Milind Deora: The minister who loves jazz

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Jazz is his passion and he has even jammed with a professional band "Soulmate" as a guitarist, but Milind Deora is equally concerned about issues like graft and the ill-effects of emissions on public health from telecom towers and handsets.

Among them, he will get ample chance to address at least the question of radiation from telecom towers and cellphones as a minister of state for communications and IT in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's team.

"I engaged both the health and telecommunications ministers on the issue of cell phone and tower-based radiation risks," Deora, who is equally savvy with gizmos and use of IT as a tool for governance, writes on his web site.

"There is a pressing need to implement solutions along international best practices in the interest of public health and safety," he added knowing well that he will have his friend Sachin Pilot, who shares the same portfolio, for company.

Adept with his organisational skills

His friends and associates say the young Deora is equally adept with his organisational skills, having promoted a major cricket talent hunt in his city of Mumbai and getting the youth to take to walking and cycling to create awareness on health and environment.

This apart, he has also organised free eye camps for the poor and co-founded Sparsh, a non-government organisation that provides free job-oriented computer education in 100-odd schools covering some 100,000 students.

"I have known Milind for many years now. India needs such bright young politicians at the helm to infuse some fresh thoughts and drive positive changes," says veteran banker Deepak Parekh.

"As a socially conscious individual, he has worked hard to raise social awareness among his peers and the younger generation and has been extensively involved in community development. He is a sincere politician with a lot of dynamism," he said.

"I think we can expect a lot of constructive action from him in the coming years."

Deora, 34, also has good education after a bachelor's degree in business administration from Sydenham College in Mumbai and Boston University. At this age, he is already a two-term member of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, representing South Mumbai.

"He (Deora) is an excellent example of the injection of new blood into our country's politics," says Shashi Tharoor, former minister of state for external affairs, even calling him a visionary.

Adds filmmaker Karan Johar: "Milind is an apt example of the hope young India has in its leadership. He is in touch with his constituents and has the passion to work towards taking this country to its rightful destiny."

For the moment, there is a lot of expectations from this young minister. Many say his father Murli, who was corporate affairs minister, opted out to ensure a berth for his son. The experience of this 74-year-old Congress veteran will surely come handy to groom the next generation.