Name: Shrimati Prabha Rau
Date of Birth: 4^th March 1935
Place of Birth: Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh

Family Background:

• Born in the Wasu family of Freedom Fighters and social reformers of village Rohni,District Wardha, (Vidarbha), in Maharashtra. Vinoba Bhave’s Ashram was initially housed in the Wasu family home. Drinking water and temples were made accessible to the dalits by the Wasus.

• Maternity Hospital was donated to Kasurba Trust by Late Gulabrao Wasu (father), an engineer from Glasgow who had joined the swadeshi movement. Late Manubai Wasu (mother), a qualified doctor, left her Govt. service. Stayed in Sewagram Ashram with Gandhiji. Served the rural areas, gratis.

Education: Master in Political Science, Post Graduate Diploma in Indian Classical Music. As a student, represented India twice abroad as Leader and Member of University athletic and cultural delegations.

Government Appointments:

• Chairperson, Maharashtra State Commission for women (1993-95), Cabinet Minister, Government of Maharashtra(four times) holding portfolios of Revenue and Cultural Affairs(1988-90), Co-operation and Tourism(1978), Education, Sports & Youth Affairs (1976-77) etc. Also held portfolios of Planning, Industry & Education, as Minister of State, Government of Maharashtra (1972-76). Leader of Opposition, Congress (I) Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly, (1979).

• Elected as Member of Parliament, 27-Wardha, Maharashtra, Lok Sabha Constituency (1999).

Political Assignments:

• Chairperson of District Co-operative Land Development Bank, Wardha (1965-1972).

• Deputy Leader, Congress Legislative Party, Maharashtra (1985-90).

• Member, Congress Working Committee; Member Central Election Committee; General Secretary, All India Congress Committee.

• Member, Central Election Authority, INC 1999.President-Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee(I) 1984-89 and from 30-6-2004 till 18-7-2008.

• Pradesh Returning Officer-Punjab for AICC Presidential Elections (1997) and for PCC Elections(1997). Also AICC Observer in AP for Party Organisational Elections(1997) and AICC Observer, In-charge of entire States of Haryana, Kerala & Himachal Pradesh.

• Vice-Chairperson, AICC Centenary Committee. Vice Chairperson, AICC Campaign Committee. Special Assignments for Congress Presidents in States of Punjab, Himachal, Assam, Gujrat, MP, AP, Tamil Nadu & Karnataka

Diplomatic Assignments:

• Leader, Indian Delegation to the U.N. Conference on International Women’s year, Mexico, 1975. Elected Vice-Chairperson of the Conference. Leader, Indian Delegation to the UNESCO Conference of Pedagogy, East Berlin, 1975.

• Leader, Indian Delegation to the UN Conference on Women’s Decade at Vienna in 1983. Elected Vice-Chairperson of the Conference and Chairperson of the Pacific Group of Countries. Represented India for Common Wealth Countries Conference as one person delegation to Kenya at Nairobi.

Gubernatorial Assignment:Took over as Governor of Himachal Pradesh from 19th July,2008.

The Chancellor:

• The Governor by virtue of this office is also the Chancellor of the Universities in the State.

• Her role as Chancellor, envisages creating right environment and conditions for the Universities so as to enable them to make greater contribution to the cause of Higher education in the state.