Present Governor
Shri Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju ·
· Born on the 26th June, 1951 to Dr. P. V. G. Raju and Kusum in Chennai.
· Pursued education in Saint Joseph’s Convent, Visakhapatnam; Scindia School, Gwalior; Hyderabad Public School, Hyderabad; and V. S. Krishna College, Visakhapatnam;
· Married Suneela on 24.05.1973 and the couple are blessed with two daughters, P. Aditi Vijaya Lakshmi Gajapathi Raju (Born: 24.11.1982) and Vidyavathi Devi Gajapathi Raju (01.05.1984)
Ashok is the second son of Late Dr. P. V. G. Raju, the founder of MANSAS Trust and a distinguished & multi-faceted personality whose values and principles have had a profound impact on Ashok as he was growing up. Having plunged into politics inspired by anti-emergency agitations, Ashok has a more than 4 decades of political career. He first became a Member of Legislative Assembly for Vizianagaram Constituency in the State of Andhra Pradesh from Janata Party in 1978. Inspired by the clarion call of Sri N. T. Rama Rao who founded Telugu Desam Party, he joined the party in 1982. His commitment, integrity, and a record of hard-work & delivery enabled him to serve as State Cabinet Minister in the state of Andhra Pradesh holding charge of important portfolios of Commercial Taxes & Excise, Finance & Planning, Revenue & Legislative Affairs in multiple TDP governments formed under the leadership of Late Sri N. T. Rama Rao and Sri N. Chandra Babu Naidu. His contributions while in opposition benches being a strong voice of reason and representative of issues of common man always found resonance and he was bestowed with best legislature award. Ashok is also a sports enthusiast, has worked tirelessly to promote sports and has served as President of Andhra Cricket Association.
Late Dr. P. V. G. Raju started MANSAS (Maharajah Alak Narayan Society of Arts & Science) Trust in 1958 to support the cause of Education with the vision to empower people through Education, named in hallowed memory of his father & grand-father of Ashok, Maharajah Alak Narayan Gajapathi Raju. The responsibility of Chairman of MANSAS Trust devolved on Ashok in March 2016 after the sad demise of his elder brother, Sri Anand Gajapathi Raju. Since getting the responsibility of Chairman – MANSAS, Ashok has given renewed impetus to functioning of MANSAS in its quest to meet its objectives. Ashok also has received the mantle & responsibility of serving as Hereditary Trustee of 105 temples as per usage & customs prevalent over centuries, which include Lord Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam, Simhachalam.
In 2014, Ashok was given the responsibility of serving the nation in the capacity of Union Minister for Civil Aviation in the Cabinet of Sri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister which responsibility he held till March, 2018. Civil Aviation in India made massive strides forward during his tenure. He is passionate and always excited about new ideas and work in the sphere of Education, wholistic development of youth, Environment Protection & Sustainability, Social equity driven by the core values he has always held strong for over nearly 5 decades of public life.
