India’s Most Qualified Chief Ministers

Academic qualifications don't seem to matter to India's politicians. Degrees are of no consequence - not many of the country's chief ministers have gone beyond a basic degree, at most. Some have, however, accomplished much in universities. It is a telling reflection of the importance given to university education that most of the chief ministers do not mention their educational qualification in their official profiles. Here are some of the better-qualified chief ministers in India.

Most Qualified Chief Ministers in India

Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, CM, Uttarakhand

Constituency: Thalisain
Qualification: M.A. (Sanskrit), M.A. (Hindi), M.A. (Political Science), Ph.D.

Poet, teacher, journalist, author, Sanskrit scholar and politician sum up Nishank, whose literary accomplishments are vast. He was Chief Editor of the Hindi daily Seemant Vaarta. A poet and writer in Hindi, he has published 27 books of poems, novels and short stories, with nationalism as a main thread, with six more books are on the anvil.

Nishank's books have been translated into Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, English and German among other languages. His works form part of the syllabi in several universities in India and at Hamburg University, Germany. Research papers and Ph.D thesis have been written on Nishank's literature. Garhal Central Univeristy-Srinagar, Kumaon University-Nainital, Sagar University-Madhya Pradesh, Madras University-Chennai, K.M. Munshi University-Agra, and Hamburg University are among the several universities researching his literary forays.

Dr. Raman Singh, CM, Chhattisgarh

Constituency: Rajnandgaon
Qualification: B.A., B.A.M.S. (Ayurveda)

He has been involved in service activities even as a youngster.

Ashok Gehlot, CM, Rajasthan

Constituency: Sardarpura
Qualification: B.Sc., M.A. (Economics), LL.B.

Gehlot likes watching magic shows. Reading, sightseeing and travelling are his pastimes. He was a student leader in college.

Shivraj Singh Chauhan, CM, Madhya Pradesh

Constituency: Budhni
Qualification: Gold medalist in M.A. (Philosophy)

Chauhan was a member of the Hindi Salahkar Samiti from 1994 to 1996.

Tarun Kumar Gogoi, CM, Assam

Constituency: Titabar
Qualification: B.A., LL.B

Gogoi is a golfer, and watches cricket, football and tennis. He likes reading and gardening. He was a student leader, and is former treasurer of the All Assam Moina Parijat and Children's Organization and ex-chairman of Bharat Yuvak Samaj.

Narendra Damodardas Modi, CM, Gujarat

Constituency: Maninagar
Qualification: M.A.

Modi has a track record of being a successful organizer right from his college days. A keen speaker on societal issues even then, he is known for his oratorical skills. Modi's articles in newspapers and periodicals are well-known. He has written three books - Sangharsh ma Gujarat, Setubandh and Patraroop Guruji.

Sheila Dikshit, CM, Delhi

Constituency: New Delhi
Qualification: M.A.

Sheila Dikshit represented India on the UN Commission on Status of Women from 1984 to 1989. She was chairperson of the Young Women's Association in the early 1970s, and helped open two working women's hostels in Delhi.

Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, CM, West Bengal

Constituency: Jadavpur
Qualification: B.A. (Honours in Bengali)

Bhattacharya is passionate about cricket. Rabindra Sangeet is the love of his life, and world literature occupies his free time. He is an avid traveler and has toured across China, Cuba, Vietnam, France, the erstwhile Soviet Union and Cuba among other countries. Bhattacharya has written a critique on the legendary Bengali poet Jibanananda Das' work, Hridayer Shabdheen Jyotsna Bhitor.

He has also written a book of poems Chena Phooler Gondho (The Fragrance of Known Flowers), and translated the works of Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Russian poet Vladimir Mayakovsky into Bengali.

Bhupinder Singh Hooda, CM, Haryana

Constituency: Garhi Sampla-Kiloi
Qualification: B.A., LL.B

Hooda has travelled widely. He is secretary, Jat Education Society, Rohtak, and managing committee member of D.A.V. Education Society, Hasangarh. He is a member of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana. He has led several farmers' movements in Haryana.

Dr. Mukul Sangma, CM, Meghalaya

Constituency: Ampatigiri
Qualification: M.B.B.S.

An active student leader, Sangma takes keen interest in mobilizing women for their socio-economic progress. He has supported the setting up of many youth clubs and cultural organizations. He is the chief patron of Ampati Youth Welfare Club and founder member of Miracle Foundation, a service organization.