Abhimanyu Singh Sindhu

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Captain (Retd.)
Abhimanyu Singh Sindhu
Capt abhimanyu.JPG
Captain Abhimanyu
Cabinet Minister
Government of Haryana
In office
26 October 2014 27 October 2019
AwardsHaryana Sahitya Akademi's Babu Bal Mukund Gupt award for Journalism
Website captainabhimanyu.in
Military service
AllegianceFlag of India.svg India
Branch/serviceFlag of Indian Army.svg  Indian Army
Years of service1987–1994
Rank Captain of the Indian Army.svg Captain
Unit7Mechanised Infantry Regiment
As of 21 October, 2014

Captain Abhimanyu Singh Sindhu (born 18 December 1967) is an Indian politician. He was cabinet minister with independent charge of eight departments in the Government of Haryana state in India in the first-ever government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Haryana.

Contents

He served as a Cabinet Minister in the first-ever BJP-led government in Haryana (2014–2019) [1] and is widely credited with playing a pivotal role in establishing BJP as a major political force in the state. [2]

He is also the founder-editor of the Hindi daily Hari Bhoomi [3] and has been associated with various philanthropic initiatives, including the Sindhu Education Foundation and Param Mitra Manav Nirman Sansthan. [4]

Early life and education

Captain Abhimanyu was born on 18 December 1967 in Khanda Kheri village, Hisar district, Haryana, into a family rooted in Arya Samaj vedic values. [5]

He completed his Bachelor of Commerce from Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1986, followed by an LLB in 2005 from the same university. [6]

He completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, in 2007, and completed a three year executive education program at Harvard Business School in 2015. [7]

In 2019, he earned his LL.M. (Pro) from National Law University, New Delhi. [8]

Military and early career

In 1987, Captain Abhimanyu was commissioned into the Indian Army [9] after graduating from the Officers' Training Academy. He served for five years in the 7 Mechanised Infantry Regiment, [9] earning the Special Services Medal for his distinguished service. [9]

In 1994, although selected in the Indian Administrative Service [10] entrance exam with 201 rank in the first attempt, he chose to dedicate himself instead to philanthropy, education, and public service. [10]

Prior to formally entering politics, he founded multiple businesses [11] across sectors like transport, finance, and media. [11] He was founder and editor of the newspaper Hari Bhoomi. [12]

Political career

Early political involvement

In 1997, he participated in the Swarna Jayanti Rath Yatra led by senior BJP leader L.K. Advani. [13]

In 2003, he contributed to the BJP’s election management team in Chhattisgarh, helping the party form its first-ever government in the state. [14]

Electoral contests and party roles (2004–2013)

Despite early electoral setbacks, Captain Abhimanyu emerged as a central organizational figure within the BJP:

Legislative and ministerial career (2014–2019)

In the 2014 Haryana Legislative Assembly elections, Captain Abhimanyu won the Narnaund seat, marking a breakthrough for BJP in the region. He was inducted as a Cabinet Minister in Haryana’s first BJP-led government under Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, handling an unprecedented 13 departments — the highest held by any minister during the term. [27]

Key ministerial portfolios

Minister of Finance, Minister of Revenue, Minister of Excise, Minister of Planning, Minister of Law, Minister of Institutional Finance & Credit Control, Minister of Rehabilitation, Minister of Industry, Minister of Labour, Minister of Environment, Minister of Forest, Minister of Industrial Training. [28]

Major reforms and achievements

National campaigns and party leadership (2017–2024)

Captain Abhimanyu continued to play roles in BJP’s electoral strategy:

International recognition

Captain Abhimanyu became the first minister from Haryana to:

Philanthropy and social initiatives

Personal life

He hails from a large, joint family of Rohtak. His father, Ch Mitter Sen Sindhu, was an industrialist, great philanthropist, and social reformer, whose ideals greatly influenced him. [43]

Ch. Mitter Sen Sindhu actively participated in the Hindi Satyagraha agitation led by Arya Samaj in 1957, advocating for Hindi as India’s national language. He was arrested during the movement and released on 28 September 1957. He later established educational and industrial ventures focused on rural upliftment. [44]

Captain Abhimanyu remains closely associated with Vedic principles, emphasizing truth (Satya), equality (Samata), education (Shiksha), and social reform (Sudhar). [45]

Ideological influences

Captain has been deeply influenced by the teachings of Dayanand Saraswati and Swami Vivekananda, particularly Vivekananda’s emphasis on selfless service, national pride, and the empowerment of youth through education and character-building. Inspired by Vivekananda’s vision of a spiritually awakened and socially responsible India, he has consistently promoted initiatives that integrate moral values, cultural pride, and social service. His focus on education through Gurukuls and his engagement in social reform efforts reflect Vivekananda’s ideals of upliftment through knowledge, discipline, and spiritual awareness. [46]

