Ramesh Pokhriyal - Revision history

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	{{Short description\|Former Indian Education Minister (b. 1959)}}		{{Short description\|Former Indian Education Minister (b. 1959)}}
			{{Multiple issues\|
			{{Fanpov\|date=October 2021}}
			{{COI\|date=October 2021}}
			}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=December 2015}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=December 2015}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=December 2020}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=December 2020}}
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	\| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]		\| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
	\| spouse = {{marriage\|Kusum Kanta Pokhriyal\|1985\|2012\|reason=died}}		\| spouse = {{marriage\|Kusum Kanta Pokhriyal\|1985\|2012\|reason=died}}
	\| children = 3 (incl. [[Arushi Nishank Pant]])		\| children = 3 (incl. Arushi Nishank Pant)
	\| alma_mater = [[Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University]]		\| alma_mater = [[Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University]]
	\| year =		\| year =
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	Pokhriyal was born in Pinani village, [[Pauri Garhwal district\|Pauri Garhwal]], [[Uttarakhand]] to Paramanand Pokhriyal and Vishambhari Devi. He received an M.A. degree from [[Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University]].<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank\|title=Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank \| National Portal of India\|website=www.india.gov.in\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627150702/https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank\|archive-date=27 June 2015}}</ref><ref name="Wire">{{cite news \|last1=Bhatnagar \|first1=Gaurav Vivek \|title=HRD Minister Pokhriyal Under Fire for Using 'Doctor' Prefix Without Real PhD \|url=https://thewire.in/politics/ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank-narendra-modi-bjp-education-qualification \|access-date=12 September 2019 \|publisher=[[The Wire (India)\|The Wire]] \|date=29 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="MyNeta">{{cite web \|title=Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank(Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)):Constituency- Haridwar (Uttarakhand) - Affidavit Information of Candidate \|url=http://myneta.info/LokSabha2019/candidate.php?candidate_id=5446 \|website=myneta.info \|access-date=14 September 2019}}</ref>		Pokhriyal was born in Pinani village, [[Pauri Garhwal district\|Pauri Garhwal]], [[Uttarakhand]] to Paramanand Pokhriyal and Vishambhari Devi. He received an M.A. degree from [[Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University]].<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank\|title=Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank \| National Portal of India\|website=www.india.gov.in\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627150702/https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank\|archive-date=27 June 2015}}</ref><ref name="Wire">{{cite news \|last1=Bhatnagar \|first1=Gaurav Vivek \|title=HRD Minister Pokhriyal Under Fire for Using 'Doctor' Prefix Without Real PhD \|url=https://thewire.in/politics/ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank-narendra-modi-bjp-education-qualification \|access-date=12 September 2019 \|publisher=[[The Wire (India)\|The Wire]] \|date=29 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="MyNeta">{{cite web \|title=Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank(Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)):Constituency- Haridwar (Uttarakhand) - Affidavit Information of Candidate \|url=http://myneta.info/LokSabha2019/candidate.php?candidate_id=5446 \|website=myneta.info \|access-date=14 September 2019}}</ref>

	Pokhriyal married Kusum Kanta Pokhriyal on 7 May 1985, with whom he has three daughters.<ref name="LokSabhaProfile"/> One of their daughters, [[Arushi Nishank Pant]] is a classical dancer.<ref>{{cite news \|title=स्पर्श गंगा अभियानः एक साल में लगाए जाएंगे 10 लाख पौधे, दिल्ली से शुरु हुआ महाअभियान \|url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/uttarakhand/dehradun-sparsh-ganga-mission-10-lakh-trees-will-be-planted-in-an-year-mega-mission-starts-from-delhi-uttarakhand-news-ukrd-2478154.html \|access-date=29 October 2019 \|work=News18 India \|date=2 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|title=Arushi Nishank featured in Forbes Middle East \|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/state-editions/arushi-nishank-featured-in-forbes-middle-east.html \|access-date=22 November 2019 \|work=The Pioneer \|date=26 October 2018 \|language=en}}</ref> His wife died on 11 November 2012 in Dehradun at the age of 50.<ref>{{cite news \|title=Former Uttarakhand CM's wife dies \|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/former-uttarakhand-cm-s-wife-dies/story-qAP8ijtN7A0rUS46gO86WM.html \|access-date=30 August 2019 \|work=Hindustan Times \|date=11 November 2012 \|language=en}}</ref>		Pokhriyal married Kusum Kanta Pokhriyal on 7 May 1985, with whom he has three daughters.<ref name="LokSabhaProfile"/> One of their daughters, Arushi Nishank Pant is a classical dancer.<ref>{{cite news \|title=स्पर्श गंगा अभियानः एक साल में लगाए जाएंगे 10 लाख पौधे, दिल्ली से शुरु हुआ महाअभियान \|url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/uttarakhand/dehradun-sparsh-ganga-mission-10-lakh-trees-will-be-planted-in-an-year-mega-mission-starts-from-delhi-uttarakhand-news-ukrd-2478154.html \|access-date=29 October 2019 \|work=News18 India \|date=2 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|title=Arushi Nishank featured in Forbes Middle East \|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/state-editions/arushi-nishank-featured-in-forbes-middle-east.html \|access-date=22 November 2019 \|work=The Pioneer \|date=26 October 2018 \|language=en}}</ref> His wife died on 11 November 2012 in Dehradun at the age of 50.<ref>{{cite news \|title=Former Uttarakhand CM's wife dies \|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/former-uttarakhand-cm-s-wife-dies/story-qAP8ijtN7A0rUS46gO86WM.html \|access-date=30 August 2019 \|work=Hindustan Times \|date=11 November 2012 \|language=en}}</ref>

