Kariya Munda

Kariya Munda (born 20 April 1936) is an Indian politician and the former Deputy Speaker of the 15th Lok Sabha. He has been a former minister in the Government of India, in the Governments led by the Janata Party in 1977 and by Bhartiya Janata Party, from 1999 onwards. He was first inducted in the Morarji Desai government in 1977 and given the portfolio of Steel Ministry, in the capacity as the Minister of State. He was a cabinet minister in the ministry headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, including the famous stint in the 13 days' government in 1999 and afterwards. He has now been among the senior leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party, rising from the days of the 'Jansangh' and have witnessed many ups and downs in the Indian politics, particularly since the days of emergency.

Munda was born in Khunti district, near the State capital of Ranchi of Jharkhand state in India. Khunti is among the pre-dominantly tribal belt in central-eastern part of India. Incidentally, the village 'Ulihatu' near Khunti, is also the birthplace of the legendary, great tribal leader called Birsa Munda. Munda passed his M.A. examination from Ranchi University, in Anthropology, a subject which also predominantly studies about the tribals in India and elsewhere.