Ramesh Pokhriyal: A poet, PhD holder is India's new education minister

Pokhriyal's appointment as the new cabinet minister, in charge of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD), is not amusing though - given the kind of resume he holds

When Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ on Thursday walked up to be sworn in as a minister in the Narendra Modi government, his confidence was apparent. Pokhriyal, 59, was quicker than many from his age group.

Pokhriyal’s appointment as Cabinet minister in charge of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD), is befitting for his resume. A veteran politician from Uttarakhand, Pokhriyal’s CV lists a D Litt from International Open University and a PhD from Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in Uttarakhand.

Pokhriyal, a patron of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from his early days, started his career as a teacher at