This comprehensive biography details the life and career of Parakala Prabhakar, a prominent Indian figure known for his political involvement, economic commentary, and media presence. His background, education, and political journey are explored here.

Wiki/Biography

Parakala Prabhakar was born on January 2, 1959 (age 65 as of 2024) in Narsapuram, Andhra Pradesh. His astrological sign is Capricorn. His early education began at Lakshminarasamamba Municipal School, Narasapuram, followed by Peoples’ High School in Himayatnagar, Hyderabad. He completed his senior secondary education at Nampally Junior College, Hyderabad, and Sri YN College, Narasapuram. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Andhra Loyola College in Vijayawada and went on to pursue his Master of Arts (M.A.) and Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi. His academic journey culminated with a PhD from the London School of Economics (LSE), where his dissertation focused on “Security Doctrines and Foreign Policy Behaviour: A Study of Brazil, Ghana and Indonesia,” under the guidance of Christopher Coker.

Physical Appearance

• Height (approx.): 5’5”
• Weight (approx.): 65 kg
• Hair Colour: Grey
• Eye Colour: Black

Family, Caste & Wife

Parakala Prabhakar hails from a Brahmin family. His father, Parakala Seshavatharam, served as a legislator in three consecutive Andhra Pradesh state cabinets. His mother, Parakala Kalikamba, was a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Andhra Pradesh. He has one older sister. He married Nirmala Sitharaman in 1986; they have one daughter, Vangmayi.

Career

Prabhakar’s family background provided early exposure to electoral politics. His political involvement became more defined when he served as the president of Jawaharlal Nehru University’s (JNU) student organization, representing the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI). In 1984, he became the All India Vice President of the NSUI Central Committee, traveling extensively to organize the Congress Party’s student wing. After completing his studies in London in 1986, Narasimha Rao appointed him as an Officer on Special Duty for the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute for Youth Development (RGNIYD) project. He resigned from RGNIYD in 1994 to contest Andhra Pradesh’s Legislative Assembly elections, ultimately losing by a significant margin.

His subsequent attempts at political office included the 1996 Narsapuram Lok Sabha by-election and the 1998 Lok Sabha elections from the Narasapur Constituency, both resulting in losses. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1997, serving as a spokesperson and member of the party’s national economic cell and a Planning Commission of India task force involved in formulating the Tenth Five-Year Plan. Further electoral attempts in 2006 also proved unsuccessful, following which he resigned from the BJP.

In 2008, he co-founded the Prajarajyam Party with Chiranjeevi, serving as a General Secretary and spokesperson. The party’s performance in the 2009 Assembly elections, securing only 18 seats, effectively concluded his electoral political career.

From June 2014 to June 2018, he served as Communications Advisor to the Andhra Pradesh Government, implementing communication networks and integrating social media across government departments. He resigned citing concerns about opposition leaders’ comments.

Favourites

• Fruit: Apple
• Beverage: Coffee
• Holiday Destination: London
• Colour: White
• Book: Brief Answers To The Big Questions by Stephen Hawking
• Game: Chess

Facts

His hobbies include traveling, reading, listening to music, and photography. Following the 2009 Assembly elections, he faced criticism, including accusations of damaging the Praja Rajyam Party’s electoral prospects. He actively opposed the division of Andhra Pradesh, establishing the Visalandhra Mahasabha to advocate for a unified state. In March 2024, he criticized the BJP government regarding the electoral bond issue.

Educational Timeline