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Wife: Elizabeth Antony Religion: Atheism Age: 82 Years
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Arackaparambil Kurian Antony [1]The Times of India |
| Names Earned | St Antony [2]The New Indian Express |
| Profession | Politician |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters– 163 cm in meters– 1.63 m in feet & inches– 5’ 4” |
| Weight (approx.) | in kilograms– kg in pounds– lbs |
| Body Measurements (approx.) | – Chest: inches – Waist: inches – Biceps: inches |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black (half-bald) |
| Politics | |
| Political Party | • Indian National Congress (INC) (Before 1978; 1982–present)
• Indian National Congress-Urs (1978–1980) |
| Political Journey | • President of Kerala Pradesh Youth Congress Committee, 1966-69 • General Secretary of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) (1969-73) • Convener of State Liaison Committee of the Ruling Coalition, Kerala, 1970-77 • Elected as MLA from Cherthala Assembly constituency in 1970 • Served as Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha for five times between 1985 and 2022 • President of KPCC, 1973-77, 1978-82, and 1987-92 • Chief Minister of Kerala (27 April 1977 – 27 October 1978, 22 March 1995 – 9 May 1996, 17 May 2001 – 29 August 2004) • General Secretary of All India Congress Committee (AICC) (1984-87) • Became Member of Congress Working Committee (CWC) in 1992 • Served as the Minister for Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution for a year in 1994 as MP, Rajya Sabha during the tenure of Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao • Treasurer (Acting) of AICC (1994-95) • Became Member of Central Disciplinary Action Committee, AICC in 1993 • Became Member of Central Election Committee, AICC in 2001 • Elected as MLA from the Kazhakoottam assembly constituency in by-elections in 1977 • Elected as MLA from Cherthala Assembly constituency in 1996 • Leader of Opposition in Kerala Legislative Assembly from 20 May 1996 to 13 May 2001 • Elected as MLA from Cherthala Assembly constituency in 2001 • Defence Minister of India (26 October 2006 – 26 May 2014) |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 28 December 1940 (Saturday) |
| Age (as of 2022) | 82 Years |
| Birthplace | Cherthala, Travancore, British India (now Cherthala, Kerala, India) |
| Zodiac sign | Capricorn |
| Signature | |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Cherthala, Kerala, India |
| School | • Holy Family Boys High School, Cherthala, Kerala • Government Boys High school, Cherthala, Kerala |
| College/University | • Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam • Government Law College, Ernakulam |
| Educational Qualification | • Bachelor of Arts from Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam • Bachelor of Law from Government Law College, Ernakulam |
| Religion/Religious Views | A. K. Antony is a self-proclaimed atheist. [3]The Times of India He often advocates the philosophies of the spiritual leader and social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, who led a movement against injustice in the caste-ridden society of Kerala. [4]The News Minute |
| Ethnicity | A. K. Antony belongs to a Syrian Christian family. |
| Food Habit | Non-vegetarian [5]The Times of India |
| Address | Anjanam, Easwara Vilasam Road, Thiruvananthapuram, Pincode: 695014, Kerala, India |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Family | |
| Wife/Spouse | Elizabeth Antony (Kerala High Court lawyer) |
| Children | Son(s)– Anil Antony (tech entrepreneur and politician), Ajith Paul Antony (actor) (image in Parents section) Daughter– None |
| Parents | Father– Arackaparambil Kurien Pillai (deceased) Mother– Aleykutty Kurian (deceased) |
| Siblings | Brother– A. K. Thomas |
| Money Factor | |
| Assets/Properties | Moveable Assets • Cash: Rs. 8,000 • Deposits in Banks: Rs. 30,48,503 • Bonds, Debentures and Shares: Rs. Rs 35,750 • LIC or other insurance Policies: Rs 70,772 • Motor Vehicles: Rs 1,50,000 • Jewellery: Rs. 3,50,000 • Other assets: Rs. 4,00,000 Immovable Assets Note: The given estimates of moveable and immovable assets are as of 2016. It includes assets owned by his wife. [6]MyNeta |
| Net Worth (as of 2016) | Rs. 80,00,025
Note: It includes his wife’s net worth. [7]MyNeta |
Some Lesser Known Facts About A. K. Antony
- A. K. Antony is an Indian politician and the longest-serving Defence Minister of India. [8]The New Indian Express He was a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from Kerala for five terms (2005–2022), and he has served as the Chief Minister of Kerala for three times.
