On May 21, 2025, news about Dr. G. Parameshwara, Karnataka’s Home Minister, made headlines when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided a medical college linked to him in Tumakuru. This event brought fresh attention to his long and inspiring journey. Dr. G. Parameshwara is a well-known Indian politician, educationist, and Dalit leader. He has served as Karnataka’s Home Minister since May 27, 2023. He was also the seventh Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka and the longest-serving President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). His life is a story of hard work, education, and dedication to public service. This article tells his complete biography in simple words.
Early Life and Family
Dr. G. Parameshwara was born on August 6, 1951, in a small village called Gollahalli, now known as Siddartha Nagar, in Tumkur, Karnataka. His father, H. M. Gangadharaiah, was a drawing teacher and a one-term Member of the Legislative Council (MLC). He was also a socialist who worked for the poor. His mother, Gangamalamma Chikkanna, supported the family. Parameshwara was the third child in the family. He had an older brother, Dr. G. Shivaprasad, and three sisters. His family followed Gandhian ideals and believed in helping others.
Parameshwara grew up in a simple village. His family valued education and service to society. His father started free boarding schools for poor students. This inspired Parameshwara to work hard and focus on education. He belongs to the Aadi Dravida community, a Dalit group. Even today, he speaks about the challenges faced by Dalit communities. On December 24, 2023, at a convention in Mangaluru, he said he still faces discrimination despite being a senior leader.
Education and Early Achievements
Parameshwara started his education at a government school in Gollahalli and Heggere, Tumkur. Later, he studied at Sri Siddhartha High Schoo , which his father founded in 1959. He was a bright student. He joined the Government Pre-University College in Tumkur. After that, he studied at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) in Bangalore. In 1975, he completed his B.Sc. in Agriculture. In 1978, he earned an M.Sc. in Agriculture from the same university.
His love for learning took him to Australia. In 1984, he got a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from the Waite Agricultural Research Institute at the University of Adelaide. He won many scholarships, including a Government of India Scholarship in 1978 and an Overseas Scholarship in 1980. He also got a Post-Doctoral Fellowship from the University of Melbourne in 1984–85. These awards show his dedication to education.
Parameshwara was not just a scholar. He was also a talented athlete. At UAS, Bangalore, he set a record by running 100 meters in 10.9 seconds. He represented Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra College in sports at college and state levels. He even ranked fourth in a world inter-university athletic championship in Belgrade. He was selected to train for the Olympics but chose academics instead. His coach, Krishna Hebbar, a Ph.D. holder in physical education from Moscow, inspired him greatly.
G Parameshwara Age, Wikipedia, Biography, Net Worth, Wife, Family
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dr. Gangadharaiah Parameshwara |
| Date of Birth | August 6, 1951 |
| Place of Birth | Gollahalli (now Siddartha Nagar), Tumkur, Karnataka, India |
| Family | - Father: H. M. Gangadharaiah (Drawing teacher, MLC, socialist) - Mother: Gangamalamma Chikkanna - Siblings: Older brother Dr. G. Shivaprasad, three sisters |
| Community | Aadi Dravida (Dalit) |
| Education | - B.Sc. in Agriculture, UAS, Bangalore, 1975 - M.Sc. in Agriculture, UAS, Bangalore, 1978 - Ph.D. in Plant Physiology, University of Adelaide, Australia, 1984 - Post-Doctoral Fellowship, University of Melbourne, 1984–85 |
| Awards & Scholarships | - Government of India Scholarship, 1978 - Overseas Scholarship, 1980 - Post-Doctoral Fellowship, University of Melbourne, 1984–85 - National Unity Award, 1993 - Distinguished Leadership Award - Karnataka Game Changer Award, 2017 |
| Sports Achievements | - Set 100-meter record (10.9 sec) at UAS, Bangalore - Represented Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra in college and state-level sports - Ranked 4th in World Inter-University Athletic Championship, Belgrade |
| Marital Status | Married to Kannika Parameshwari in 1982 (Buddhist ceremony) |
| Children | Daughter: Shana Parameshwara (lives in UK, underwent gender reassignment surgery) |
| Political Party | Indian National Congress (INC) |
| Political Career | - 1989: Won Madhugiri Constituency, Joint Secretary KPCC - 1993: Minister of State for Sericulture - 1999: Won Madhugiri, Minister of State for Higher Education & Science & Tech (1999–2004) - 2001: Minister of State for Medical Education - 2004: Won Madhugiri - 2007–09: Congress Working Committee - 2008: Won Koratagere - 2010–18: KPCC President - 2014: Elected to Legislative Council - 2015: Home Minister - 2018–19: Deputy Chief Minister (first Dalit) - 2023: Won Koratagere, Home Minister since May 27, 2023 |
| Key Roles | - Home Minister of Karnataka (2015, 2023–present) - Deputy Chief Minister (2018–2019) - KPCC President (2010–2018) - Chancellor, Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education (SSAHE) |
| Contributions | - Founded Sri Siddhartha Medical College, Hospital, and Research Centre (1988) - Chancellor of SSAHE, promotes affordable education - Started Anti-Communal Task Force (2025) - Managed law and order, high-profile arrests |
| Controversies | - 2013: Lost Koratagere election - 2019: Income Tax raids on properties - 2024: Apologized for comment on Bengaluru sexual assault case - 2025: ED raid on Sri Siddhartha Medical College (May 21, 2025) |
| Personal Interests | - Follows Ambedkarite and Buddhist philosophy - Collects art and artifacts from travels |
| Notable Events | - Met Rajiv Gandhi in 1988, entered politics - Handled security issues (illegal Bangladeshi/Pakistani nationals: 159 and 24 detained) - Addressed Mangaluru activist murder case (2025), eight arrests |
| Legacy | - First Dalit Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka - Promotes education and social justice - Advocate for Dalit rights, faced discrimination despite high positions |
Entry into Politics
Parameshwara did not plan to enter politics. He wanted to focus on education and agriculture. After returning from Australia, he worked as a Research Assistant at UAS, Bangalore. Later, he became an Administrative Officer at Sri Siddhartha Institute of Technology (SSIT) in Tumkur. In 1988, he helped his father start Sri Siddhartha Medical College, Hospital, and Research Centre. The Medical Council of India and the state government had rejected it earlier. But Bangalore University and the Supreme Court approved it.
