Dhani Ram Shandil

Colonel Dhani Ram Shandil (Retd.) (born 20 October 1940) is an Indian politician from Himachal Pradesh. He is a member of the Indian National Congress political party.

Dhani Ram Narainuram Shandil Colonel (India)
धनीराम नरेनूराम सांडील
Col. Dhani Ram Narainuram Shandil
Cabinet Minister, Government of Himachal Pradesh[1]
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 January 2023
Governor	Rajendra Arlekar Shiv Pratap Shukla
Cabinet	Sukhu ministry
Chief Minister	Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Ministry and Departments	Health and Family Welfare Social Justice and Empowerment Labour and Employment
MLA, Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 2012
Preceded by	Rajeev Bindal
Constituency	Solan
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office 1999–2009
Preceded by	Krishan Dutt Sultanpuri
Succeeded by	Virender Kashyap
Constituency	Shimla
Personal details
Born	(1940-10-20) 20 October 1940 (age 84) Shimla, Hill States, British India (Himachal Pradesh)
Nationality	India
Political party	Indian National Congress
Spouse	Indira Dhaniram Shandil (married. 10 May 1966)
Children	1 son and 2 daughters
Parent(s)	Shri Narainuramji Shandil (father), Smt. Lakshmidevi Narainuramji Shandil (mother)
Residence	Solan
Education	M.A., M. Phil., Ph. D.
Alma mater	Himachal Pradesh University
Occupation	Social worker
Profession	Politician, Agriculturist
Awards	Bharat Jyoti Award
Nickname	Colonel Shandil
Military service
Allegiance	India
Branch/service	Indian Army
Years of service	1962 - 1996
Rank	Colonel
Unit	Dogra Regiment
Commands	Army commands, Shimla
As of 9 May, 2006 Source:

Dhani Ram Shandil has served in elite Dogra Regiment of Indian Army and is a Bharat Jyoti Award winner. Shandil belongs to the Koli caste of Himachal Pradesh.^[2]

Political career

In 1999, he was elected to the 13th Lok Sabha from Shimla constituency in Himachal Pradesh as a Himachal Vikas Congress candidate. He was re-elected to the 14th Lok Sabha in 2004 from the same constituency as an Indian National Congress candidate. He is the MLA from Solan and previously served as Social Justice and empowerment minister in the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet.^[3]

Posts held

• 1999, Elected to 13th Lok Sabha
• Leader, Himachal Vikas Congress Parliamentary Party, Lok Sabha
• 1999-2000 Member, Committee on Defence
• 2000-2001 Member, Library Committee
• 2000-2004 Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
• 2004 Re-elected to 14th Lok Sabha (2nd term)
• Member, Committee on Provision of Computer for MPs, Offices of Parties in Lok Sabha and Officers of Lok Sabha Secretariat
• Member, Committee on External Affairs
• Member, Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
• 5 Aug. 2007 onwards, Member, Standing Committee on External Affairs