	==Political career==		==Political career==
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	Pokhriyal has written novels, stories and poems. He has authored 44 books in [[Hindi]], some of which have been translated to English as well as other Indian languages. Most of his books were published by two private publishers – Vani Prakashan and Diamond Books, and many were published between 2009 and 2011, when he was chief minister of Uttarakhand.		Pokhriyal has written novels, stories and poems. He has authored 44 books in [[Hindi]], some of which have been translated to English as well as other Indian languages. Most of his books were published by two private publishers – Vani Prakashan and Diamond Books, and many were published between 2009 and 2011, when he was chief minister of Uttarakhand.

	One of his works was adapted into the [[Garhwali language\|Garhwali]] film ''Major Nirala'', which was produced by his daughter ~~[[Arushi Nishank \|~~ Arushi Nishank Pant]] and released in 2018.<ref name=":film">{{Cite web\|title=उत्तराखंडी फिल्म 'मेजर निराला' का प्रोमो दिल्ली में रिलीज, भाजपा सांसद ने लिखी है पूरी कहानी\|trans-title=Uttrakhand's Film 'Major Nirala' 's promo released in Delhi, BJP MP had written the script.\|url=https://www.amarujala.com/dehradun/uttarakhand-movie-major-nirala-promo-released-in-delhi\|date=13 May 2018\|access-date=16 August 2020\|work=Amar Ujala\|language=hi}}</ref>		One of his works was adapted into the [[Garhwali language\|Garhwali]] film ''Major Nirala'', which was produced by his daughter Arushi Nishank Pant and released in 2018.<ref name=":film">{{Cite web\|title=उत्तराखंडी फिल्म 'मेजर निराला' का प्रोमो दिल्ली में रिलीज, भाजपा सांसद ने लिखी है पूरी कहानी\|trans-title=Uttrakhand's Film 'Major Nirala' 's promo released in Delhi, BJP MP had written the script.\|url=https://www.amarujala.com/dehradun/uttarakhand-movie-major-nirala-promo-released-in-delhi\|date=13 May 2018\|access-date=16 August 2020\|work=Amar Ujala\|language=hi}}</ref>

	He is honoured by Hindi Writers Guild, Canada in 2021 and was conferred with the "Sahitya Gaurav Samman".<ref>{{Cite news\|others=PTI\|date=2021-01-17\|title=Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal honoured by Canada's Hindi Writers Guild\|language=en-IN\|work=The Hindu\|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/union-education-minister-ramesh-pokhriyal-honoured-by-canadas-hindi-writers-guild/article33590473.ece\|access-date=2021-07-09\|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>		He is honoured by Hindi Writers Guild, Canada in 2021 and was conferred with the "Sahitya Gaurav Samman".<ref>{{Cite news\|others=PTI\|date=2021-01-17\|title=Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal honoured by Canada's Hindi Writers Guild\|language=en-IN\|work=The Hindu\|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/union-education-minister-ramesh-pokhriyal-honoured-by-canadas-hindi-writers-guild/article33590473.ece\|access-date=2021-07-09\|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
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	==External links==		==External links==
	{{Commons}}		{{Commons}}
	* {{Official website\|url=https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank\|name=Profile at [[Government of India]] website}}		* {{Official website\|url=https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank\|name=Profile at Government of India website}}

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Ajay Kumar: Created page with "{{Short description|Former Indian Education Minister (b. 1959)}} {{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | name..."