In 1989, Parameshwara met former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He was with Karnataka’s Education Minister, S. M. Yahya, and Mallikarjun Kharge to invite Gandhi for the medical college’s opening. Rajiv Gandhi saw his potential and suggested he join politics. S. M. Yahya took him to Mohsina Kidwai, a senior Congress leader. She made him Joint Secretary of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). This was the start of his political journey.
In 1989, Parameshwara won his first election from Madhugiri Constituency. He defeated C. Rajavardhan of Janata Dal. This victory marked his rise in politics. He joined the Indian National Congress (INC) and stayed loyal to the party.
Political Career
Parameshwara’s political career is long and successful. In 1993, he became Minister of State for Sericulture under Chief Minister Veerappa Moily. In 1999, he won the Madhugiri seat again with a huge margin of 55,802 votes. This was the biggest victory in Karnataka that year. From 1999 to 2004, he served as Minister of State for Higher Education and Science & Technology in S. M. Krishna’s cabinet. He also managed the Tumkur district. In 2001, he became Minister of State for Medical Education.
In 2004, he won the Madhugiri seat again. In 2008, he won from Koratagere after the constituency changed due to delimitation. From 2007 to 2009, he was a member of the Congress Working Committee. On October 27, 2010, he became the President of KPCC, replacing R. V. Deshapande. He served as KPCC President for two terms, the longest in Karnataka’s history.
In 2014, he was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Council. In 2015, he became Home Minister, replacing K. J. George. In 2016, he was made in charge of Chikmagalur district. On May 23, 2018, he became Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, the first Dalit leader to hold this post. He served until 2019. In 2023, he won the Koratagere seat again with 79,099 votes. Since May 27, 2023, he has been Karnataka’s Home Minister under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Contributions as Home Minister
As Home Minister, Parameshwara has worked to improve law and order. In 2025, he announced plans for an Anti-Communal Task Force to maintain peace in Karnataka. He also stopped police leaves due to security concerns, as reported on May 20, 2025. After the murder of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty in Mangaluru, he confirmed eight arrests and promised strict action. He also handled issues like illegal Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals in Karnataka, with 159 and 24 detained, respectively.
Parameshwara faced challenges too. In 2024, he apologized for a comment on a sexual assault case in Bengaluru after public outrage. He also dealt with a honey trap scandal involving 48 politicians, promising a full investigation. In May 2025, the ED raided Sri Siddhartha Medical College, linked to him, in a money-laundering case tied to actor Ranya Rao. Parameshwara cooperated with the investigation.
Education and Social Work
Parameshwara is a strong supporter of education. He is the Chancellor of Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education (SSAHE), a deemed university founded in 2008. SSAHE includes medical, dental, and engineering colleges. It follows the motto “Reach the Unreachable,” making education affordable for poor and rural students. Parameshwara’s father started this mission, and he continued it with his brother, Dr. G. Shivaprasad.
He has won many awards for his work. In 1993, he received the National Unity Award in Chennai. He also got the Distinguished Leadership Award for his contributions to society. In 2017, he won the Karnataka Game Changer Award from the U.K. Karnataka Business Chamber.
Personal Life
Parameshwara married Kannika Parameshwari in 1982 in Tumkur, following Buddhist norms. They met at Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra. He is an Ambedkarite and follows Buddhist philosophy. He loves collecting art and artifacts from his travels. His daughter, Shana Parameshwara, lives in the UK. In 2023, it was reported that Shana, born as his son Sean, underwent gender reassignment surgery and wants to start a foundation to help women.
Challenges and Controversies
Parameshwara’s journey has not been easy. In 2013, he lost the Koratagere seat, a big setback. In 2019, his personal assistant, Ramesh MS, died by suicide after Income Tax raids on Parameshwara’s properties. The raids found issues in his educational institutions, but he cooperated with authorities. Despite these challenges, he remained strong and continued his work.
Legacy
Dr. G. Parameshwara is a role model for many. He rose from a small village to become a top leader in Karnataka. As a Dalit leader, he broke barriers and became Deputy Chief Minister. His work in education has helped thousands of students. His focus on law and order shows his commitment to Karnataka’s safety. Even at 73, he works tirelessly for his people. His story teaches us that hard work, education, and loyalty can lead to great success.