GOVERNOR OF MEGHALAYA

A Brief Profile of His Excellency Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary, Governor of Meghalaya

Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary is a well-known public figure. He was born in a backward village – Odlaguri – near Gossaigaon in Assam to a Bodo tribal family steeped in poverty. Very early in life, right after his matriculation, he had to take up petty jobs to support the family and through great hardship and deprivation persevered with his higher education as a night shift student and obtained a degree in political science with honors and was selected for the Indian Police Service in 1967 in his 1st attempt. He was the youngest in his batch.

He has the distinction of being the first Bodo IPS Officer and the first man from the Northeast of India to hold the position of Director General in the Central Police Organizations and in his illustrious career spanning nearly 39 years earned much goodwill and recognition due to his competence, honesty and dedication. He is a recipient of the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service. He worked in Kerala – his cadre State – for many years, but was not confined there and his zeal to explore and learn took him across the length and breadth of the country including Jammu & Kashmir in a wide range of assignments that broadened his perspective and enriched his experience.

He was Director General of Police in Kerala, Director General of the National Security Guard and Director General of the Border Security Force, from which post he retired in February 2006. In every assignment he held he demonstrated his resolute and determined leadership, yet with a human face, and never compromised on the principles of justice, fairplay and truth.

He became the first Chief Information Commissioner of the State of Assam in 2006 on retiring from the IPS and was the only person in the country from the police background to be appointed to that position. The Assam Information Commission, under his stewardship, soon became a focal point in an effort to create a culture of transparency and accountability in governance as envisioned in the Right to Information Act, 2005, with a view to combating corruption in public services and his pro-active role won him much public plaudits.

He assumed the office of Governor of the State of Meghalaya on 1st July 2008. He is the first tribal Governor of this tribal State and the only non politician ever from the northeast of India to hold this exalted office besides being the first person from Assam to be appointed a Governor after 1987.

Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary is conscientious, erudite and articulate with incisive analytical ability and clarity of thought. He was an edit-page article contributor before becoming the Governor. He is deeply interested in public administration, development economics, contemporary politics, history, philosophy and literature. His mission is fighting corruption, social inequity & superstition and conciliating conflicts through understanding and tolerance. He is positive, considerate, caring and accessible with a passion for change and improving the quality of life.

At sixty four, he is one of the youngest Governors in the country and enjoys robust health and youthful energy. He is married to Rema Menon from Kerala and they have a son – Ranjay and a daughter – Tamanna.

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