Legacy

Captain Abhimanyu is widely regarded as one of the most influential and disciplined political leaders in Haryana’s modern political history. Known for blending military discipline, strategic foresight, and organizational acumen, he is credited with transforming BJP’s footprint in Haryana during a period when the party struggled for relevance. [47]

A close aide of Amit Shah, Captain Abhimanyu also played a significant behind-the-scenes role in BJP’s landmark victory in Uttar Pradesh during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. His lifelong loyalty and commitment to the party, even during politically adverse periods, position him as a key pillar of the BJP in Haryana [48]

References

  1. "Captain Abhimanyu takes oath as new Haryana cabinet minister". Hindustan Times. 26 October 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  2. "Election 2019: How a Haryana minister united 3 camps in BJP". Indian Express. Indian Express Limited. 18 May 2019.
  3. "Hari Bhoomi - Hindi Daily Newspaper". Hindustan Pages. Hindustan Pages.
  4. "About Us – Param Mitra Manav Nirman Sansthan". Param Mitra.
  5. "BJP leader Captain Abhimanyu keeps the faith in Khanda Kheri". The Times of India.
  6. "Haryana Cabinet Minister Profile – Captain Abhimanyu". MyNeta.info (ADR).
  7. "BJP's Captain Abhimanyu completes executive course at Harvard". Business Today.
  8. "Captain Abhimanyu earns LL.M. from NLU Delhi". India Legal Live.
  9. 1 2 3 "From battlefield to ballot: The journey of Captain Abhimanyu". The Economic Times.
  10. 1 2 "Captain Abhimanyu chose public service over IAS career".
  11. 1 2 "BJP's Captain Abhimanyu: Entrepreneur, Editor, Politician". India Today.
  12. "Hari Bhoomi - One of India's leading Hindi newspapers". Exchange4Media.
  13. "Swarna Jayanti Rath Yatra: The Movement for a New India".
  14. "BJP wins historic first government in Chhattisgarh - The Hindu".
  15. "Captain Abhimanyu's Political Journey and Election Contests".
  16. "Haryana BJP and Atal Bihari Vajpayee Rallies".
  17. "BJP Wins Uttarakhand 2007".
  18. "BJP and Akali Dal Alliance Victory in Punjab 2012".
  19. "BJP's 2014 Preparations in Uttar Pradesh".
  20. "Narendra Modi's Ex-Servicemen Rally in Rewari, 2013".
  21. "Jhajjar Vijay Sankalp Rally".
  22. "Loktantra Bachao Rally".
  23. "Bijli Khoj Rally".
  24. "Ram Sethu Movement".
  25. "Vijay Sankalp Yatra".
  26. "Jal Adhikar Rally".
  27. "Capt Abhimanyu outdoes Ram Bilas in portfolio allocation".
  28. "Finally Haryana ministers get portfolios".
  29. "Crop loss compensation hiked to ₹12,000 per acre".
  30. "Soon, clearly demarcated plots in Haryana to be just a click away".
  31. "Haryana clears new excise policy with higher duties, stricter liquor rules".
  32. "Haryana jumps to 2nd spot in Centre's ranking".
  33. "Pension Haryana Portal for Social Security Pensioners".
  34. "Capt Abhimanyu will come to Punjab as BJP worker, not minister".
  35. "Dhankar, Abhimanyu get new BJP duties (Assam In-Charge 2024)".
  36. "Haryana Minister to Address International Labour Conference".
  37. "Abhimanyu invited to US conference".
  38. "Gurukul education system promoted by social organizations in Haryana".
  39. "Captain Abhimanyu Donates Ministerial Salary to Support Underprivileged Girls' Weddings".
  40. "Sindhu Education Foundation's Role in Rural Education".
  41. "Capt Abhimanyu leads Haryana Archery Association".
  42. "Capt Abhimanyu's rural outreach initiatives".
  43. "Rohtak's Industrialist and Education Pioneer: Ch. Mitter Sen Sindhu".
  44. "Hindi Satyagraha and Arya Samaj's Contribution to Language Movement".
  45. "Captain Abhimanyu's Vision Rooted in Vedic Values and Social Upliftment".
  46. "How Swami Vivekananda's Teachings Inspire Contemporary Indian Leaders".
  47. "How Capt Abhimanyu Transformed BJP's Fortunes in Haryana".
  48. "BJP's 2014 Win in UP: The Strategic Minds Behind the Success".