Featured BiographyImage source: StarsUnfolded
Quick Info
Date of birth14 May 1950
Age73 Years
BirthplaceYavatmal, Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India
ProfessionPolitician, Journalist, Businessman, Author, Philanthropist
NationalityIndian
Marital statusWidower
SpouseJyotsna Darda (died 23 March 2013)
FamilySon - Devendra Darda; Daughter - Purva Darda Kothari; Father - Jawaharlal Darda; Brother - Rajendra Darda
Vijay Darda Biography
Vijay Darda is an Indian politician, media executive, journalist, businessman, author and philanthropist from Yavatmal, Maharashtra. A three-time Rajya Sab
Early life and backgroundVijay Jawaharlal Darda was born on 14 May 1950 in Yavatmal, then part of Bombay state (now in Maharashtra). He completed his schooling at Government Multipurpose High School, Yavatmal, passing in 1967. He went on to study journalism and printing technology, earning a diploma in 1970 from Bhavan’s College, and is listed as holding a bachelor’s degree in arts from Harvard University. He comes from a family involved in public life: his father, Jawaharlal Darda, was a freedom fighter, a state minister in Maharashtra and the founder of the Lokmat publications.
Career
Darda’s professional life spans journalism, publishing, business and politics. He took leadership of the Marathi newspaper Lokmat on 15 December 1971 and later oversaw the expansion of the group into English and Hindi editions. Over decades he has been closely associated with the Lokmat Media Group and is described as its chairman.
In the press community he served two consecutive terms on the Press Council of India from 1998 to 2004 and held national leadership roles, including the presidency of the Indian Newspaper Society (1997–1998) and chairmanship of the Audit Bureau of Circulation (2010–2011). He helped establish industry measures to protect journalists, worked on removing the anti-dumping duty on newsprint, and sought concessional electricity tariffs for newspaper operations.
Darda founded the South Asian Editors Forum (SAEF) in 1999 and served as its founding president. SAEF was created with the aim of using media dialogue across South Asia to reduce tensions between countries in the region. He also promoted a public monument to press freedom: a Freedom of Press statue was unveiled at the Lokmat printing press in Butibori, Nagpur, in 2013.
Parallel to his media career, Darda has been active in electoral politics. He was first elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1998 as an independent and was re-elected in 2004 and again in 2010. During his parliamentary tenure he presented a wide range of private members’ bills on subjects that include electronic waste management, personal data protection, fitness centres regulation, consumer price fixation, protection of women and children, and proposals related to the Supreme Court’s bench at Nagpur. Several of these bills were introduced repeatedly over the years, reflecting recurring interests in consumer protection, public health, technology and judicial administration.
Darda has also been involved with professional and academic bodies: he has served as Managing Trustee of the Press Institute of Maharashtra, been a life member of The Advertising Club of India, and belonged to international press organizations such as the World Association of Newspapers and the Commonwealth Press Union. Locally, he participated in committees that set policies for advertising in newspapers and that coordinate responses to attacks on journalists and press establishments; he has been part of accreditation and academic boards connected to mass communication in Maharashtra.
Public profile
Across his career Darda has received multiple awards recognizing his contributions to journalism and public life, starting with a printing technology prize in 1983 and including honours such as the Feroze Gandhi Memorial Award (1990–91), the Nemichand Shrishrimal Foundation Award, and several journalism awards through the 2000s and 2010s. In 2011 he received an International Jurist Award in London and, in 2022, was recognised with the Global Peace Award and a Global Achiever (Best Politician) award at two separate events.
His personal interests include music and poetry, as well as sports such as cricket, football and cycling. Physically, published details list his height around 168 cm and weight near 70 kg.
Personal life
Vijay Darda married Jyotsna Darda on 16 February 1971. She died on 23 March 2013. The couple had two children: a son, Devendra Darda, and a daughter, Purva Darda Kothari. His family includes siblings active in public life; notably his brother Rajendra Darda has served as an MLA and state cabinet minister in Maharashtra.
Latest updates
In July 2023 a Delhi court convicted Vijay Darda and several others in a coal block allocation case, finding them guilty of criminal conspiracy and cheating and of offenses under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The court later sentenced him and his son to four years’ imprisonment in July 2023. This case was one of several convictions tied to investigations of coal block allocations that attracted public and audit scrutiny.
Throughout the many roles he has held, Darda has remained a prominent figure in regional media and national public life, combining editorial work, industry leadership and legislative activity.
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Recent Work
Oversaw expansion of Lokmat into English and Hindi editions and led the group’s operations and industry initiatives.
Three-term member of India’s upper house of parliament who introduced numerous private members’ bills on consumer protection, public health, data and judicial administration.
Career Highlights
- Led Lokmat newspaper and expanded the group into multiple language editions
- Served three terms in the Rajya Sabha and presented numerous private members’ bills
- Founded the South Asian Editors Forum to foster media dialogue in the region
- Held leadership roles in the Indian Newspaper Society and Audit Bureau of Circulation
- Served two terms on the Press Council of India
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Vijay Darda born?
Vijay Darda was born on 14 May 1950.
What is Vijay Darda known for?
Vijay Darda is known for politician, Journalist, Businessman, Author, Philanthropist.
What is Vijay Darda’s marital status?
Vijay Darda's marital status is listed as Widower.
Who is Vijay Darda married to?
Vijay Darda is publicly listed as married to Jyotsna Darda (died 23 March 2013).
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