- He inclined towards politics during his formative years. While attending Government High School in Cherthala, he was the School Union Councillor from 1956 to 1957 and the Students Union Secretary from 1957 to 1958. From 1962 to 1963, he was the General Secretary of the College Students Union at Maharajas College, Ernakulam.
- An ardent supporter of the Nehruvian socialist ideals, he actively participated in student, youth, and labour movements. Twice, he went on Hunger March by foot from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram. He was also seriously injured and hospitalised due to Police Lathi Charge while participating in a fishermen’s agitation in Veluthulli near Cherthala.
- His association with Congress began as a student leader and activist of the Kerala Students Union (KSU), the student wing of the INC, in Cherthala under the guidance of MA John. He was the General Secretary of KSU in Cherthala from 1957 to 1958. He was the Treasurer of KSU from 1963 to 1964 and its State President from 1964 to 1966.
- At 32, AK Antony became the youngest-ever president of the KPCC. [9]Economic Times
- In 1992, Antony was defeated in the election to the KPCC presidentship.
- The tenure of the Kerala Legislative Assembly which was elected in 1970 was extended on three occasions during the Emergency. In 1977, K. Karunakaran of Congress was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Kerala under the coalition government United Front, but he had to resign within a month due to the controversial Rajan case. P. Rajan was an engineering student who was tortured during the Emergency during Karunakaran’s tenure as the Home Minister. Consequently, A.K. Antony was sworn in as the CM of Kerala on 27 April 1977. To fulfil his role as CM, he was elected as an MLA from the Kazhakoottam assembly constituency in by-elections. At 37, he became the youngest CM of Kerala ever. [10]Economic Times
A. K. Antony swearing in as the Chief Minister of Kerala in presence of Governer N. N. Wanchoo on 27 April 1977
- When Indira Gandhi declared Emergency in India in the late 1970s, Antony became one of her most uproarious opponents. He immensely criticised the use of Emergency powers and the rise of the “Sanjay wave.” The Congress split into two factions around 1978-79, one was Indira Gandhi-led Congress (I) and another was Devaraj Urs-led Indian National Congress (U). Karunakaran joined Congress (I), while Antony was a part of Congress (U).
An old image featuring Congress leaders A K Antony and Indira Gandhi
Antony resigned as CM of Kerala on 27 October 1978 when his Congress faction decided to support Indira Gandhi in the Chickmagalur bye-election. The United Front which won the 1977 election dissolved in 1979 leading to the creation of two long-running alliance formulas in the state, The United Democratic Front (UDF) consisting of the INC (I), and The Left Democratic Front (LDF) comprising, INC (U). Later, A. K. Antony split from Congress (U) and formed his own party, Congress (A), in Kerala. Congress (A) joined the LDF ministry headed by CPI(M) leader E. K. Nayanar. On 25 January 1980, Nayanar was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Kerala. Antony’s antipathy to Congress softened with the entry of Rajiv Gandhi into politics. The two soon formed a friendship following which Antony abandoned Nayanar. In October 1981, LDF lost their majority in the assembly when the Congress (A), the Kerala Congress (M) and the Janatha (Gopalan) withdrew support for the government to join the UDF, which led to the fall of the Nayanar ministry. An eight-member ministry was formed on 28 December 1981, with K. Karunakaran of Indira-Congress at the helm which dissolved on 17 March 1982. The state came under President’s rule for the eighth time which led to an interim election in 1982. In the elections, the UDF government was formed with K. Karunakaran as CM in association with Congress (A) and various other parties. Later, Congress (A) merged with INC (I). However, when again Karunakaran had to resign as CM in connection with the ISRO case, Antony was sworn in as the CM of Kerala for the second time on 22 March 1995. He contested and won the Tirurangadi Assembly seat in 1995 by-elections to fulfil his role as CM. He remained CM till 9 May 1996.An old image of A. K. Antony (in red circle) with other Congress leaders
- He resigned as food minister in 1994 on moral grounds when his ministry was involved in a sugar import scandal, although there were no allegations against him.
