Sheela Gautam (15 November 1931 – 8 June 2019) was an Indian billionaire politician and businesswoman.[1] She was the founder and owner of Sheela Foam Limited, run by her son Rahul Gautam, which sells mattresses under the Sleepwell brand among others.[2][3] A member of the Bharatiya Janta Party she served in the 10th, 11th, 12th & 13th Lok Sabhas of India. She represented the Aligarh Lok Sabha constituency of Uttar Pradesh for 13 years in row from June 1991 to May 2004.[4] She is the daughter of the famous freedom fighter Late Mohan Lal Gautam.[citation needed]

Sheela Gautam
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
June 1991 – May 2004
Preceded byUsha Rani Tomar
Succeeded byBijendra Singh
ConstituencyAligarh
Personal details
Born(1931-11-15)15 November 1931
Aligarh, United Provinces, British India
Died8 June 2019(2019-06-08) (aged 87)
New Delhi, India
CitizenshipIndian
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
SpouseLate Lt. Col. H.S. Gautam
ChildrenOne son & one daughter
Residence(s)Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh & New Delhi
Alma materLucknow University
OccupationPolitician, Businessperson
Websitesleepwellproducts.com

Early life and education

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Sheela Gautam was born in a brahmin family[5] at gabhana Aligarh district. Her parents were Indian freedom activist Pt. Mohan Lal Gautam and Smt. Draupadi Gautam. At that time, the British Raj occupied India so she spent her life in several places. She got a B.A., B.Ed., and diploma in management from Lucknow University, Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh).

Marriage

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She married Lt. Col. H.S. Gautam who died of cancer.

Political career

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She joined politics with the Indian National Congress but resigned and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. She held the post of MP continuously from 1991 through 2004 as a member of the 10th, 11th, 12th & 13th Lok Sabha. She is the record longest-serving Lok Sabha MP from Aligarh Lok Sabha constituency. In May 2004 elections she lost to Indian National Congress candidate Bijendra Singh by a margin of 2800 votes.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Sleepwell founder, ex-MP Sheela Gautam dead at 88". Business Standard. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Sheela Gautam". Forbes.com. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Sheela Foam Limited: Private Company Information". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  4. ^ "Parliamentary Constituency In Aligarh". aligarh.net.in. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  5. ^ University, Sheela Bhatt at the Aligarh Muslim. "Reading the Muslim mind in UP and Bihar". Rediff. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Uttar Pradesh Loksabha Election Constituency wise Results". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 26 March 2020.