Profile Text
Halifax, Canada – Nov. 20, 2021: Halifax international security forum. Canadian defence minister Anand, palinchak /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Indira Anita Anand
Place of Birth: Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada
Date of Birth: May 20, 1967
Ethnicity: * father – Tamil Indian * mother – Punjabi Indian
Anita Anand is a Canadian politician, attorney, and academic. A member of the Liberal Party, she has been Minister of Foreign Affairs, since May 13, 2025. She has also been Receiver General for Canada/Minister of Public Services and Procurement, from November 20, 2019 to October 26, 2021, Minister of National Defence, from October 26, 2021 to July 26, 2023, President of the Treasury Board, from July 26, 2023 to December 20, 2024, Minister of Transport, from September 19, 2024 to March 14, 2025, Minister of Internal Trade, from December 20, 2024 to March 14, 2025, and Registrar General of Canada/Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, from March 14, 2025 to May 13, 2025; as well as, a Member of Parliament for Oakville/Oakville East (ON), since October 21, 2019.
She is the daughter of Indian parents, mother Saroj D. Ram, an anesthesiologist and poet, and father S.V. “Andy” Anand, a general surgeon and artist. Her father was from Yangon, Myanmar, with roots in Tamil Nadu. Her mother was Punjabi. Her sister is vascular medicine specialist Sonia Anand (Sonia Savitri Anand).
Anita is married to John Knowlton, with whom she has four children.
She is the first Hindu woman elected to parliament.
Anita’s paternal grandfather was named V. A./Vellalore Annaswamy Sundaram (the son of Annaswamy Iyer). V. A. was born in Coimbatore, Madras Presidency, British India, now Tamil Nadu, India, to a Tamil Brahmin family. He was an Indian Independence activist, focusing on communication and public relations. He was an associate of Mahatma Gandhi and Madan Mohan Malaviya, and a fundraiser and secretary to the Benares Hindu University (BHU). Anita’s great-grandfather Annaswamy was from Vellalore, and was an advocate.
Anita’s paternal grandmother was named Savitri.
Source: https://www.mpanitaanand.ca