U. T. KHADER

First Minority Speaker of the KarnatakaAssembly-Historic.

place, with strong support from Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. There were no other contenders for the post, Pro-tem SpeakerR V Deshpande called fora vote on the Chief Minister’s proposal, which was unanimously acceptedbytheHouse.

History was made in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in Bangalore, on May 24, 2023, when five-time Mangalore Congress MLA, was unanimouslyelectedthespeaker.In these times of discrimination, it is noteworthythatthisisthefirsttime ever a Muslim is occupying this august position. New Congress Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is said tobe personally responsible for UT Khader's nomination in the first

Currently the 23rd Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, he previously served as the Cabinet Minister for Urban Development and Housing in Government of Karnataka. Khader is a fifth term MLA representing the Mangalore constituency (previously known as the Ullal and Boliyar constituency) of coastal Karnataka. He is a member of the Indian National Congress and was the only Congress MLA to win from the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts in the 2023 State election. He defeated Santosh Kumar Rai of BJP by a margin of 19,739 votes. Fifty-three (53) years old, Khader has an impressive political trajectory, starting from his involvement in the Congress’s student wing NSUI, eventually becoming a five-time MLA representing the coastal region of Mangaluru. Despite senior leaders like RV Deshpande and TB Jayachandra declining the offer in favor of ministerial positions, KhaderwasselectedastheSpeakerdesignate.

Member of the Karnataka LegislativeAssemblysince2008and has held following vital positions : Minister for Health and Family Welfare In office 20 May 2013 – 20 June 2016; Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs In office20June2016 – 2018;Minister for Urban Development and

HousingIn office June 2018 – July 2019; Deputy Leader of the Opposition of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly In office January 2022 – 13 May 2023. OccupationAdvocate.

Khaderwasborn,12October1969, broughtupinUppala,Kasargod.His motherisNaseema,andhisfatheris the late Haji U. T. Fareed; Spouse: Lamees Khader. Children: Hawwa Naseema. He has three brothers and one sister: U T Ifthikar Ali, U T ZeenathYunusSalim,ZulfikarAli,Ali Imthiyaz. KhadercompletedhisBA and LLB courses at St Aloysius College and SDM Law College in Mangaluru, respectively. He possesses a keen interest in bike and car races and has actively participated in state and nationallevel motorcycle race championships. Additionally, hehas shown enthusiasm for various sports, including cricket, football, volleyball, hockey, tennis, and others.

He is well known for his close association with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and several leaders across party lines. Thus, convincing and Shining India Awards for his outstanding performance in the Legislative Assembly from 2008 to 2013.

Khadertoaccepttheposition,which came as a surprise to him as he aspired of becoming a minister in the Cabinet. Although initially concerned about handling such a significant role, Khader was assured ofhiscapabilitiesbypartyleaders.

His political journey began with student politics, holding positions such as NSUI district general secretary, NSUI district president, and NSUI state vice-president during the 1990s and early 2000s. Khader also participated in National-Level Seva Dal Training CampsandservedastheAdditional Chief Adviser of the Seva Dal in 2005. As a member of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, Khader was elected as its secretary in 2008 and received accolades such as the Sadan Veer

UnlikeotherMuslimleaderswho often assume roles specific to minority affairs, Khader expanded his influence and became a statelevelleaderacross communities. He served as the Minister of Health, Food and Civil Supplies, and Urban Development and Housing, bringingaboutnotableprojectslike the gutka ban, bike ambulance, health emergency number 108, Aarogyasri, Danta Bhagya, and dialysis units in government taluk hospitals. His remarkable achievements as Health Minister earnedhimtheBestHealthMinister award from the Central government. He is known as a very compassionate human and has an appeal to all sections and classes of society. Admired for helping random suffering people and accidentvictims whom he hasgone outofhiswayto helpandsupport.

-Compiled By: Ivan Saldanha-Shet.

Indian originDr AustinPrabhuinrace forLionsinternational director

AbrahamLincolnDoubleTreeHotel HiltoninSpringfieldonSundayMay 21. Festivities were started on May 18, with the international guest for the weekend, the past international president of Lions International, Judge Brian Stevenson from Calgary,Canada.

Springffield, May 21: Lion Dr Ausltin Prabhu from Illinois, Chicagoland, won the candidacy being endorsed during the Lions of Illinois, Multiple District 1 State Convention which was held at the

There were Lions and guests from the10districtsofMultipleDistrict1. (Mother District of Lionism). A total of189delegatesfrom10districtsof MD1 took part in the election. Dr AustinfromDistrict1Areceived109 votes and his opponent Darren Vanduyn from District 1D received 72 votes. Eight votes were destroyed.

The next step will be an endorsement from Lions International at the International Convention in Melbourne, Australia inJuly2024.

In his acceptance speech, Lion Dr Austin Prabhu thanked all the delegates and also his club The Forest Kala Sampath Lions Club members for their unconditional support in preparing his hospitality room and arranging food and beverages. If elected, Dr Austin will be the first India-born International Director from the State of Illinois and from the Mother District of Lionism.