Ramesh Pokhriyal is a renowned Indian author, born in 1959 in the scenic state of Uttarakhand, known for its natural beauty. Since his childhood, he had a passion for writing poems and stories, which led him to publish his first book, “Samarpan,” in 1983. He has authored over 100 books on various topics such as travel, tourism, culture, and religion. His pen name, “Nishank,” is well-known among readers worldwide, as his books have been translated into several languages, including English, German, Spanish, Telugu, Gujarati, Bengali, Kannad, Urdu, Farsi, Marathi, Konkan, and Rajasthani.
Pokhriyal’s contribution to Indian literature has been recognized by several dignitaries, including Mr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Mrs. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, and Mr. Pranav Mukhrjee. He has received numerous awards and accolades, including the “Vatyan Lifetime Achievement Award” in the United Kingdom, the “International Global Galaxy Award” in Germany, the “Sahitya Gaurav Samman” in Canada, the “Mauritius Award” by the President of Mauritius, the “Himal Gaurav Samman” in Nepal, the “Environment Conservation Award” in Poland, and the “Sahitya Bharti” award by the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He has also received the highest recognition in the world of literature, the “International Ajay Swarn Padak.”
Apart from being an acclaimed author, Pokhriyal is also an Indian politician. He was appointed as the Minister of Human Resource Development on 31 May 2019, which was later renamed as the Minister of Education in July 2020. He represents the Haridwar Parliamentary constituency of Uttarakhand in the 17th Lok Sabha. Previously, he served as the 5th Chief Minister of Uttarakhand from 2009 to 2011 and was a member of the 16th Lok Sabha, where he chaired the Committee on Government Assurances.
Pokhriyal is married to Kusum Kanta Pokhriyal, whom he married on 7 May 1985. The couple has three daughters, one of whom, Aarushi Nishank, is a classical dancer. With his impressive achievements in both literature and politics, Pokhriyal continues to be an inspiration to many in India and beyond.
