Minister Rajeevchandrasekhar Early Life - Son of an

Armed Forces family

Born on

31st May, 1964

in Ahmedabad, Gujarat to Air Commodore
M. K. Chandrasekhar and Mrs. Valli Chandrasekhar.

Son of an Air Force Officer, Rajeev has lived his childhood as most service children do. A
life of constant movement from one remote area of India to another and being schooled in
various KendriyaVidyalayas in and around cantonments and Air Force bases. He is,
therefore an MP whose identity is primarily that of being an Indian born in Ahmedabad to
Malayali parents, growing up living in different parts of the country and considering
Bengaluru his home, having spent almost three decades in the city. As he says himself, "the
first time I was aware of my caste, religious or lingua identity was when I joined politics-
since being brought up in the Armed Forces leaves you focusing on just one identity - of
being Indian."
Being from a service family and living amongst the warriors of the Air Force and Armed
Forces all through his growing years has left him with a deep, abiding commitment to the
cause of Armed Forces and the men, women, and families who serve and have served.
This has also defined his Parliamentary career as being about National and Public service.
Unusual for a politician, his office in New Delhi is covered only with images of ParamVir
Chakra Bravehearts. He says, Seeing them every day as a politician reminds me of the
acts, deeds, and lives of real heroes who have served our Nation and inspires me to do
more every day." Under the title of #ServingOurNation, he has spearheaded a large number
of initiatives for Veterans, Widows, Families and serving Armed Forces personnel ranging
from One Rank, One Pension, National War Memorial, voting rights for Armed Forces
personnel, Housing, ECHS, 7th CPC, financial aid to widows and children of the martyrs
and is deeply engaged on these issues that affect the men, women and their families who
make up the backbone of our Armed Forces and Veteran community. He is often referred to
as the Guardian MP of Veterans and Armed Forces and continues to advocate their cause
consistently in and outside Parliament.