2021-07-12T18:21:31Z

Created page with "{{Short description|Former Indian Education Minister (b. 1959)}} {{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | name..."

New page

{{Short description|Former Indian Education Minister (b. 1959)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Ramesh Pokhriyal
| image = Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', the Union Minister for Human Resource Development, in New Delhi on February 20, 2020 (cropped).jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|07|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Pauri Garhwal|Pinani]], [[Uttarakhand]], India
| residence = [[Dehradun]], [[Uttarakhand]]
| office1 = [[Minister of Education (India)|Union Minister of Education]]
|term_start1 = {{Start date|2020|07|29|df=yes}}
|term_end1 = 7 July 2021 <ref name="Pokhriyal relieved from his post">{{citation |title= Pokhriyal relieved from his post|url=https://www.news18.com/amp/news/education-career/education-minister-ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank-resigns-sources-3935288.html|work=[[News 18]] |date=7 July 2021 }}</ref>
|predecessor1 = ''Himself as [[Minister of Human Resource Development]]''
|successor1 = [[Dharmendra Pradhan]]
|primeminister1 = [[Narendra Modi]]
| office2 = [[Minister of Human Resource Development]]
| term_start2 = {{Start date|2019|05|30|df=yes}}
| term_end2 = {{End date|2020|07|29|df=yes}}
| predecessor2 = [[Prakash Javadekar]]
| successor2 = ''Himself as [[Minister of Education (India)|Minister of Education]]''
| primeminister2 = [[Narendra Modi]]
| office3 = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| term_start3 = {{Start date|2014|05|16|df=yes}}
| constituency3 = [[Haridwar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Haridwar]]
| predecessor3 = [[Harish Rawat]]
| order4 = 5th
| office4 = Chief Minister of Uttarakhand
| governor4 = [[Banwari Lal Joshi]]<br />[[Margaret Alva]]
| term_start4 = {{Start date|2009|06|27|df=yes}}
| term_end4 = {{End date|2011|09|11|df=yes}}
| predecessor4 = [[B. C. Khanduri]]
| successor4 = [[B. C. Khanduri]]
| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Kusum Kanta Pokhriyal|1985|2012|reason=died}}
| children = 3 (incl. [[Arushi Nishank Pant]])
| alma_mater = [[Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University]]
| year =
| source =
}}
'''Ramesh Pokhriyal''' (born 15 July 1959),<ref name=new18/> known by his [[pen name]] '''Nishank''' is an Indian politician who was appointed on 31 May 2019 to serve as Minister of Human Resource Development and as of July 2020, following the ministry's name change, his title was changed to [[Ministry of Education (India)|Minister of Education]].<ref name="TH073120">{{cite news |author1=Priscilla Jebaraj |author2=Nistula Hebbar |title=Rigorous consultations done before framing new National Education Policy, says Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rigorous-consultations-done-before-framing-new-national-education-policy-says-ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank/article32243060.ece |access-date=31 July 2020 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=31 July 2020}}</ref>

He was asked to resign from his position in July 2021, briefly before a cabinet shuffle in which several high ranking ministers were sacked citing poor performance.<ref name="Pokhriyal relieved from his post">{{citation |title= Pokhriyal relieved from his post|url=https://www.news18.com/amp/news/education-career/education-minister-ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank-resigns-sources-3935288.html|work=[[News 18]] |date=7 July 2021 }}</ref> He represents the [[Haridwar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Haridwar]] Parliamentary constituency of [[Uttarakhand]] in the [[17th Lok Sabha|17th]] [[Lok Sabha]].<ref name=HY19>{{cite news |title=Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank gets HRD ministry in PM Modi's new cabinet |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank-gets-hrd-ministry/story-ed7wHbLgpyE1lGI8pVQbKP.html |access-date=30 June 2019 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=31 May 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

He was the [[List of Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand|5th Chief Minister of Uttarakhand]] from 2009 to 2011. He was member of the [[16th Lok Sabha]] and chairperson, Committee on Government Assurances.