- Antony took over the reins of the Defence Ministry following a cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after the then Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee had to take over the Ministry of External Affairs from Natwar Singh, who lost his portfolio following the ‘Oil for food scam.’ Antony retained the portfolio of Defence after the 2009 general elections and became the longest-serving Defence Minister of India for his continuous stint of 8 years.
A. K. Antony with service Chiefs, General V.K. Singh, Admiral Nirmal Verma and Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik at the Amar Jawan Jyoti to mark Vijay Diwas, 39th anniversary of the victory day of the 1971 India-Pakistan war
- Antony’s tenure as a defence minister was filled with scams, crises, and unpreparedness for which he was immensely criticised. [11]India Today The Armed Forces were hit by the Sukhna land scam, the Adarsh Housing Society Scam, and the age row of Army Chief General V K Singh.
- He was elected as a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha for the fifth time on 3 April 2016. After his tenure ended on 2 April 2022, he also announced that he had quit parliamentary politics.
- For his non-controversiala nd clean political image, A. K. Antony is often referred to as ‘St Antony.’ Unlike other politicians, who are often accused of using public money to go on pleasure trips abroad, Antony did not make any foreign trips during his tenure as the 6th Chief Minister of Kerala though his cabinet colleagues travelled extensively. He announced that he would not accept any award. However, he always welcomed cash, which he diverted to the chief minister’s relief fund. Interestingly, he never refused a gift, but none of the gifts he got as chief minister travelled to his home. All of them were taken to the state museum, where a separate cupboard was set up to keep the gifts he received. [12]The Times of India
- He suffers from spondylitis and takes 10 days off every year in the month of Karkidakam, (a period between July and August according to the Malayalam calendar), to undergo an ayurveda treatment for it.
- A philanthropist, he founded the charitable organisation Vidyadhanam Trust, which works towards ensuring equitable outcomes for underprivileged children through education promotional activities. It has diversified charity projects such as Vidyadhanam and Vidyalekshmi (educational sponsorship), Vidyaposhanam-Poshakasamrudham (everyday nutritious mid-day meals), Vijnanaveedhi (providing students with quality motivational books), Ambilikku Oru Veedu (building affordable homes for the underprivileged and low-income families), and Meet the Great Achievers (offering students an opportunity to interact with men and women of eminence). As part of the Ambilikku Oru Veedu project, the Trust constructed a house for actress Molly Kannamaly in Chellanam. The trust also bestows the N.N. Sathyavrathan Memorial Award on outstanding media students in Kerala.
- He can speak four different languages, Malayalam, English, Tamil, and Hindi.
- He is the recipient of the Malayali of the Year award in 2007 instituted by Asianet.
- Mr Antony edited a Malayalam Weekly Kalasala during 1964-65 and later a Malayalam Daily Veekshanam from 1978-1982.
- In 2017, he suffered from a minor brain haemorrhage after he fell inside his house.
References/Sources:[+]
| ↑1, ↑12 | The Times of India |
|---|---|
| ↑2, ↑8 | The New Indian Express |
| ↑3 | The Times of India |
| ↑4 | The News Minute |
| ↑5 | The Times of India |
| ↑6, ↑7 | MyNeta |
| ↑9, ↑10 | Economic Times |
| ↑11 | India Today |