BSc, Presidency College, Chennai; LLB, Law College, Madras University; Master's in Business Administration, Harvard Business School. 1984, first elected to the lower house of Indian Parliament from Sivaganga constituency. Since then, has continuously represented the same constituency except for the period between 1999 and 2004. Held positions of Home Minister, Finance Minister, Commerce Minister and Minister of Personnel. Since August 2012, Minister of Finance. Interests: modern and Tamil literature.