Henry Austin (politician)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Henry Austin (October 20, 1920 - May 15, 2008) was an Indian politician, diplomat, and former state and federal government minister. He was also a veteran leader in the Indian National Congress, which is also known simply as the Congress Party.[1]
Austin was born on October 20, 1920.[1] He attended school in Kollam before enrolling in St. Aloysius' College, a Jesuit college in Mangalore, Karnataka.[1] He received his degree at the Arts College in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, before studying law at the Law College, which is also located in Thiruvananthapuram.[1]
Austin served as the general secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in 1971.[1] He also traveled abroad as an Indian representative to lobby for support of India's poistion during the Bangladesh Liberation War.[1] (India supported Bangladesh's secession from Pakistan).
He first won election to the Parliament of India from the Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency in 1971 and was re-elected again in 1977.[1] However, he failed in his re-election bid in 1980 due to a dispute which split the Congress Party, to challenger, Xavier Arackal, a Congress Party member who was a supporter of Indira Gandhi.[1]
Austin also became a minister in the government of former Prime Minister of India Charan Singh.[1] He was in charge of civil and food supplies, a position which was the equivalent of the rank of state minister.[1] Austin was named as India's ambassador to Portugal in 1985.[1]
Austin was visiting his daughter in Thiruvananthapuram when he began complaining of uneasiness. He died on his way to the hospital on May 15, 2008, at the age of 88.[1] He was buried at the Infant Jesus Roman Catholic Church Cemetery in Kochi, India. [1]