== Personal life ==
Pokhriyal was born in Pinani village, [[Pauri Garhwal district|Pauri Garhwal]], [[Uttarakhand]] to Paramanand Pokhriyal and Vishambhari Devi. He received an M.A. degree from [[Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank|title=Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank | National Portal of India|website=www.india.gov.in|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627150702/https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank|archive-date=27 June 2015}}</ref><ref name="Wire">{{cite news |last1=Bhatnagar |first1=Gaurav Vivek |title=HRD Minister Pokhriyal Under Fire for Using 'Doctor' Prefix Without Real PhD |url=https://thewire.in/politics/ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank-narendra-modi-bjp-education-qualification |access-date=12 September 2019 |publisher=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] |date=29 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="MyNeta">{{cite web |title=Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank(Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)):Constituency- Haridwar (Uttarakhand) - Affidavit Information of Candidate |url=http://myneta.info/LokSabha2019/candidate.php?candidate_id=5446 |website=myneta.info |access-date=14 September 2019}}</ref>

Pokhriyal married Kusum Kanta Pokhriyal on 7 May 1985, with whom he has three daughters.<ref name="LokSabhaProfile"/> One of their daughters, [[Arushi Nishank Pant]] is a classical dancer.<ref>{{cite news |title=स्पर्श गंगा अभियानः एक साल में लगाए जाएंगे 10 लाख पौधे, दिल्ली से शुरु हुआ महाअभियान |url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/uttarakhand/dehradun-sparsh-ganga-mission-10-lakh-trees-will-be-planted-in-an-year-mega-mission-starts-from-delhi-uttarakhand-news-ukrd-2478154.html |access-date=29 October 2019 |work=News18 India |date=2 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Arushi Nishank featured in Forbes Middle East |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/state-editions/arushi-nishank-featured-in-forbes-middle-east.html |access-date=22 November 2019 |work=The Pioneer |date=26 October 2018 |language=en}}</ref> His wife died on 11 November 2012 in Dehradun at the age of 50.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former Uttarakhand CM's wife dies |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/former-uttarakhand-cm-s-wife-dies/story-qAP8ijtN7A0rUS46gO86WM.html |access-date=30 August 2019 |work=Hindustan Times |date=11 November 2012 |language=en}}</ref>

==Political career==
[[File:Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ taking charge as the Union Minister for Human Resource Development, in New Delhi on May 31, 2019.jpg|thumb|Pokhriyal taking charge as the Union Minister for Human Resource Development (now Education), in New Delhi on 31 May 2019.]]
Pokhriyal started his career as a teacher in [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]]-affiliated Saraswati Shishu Mandir.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |title=Former Teacher at RSS-affiliated School, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank Now Human Resource Development Minister |url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/former-teacher-at-rss-affiliate-school-ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank-now-human-resource-development-minister-2166537.html |work=Network 18 |date=31 May 2019 |access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> He was first elected to public office in the erstwhile undivided [[Uttar Pradesh]] as a member of the [[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly]] from [[Karnaprayag]] constituency in 1991, defeating a five-time Congress MLA.<ref name="auto1"/> He was re-elected in 1993 and 1996 from the same constituency. In 1997 he was appointed to the position of Uttaranchal development minister. He was also [[Pokhriyal ministry|Uttarakhand's chief minister (from 2009 to 2011)]] and served as a member of the [[Lok Sabha]]'s 17th session and the chairman of the Assurance Committee. He is a representative of [[Haridwar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Haridwar]] constituency in the Lok Sabha.<ref name="LokSabhaProfile">{{Cite web|url=http://164.100.47.194/Loksabha/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=4761|title=Members : Lok Sabha|website=164.100.47.194}}</ref> He was the member of the Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand for five consecutive terms from 1991 to 2012. He was first elected for the [[Karnaprayag]] ward in 1991 and served for three consecutive terms. In 2014, he resigned from the [[Doiwala (Uttarakhand Assembly constituency)|Doiwala]], and was elected for [[Haridwar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Haridwar]] the Lok Sabha.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://164.100.47.194/Loksabha/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=4761&lastls=16|title=Members : Lok Sabha|website=164.100.47.194}}</ref> On 30 May 2019, he was sworn in as Minister of Human Resource Development in the [[Second Modi ministry|2nd Modi Government]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/fyi/story/ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank-union-minister-1539002-2019-05-31|title=Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank: Poet-politician gets a ministerial berth {{!}} What you need to know|last1=DehradunMay 31|first1=Press Trust of India|last2=May 31|first2=2019UPDATED|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=31 May 2019|last3=Ist|first3=2019 00:52}}</ref><ref name=HY19/> Following the ministry's name change to the [[Ministry of Education (India)]] in July 2020, he served under the title of Minister of Education, until when he resigned in July 2021 reportedly having given health reasons.<ref name="TH073120"/>

== Literary career ==
Pokhriyal has written novels, stories and poems. He has authored 44 books in [[Hindi]], some of which have been translated to English as well as other Indian languages. Most of his books were published by two private publishers – Vani Prakashan and Diamond Books, and many were published between 2009 and 2011, when he was chief minister of Uttarakhand.

