His Excellency
Shri Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala
Governor of Karnataka and Chancellor of the University
 

Shri Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala was born on 23-01-1938 at Rajkot, Gujarat State. He has B.Sc.& L.L.B degree. A born leader Shri Vajubhai Vala entered into public life as a Swayam Sevak of R.S.S. during his school time. Having great leadership qualities, he used to solve the problems of his schoolmates. During his college time he became the Secretary of Gymkhana of his college named Dharmendrasinhji. Since the initial stage of his life, he took leadership to solve the problems of the people.

Shri Vajubhai Vala, as a leader gives importance to mass contact. He has soft corner for the downtrodden and the needy people of the society. He always listens to their problems patiently and tries his best to solve them. He has got a special place in the heart of the people through his generous, modest, affectionate, and courteous attitude.

As a public figure Shri Vajubhai Vala is associated with one of the leading co-operative banks of India, Shri Rajkot Nagrik Sahakari Bank, since the year 1971 and he has given his efficient service as a Chairman of this leading bank from 1975-76 to 1981-82 and from 1987 to 1990. He is absolutely dedicated to his work and due to his vivacious personality he never losses his temperament. His modest and friendly attitude has popularized him among the members and customers of the bank. He has profound knowledge of the laws of co-operative society and also vast administrative experience. He had been to jail for eleven months during the critical time of year 1975.

He was elected as a Councillor of the Ward No.6 of Rajkot city in 1975 and he was the Chairman of Recreation and Social Welfare Committee. He is fond of traditional programme of folklore and folk-music called "Diaras". He has established his special identity among the people of Rajkot through his remarkable work in social, cultural and literary fields. He became Mayor in February-1983 and was elected as an M.L.A. for the first time in 1985 from Rajkot-2 Constituency.

Shri Vajubhai Vala did extremely admiring work during the water crisis in the year 1986. As an efficient Mayor and an M.L.A., he vigorously represented the water problems before the State Government and finally did successful arrangements of water from the various Dams near and far from Rajkot. He has become extremely famous among the people of Rajkot as a solver of water crises.

He was a member of Rajkot Civil Supplies Advisory Committee and Gujarat State Road Transport Authority Committee. Shri Vajubhai Vala was elected as M.L.A. from Rajkot-2 Constituency for the second time in 1990.

He was as an M.L.A. included as a member in the Budget Committee of Gujarat State Assembly in the year 1985. In 1990, for the first time he became Minister of Urban Development for a short period of time. He showed his profound knowledge and did justice to the portfolio allotted to him. He was elected as an M.L.A. for the third time by the people of Rajkot City and the people of Gujarat got an able, efficient and hard working Statesman who held the portfolios of ENERGY, PETROCHEMICALS, FINANCE and REVENUE.

He rendered remarkable service as the Revenue Minister and as the Finance Minister during the natural calamities like drought and earthquake. He again took oath of office and secrecy on 13-12-2006 and was assigned the portfolio of Finance. On 23-02-2007 he presented Budget for twelfth time in the State Assembly and created a record. The other notable point about all those 12 Budgets is that in not a single Budget taxes were enhanced. He had been assigned the charge of Finance, Labour & Employment Department from 04-01-2008. He had broken his own record by presenting the budget for the 18th time on 24-02-2012. He was appointed to perform the duties of the Speaker of Gujarat Legislative Assembly on 26-12-2012. Thereafter on 23-01-2013 he was chosen as the Speaker of Gujarat Legislative Assembly.

During the Empowered Committee meeting on VAT at Delhi he took active part and made efforts to see that businessmen would have to face fewer difficulties on effective implementation of VAT.

He has been awarded 'THE BEST CITIZENS OF INDIA AWARD' 2006 by International Publishing House, New Delhi. In the political & social field, he is the only person of the Gujarat State who has been selected for this award.

Shri Vajubhai Vala has been facilitated with the award "Bharat Gaurav Award" by India International Friendship Society, New Delhi on 9th June, 2007 on the occasion of Economic Growth and National Integration Seminar held at Mumbai.

In Bharatiya Janata Party manifesto a promise was given to the people of Gujarat to abolish Octroi from the State. The Government to implement this promise formed a Committee under the chairmanship of Shri Vajubhai Vala. The Committee had detailed discussions with the respective Chamber of Commerce & Industries and with the Mayors / Commissioners of the Municipal Corporations. Thereafter the Government took a historic decision that Octroi would be removed from the Municipal Corporations of the State from 15-11-2007 (LABHPANCHAM) to lessen the hardship.

Shri Vajubhai Vala has great command over the language due to his habit of deep reading. He understands the presentations of people easily as being a literary person. He has great efficiency to make a tense situation light through his humorous and jolly nature. He is a man of manifold great characteristics. He can discuss the issues of large public interest with the journalists as well as he can greet the kids lovingly.

Shri Vajubhai Valais married to Smt. Manoramabahen and is blessed with two sons and two daughters. He assumed charge as a Governor of Karnataka on 1st September 2014.