Ajit Kumar Panja

Ajit Kumar Panja (13 September 1936 – 14 November 2008) was a Union minister of state in the Government of India. He was a member of Indian National Congress party but left it to join Trinamool Congress. He was born in Calcutta, and studied law at the Scottish Church College, Calcutta and at the Lincoln's Inn. His Native village was a small village in Burdwan district, named Majigram. A lawyer by profession, he authored many books. He was also a stage actor who enacted the role of Ramakrishna Paramahansa in Kolkata.

Life and career
Ajit Kumar Panja was born in Kolkata on 13 September 1936. His father was Dhanapati Panja.

Apart from political career he started performing on stage theatre in the role of "Sri Ramakrishma Paramhansa" in the play "Sri Sri Ramakrishna" (made according to the story of Noti Binodini written by Late. Brajendra Kishore Dey) organised by Kolkata High Court Advocate's Drama Association in India. The play was staged in London and USA (Washington, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles).

Ajit Panja died of oral cancer on 14 November 2008 at the Peerless Hospital.

Positions held
Committee, Railway Zone Urban Affairs and Employment Chairman, West Bengal Trinamool Congress
 * 1971,1972-77		Member, West Bengal Legislative Assembly and 1982–84
 * 1971-72			Cabinet Minister, Judiciary and Parliamentary Affairs (Home), West Bengal
 * 1972-77			Cabinet Minister, Health and Family Planning and Water Supply,
 * 1973			Member, All India Congress Committee (A.I.C.C.)
 * 1977			President, District Congress Committee (D.C.C.) (I), North Calcutta, West Bengal
 * 1980-81			President, Pradesh Congress Committee (P.C.C.)(I), West Bengal
 * 1984			Elected to 8th Lok Sabha
 * 1985-86			Union Minister of State, Planning
 * 1986			Union Minister of State, Food and Civil Supplies
 * 1986-88			Union Minister of State, Information and Broadcasting (Independent Charge)
 * 1988-89			Union Minister of State, Finance
 * 1989			Re-elected to 9th Lok Sabha (2nd term)
 * 1990			Member, Committee of Privileges Member, Consultative Committee,			Ministry of Finance
 * 1990-91			Member, Committee on Public Accounts Member, Informal Consultative
 * 1991			Re-elected to 10th Lok Sabha (3rd term)
 * 1991-93			Union Minister of State, Information and Broadcasting (Independent Charge)
 * 1993-95			Union Minister of State, Coal (Independent Charge)
 * 1996			Re-elected to 11th Lok Sabha (4th term)
 * 1996-97			Member, Committee on Energy Member, Business Advisory Committee
 * 1998			Re-elected to 12th Lok Sabha (5th term) Chief Whip, West Bengal Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party
 * 1998-99			Member, Committee on Industry Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of
 * 1999			Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha (6th term)
 * 13 Oct 1999 to 2004		Union Minister of State, External Affairs

Books published

 * Encephalitis Attack in West Bengal
 * CPM Gun Shoot to Kill (English and Bengali)
 * Ganatantra Hatya (Bengali)
 * Siksha Khethre Nairajya (Bengali)
 * Sansad Bichitra (Bengali)
 * PM (Sh. V.P. Singh) challenged to prove charges (English)
 * Dunkel Agreement (Bengali)
 * Unemployment Problems in India How to solve it (Bengali)
 * Era of Excellence of Narasimha Rao Govt 4th Yr-Major Achievements and Decisions
 * Mining Medicines Hand Book for Health Workers and Mine Workers