed from Vidarbha, spent a total of nearly 22 years as a member of the assembly from 1972 to 1990 and then again from 1995 to 1999. She lost the Lok Sabha election in 2004.

From 1972 to 1978, Rau had the distinction of holding several portfolios in the state ministry like planning, industry, education besides sports and youth affairs. From 1984 to 1989, she was the minister of revenue and cultural affairs. She became leader of the opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly 1979.

Rau was Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief from 1984 to 1989. She was again picked up for the post by party chief Sonia Gandhi in 2004 as Congress battled an anti-incumbency wave and returned to power in Maharashtra. She occupied the post till 2008.

She was also the chairperson of Maharashtra state commission for women besides holding several party positions. She was also vice chairperson and general secretary of AICC and member of the Congress working committee.

Rau also led an Indian delegation for a UN conference in Mexico and also represented the country at Commonwealth Countries Conference in Nairobi.

She is the fourth Rajasthan governor to die while in office after Darbara Singh, Nirmal Kumar Jain and SK Singh. 

Married to late S Anand Rau on October 14, 1959, she is survived by two daughters -- Sanyogita Kamlesh Morarji settled in Mumbai and Charulata Khajan Singh Tokas who stays in the national capital.

She was also a PG diploma holder in Indian classical music.