One of his works was adapted into the [[Garhwali language|Garhwali]] film ''Major Nirala'', which was produced by his daughter [[Arushi Nishank | Arushi Nishank Pant]] and released in 2018.<ref name=":film">{{Cite web|title=उत्तराखंडी फिल्म 'मेजर निराला' का प्रोमो दिल्ली में रिलीज, भाजपा सांसद ने लिखी है पूरी कहानी|trans-title=Uttrakhand's Film 'Major Nirala' 's promo released in Delhi, BJP MP had written the script.|url=https://www.amarujala.com/dehradun/uttarakhand-movie-major-nirala-promo-released-in-delhi|date=13 May 2018|access-date=16 August 2020|work=Amar Ujala|language=hi}}</ref>

He is honoured by Hindi Writers Guild, Canada in 2021 and was conferred with the "Sahitya Gaurav Samman".<ref>{{Cite news|others=PTI|date=2021-01-17|title=Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal honoured by Canada's Hindi Writers Guild|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/union-education-minister-ramesh-pokhriyal-honoured-by-canadas-hindi-writers-guild/article33590473.ece|access-date=2021-07-09|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Controversies ==
In 2010 while Nishank was the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, he came under the scanner for a land scam.<ref>{{Cite news|date=26 June 2010 |first=Raju |last=Gusain |title=Land scam stink in Uttarakhand |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/land-scam-stink-in-uttarakhand-77405-2010-06-26|access-date=15 November 2020|work=India Today|language=en}}</ref> In 2011, he gave in his resignation prompted by a series of alleged land scams against his government.<ref>{{Cite news|others=PTI|date=11 September 2011|title=Nishank resigns as Uttarakhand Chief Minister|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/nishank-resigns-as-uttarakhand-chief-minister/article2444474.ece|access-date=15 November 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

In 2014, Pokhriyal caused a controversy when he made a statement in the parliament claiming that astrology should be promoted. He said "Astrology is the biggest science. It is in fact above science. We should promote it". Talking about [[Ganesha|Lord Ganesha]], he said that ancient Indians had the knowledge to transplant a severed head.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/astrology-is-science-says-bjp-mp-nishank/article10929912.ece|title=Astrology is above science, says BJP MP Nishank|date=4 December 2014|work=The Hindu|access-date=28 July 2019|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He has also claimed that [[Kanada (philosopher)|Sage Kanada]] had conducted a nuclear test [[lakh]]s of years ago (even though according to historical evidence, the sage is likely to have lived only about two thousand years ago).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank-astrology-no.-1-science-bjp-mp-229738-2014-12-04|title=Astrology is No. 1 science for the entire world: BJP MP Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank to Parliament |date=4 December 2014 |work=India Today |access-date=2 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/astrology-is-science-says-bjp-mp-nishank/article10929912.ece|title=Astrology is above science, says BJP MP Nishank|date=4 December 2014|via=www.thehindu.com|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=2 December 2020}}</ref> Pokhriyal has listed two different dates of birth on official documents, a discrepancy that he attributed to the [[Hindu astrology|Hindu horoscope]].<ref name="new18">{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/have-different-birth-dates-because-of-hindu-horoscope-hrd-ministers-clarification-on-fake-degree-row-2168971.html|title='Because of Hindu Horoscope': HRD Minister's Clarification Over Row on Different Dates of Birth|website=News18|date=2 June 2019}}</ref>

In the 1990s, the Open International University for Complementary Medicines of [[Colombo]], [[Sri Lanka]] conferred a D.Litt. for his contribution in literature. He subsequently received another D.Litt. degree from the same institution for contributions in the field of science. However, OIU is neither registered as a foreign university nor as a domestic university in Sri Lanka, as confirmed by the [[University Grants Commission (Sri Lanka)|University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india/story/fake-degree-or-not-pm-narendra-modi-trusts-this-bjp-leader-to-be-hrd-minister-1539880-2019-06-01|title=Fake degree or not, PM Narendra Modi trusts this BJP leader to be HRD minister|website=India Today}}</ref> In August 2019, an appeal was filed in President [[Ram Nath Kovind]]’s office for Ramesh Pokhriyal's disqualification as minister for citing a ‘fake’ doctorate degree.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/verma-writes-to-prez-urging-to-term-nishanks-oath-null-and-void/articleshow/70882460.cms|title=Maneesh Verma writes to President urging to term Nishank's oath null and void|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/india/hrd-minister-pokhriyal-has-many-phds-his-office-says-slams-complaint-against-his-degree/284603/|title=HRD minister Pokhriyal has many PhDs, his office says & slams complaint against his degree|first=Kritika|last=Sharma|date=31 August 2019|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> Pokhriyal's claim to have received an M.A. degree from [[Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University]] have also been called into question.<ref name="Wire"/>

In 2019, after being appointed as the HRD Minister, Pokhriyal issued a directive saying that all the files and note sheets forwarded to him must be in Hindi. This created controversy with ministry officials, as not all of them had the level of proficiency in Hindi needed to prepare notes in that language, and the norm until then had been to prepare all official notes in English. Even though the government had traditionally encouraged officials to have a working knowledge of Hindi, existing rules did not make it compulsory for officials to be highly proficient in Hindi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/hrd-minister-ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank-wants-all-his-note-sheets-in-hindi/cid/1694104|title=HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank wants all his note sheets in Hindi|date=9 July 2019|website=www.telegraphindia.com|language=en|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/is-hindi-going-the-german-way/article28721470.ece|title=Is Hindi going the German way?|last=Joshi|first=Ruchir|date=27 July 2019|work=The Hindu|access-date=28 July 2019|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

In August 2019 at the 57th convocation ceremony of [[IIT Bombay]], Pokhriyal falsely claimed that the U.S. space agency [[NASA]] had acknowledged that talking computers could be developed only by employing [[Sanskrit]], which he described as "the world's only scientific language".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nasa-says-talking-computers-may-become-reality-due-to-sanskrit-ramesh-pokhriyal-1579635-2019-08-11|title=Nasa says talking computers may become reality due to Sanskrit: BJP leader|last=Asian News International|date=11 August 2019|work=India Today|access-date=2 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://scroll.in/article/750526/how-sanskrit-came-to-be-considered-the-most-suitable-language-for-computer-software|title=How Sanskrit came to be considered the most suitable language for computer software|first=Dilip|last=D’Souza|work=Scroll.in}}</ref> At the same function, he said that [[Charaka]], hailed as one of the principal contributors of Ayurveda, was the first person who researched and discovered atoms and molecules, when in reality, it was 6th century BCE philosopher [[Kanada (philosopher)|Kanada]] who developed the foundations of an atomistic approach to physics and philosophy in the Sanskrit text [[Vaiśeṣika Sūtra]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=11 August 2019|title=मानव संसाधन मंत्री निशंक का दावा- चरक ऋषि ने की थी परमाणु की खोज|trans-title=MHRD Nishank claims : Sage Charaka discovered atoms|url=https://aajtak.intoday.in/story/hrd-minister-ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank-charak-rishi-atoms-molecules-1-1109727.html|access-date=9 August 2020 |work=aajtak.intoday.in|publisher=Aaj Tak|location=New Delhi|language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Tharoor|first=Sashi|author-link=Shashi Tharoor|date=25 January 2018|title=Shashi Tharoor on how Hindutva discredits science and distorts history|url=https://www.dailyo.in/arts/book-extract-hinduism-science-history-mughals-hindutva-shashi-tharoor-hindutvavadis/story/1/21964.html|website=Dailyo}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{Official website|url=https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank|name=Profile at [[Government of India]] website}}

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{{s-ttl
| title = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Haridwar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Haridwar]]
| years = 2014 – present
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{{s-aft
| after = ''[[Incumbent]]''
}}
{{s-off
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{{s-bef
| before = [[B. C. Khanduri]]
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{{s-ttl
| title = [[Chief Minister of Uttarakhand]]
| years = 27 June 2009 – 10 September 2011
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|-
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{{s-ttl
| title = [[Ministry of Education (India)|Minister of Education]]
| years = 31 May 2019 – present
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{{Second Narendra Modi Cabinet}}
{{Bharatiya Janata Party chief ministers|state=collapsed}}
{{16th LS members from Uttarakhand}}
{{Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand}}

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[[Category:People from Pauri Garhwal district]]
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[[Category:Uttar Pradesh MLAs 1997–2002]]
[[Category:Uttarakhand MLAs 2007–2012]]
[[Category:16th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Uttarakhand politicians]]
[[Category:People from Haridwar district]]
[[Category:Narendra Modi ministry]]
[[Category:Education Ministers of India]]
[[Category:17th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:Finance Ministers of Uttarakhand]]