Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary is a well-known public figure. He was born in a backward village – Odlaguri – near Gossaigaon in Assam to a Bodo tribal family steeped in poverty. Very early in life, right after his matriculation, he had to take up petty jobs to support the family and through great hardship and deprivation persevered with his higher education as a night shift student in a college and obtained a degree in political science with honors. He was selected for the Indian Police Service in 1967 in his 1st attempt and was the youngest in his batch. He was also the first Bodo IPS officer from Assam.

He worked in Kerala – the state to which he was assigned – for many years, but was not confined only there. His zeal to explore and experience the challenges took him across the length and breadth of the country including Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, in a wide range of assignments that enriched his perspective and broadened his mindset. In every assignment he held he demonstrated his resolute and farsighted leadership with a human face and never compromised on the principles of equity, fairness and truth.

He rose to the highest level in his career and was Director General of Police in Kerala. He has also the distinction of being the first man from the Northeast of India to hold the position of Director General in the Central Police Organizations; he was the Director General of the National Security Guard and Director General of the Border Security Force. In his illustrious career spanning nearly 39 years he earned much goodwill and recognition due to his competence, honesty and dedication. He is a recipient of the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service.

He superannuated from IPS in February 2006 and on 1st March became the first State Chief Information Commissioner of Assam. It was the first time that a person with the police background was appointed to this position in the country. The Assam Information Commission, under his stewardship, soon became the focal point of transparency and accountability in governance as envisioned in the Right to Information Act, 2005 and his proactive role in combating corruption in public service won him much public plaudits from all quarters.

He assumed the office of Governor of the State of Meghalaya on 1st July 2008. He is the first tribal Governor of this tribal State and the only non politician ever from the northeast of India to hold this exalted office.

Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary is conscientious, erudite and articulate with incisive analytical ability and clarity of thought. He was an edit-page article contributor to an English newspaper before becoming the Governor. He is deeply interested in public administration, development economics, contemporary politics, history, philosophy and literature. His mission is fighting corruption, social inequity and superstition and conciliating conflicts through understanding and tolerance. He is positive, considerate, caring and accessible with a passion for change and improving the quality of life.

At sixty six, he is one of the youngest Governors in the country and he enjoys robust health and youthful energy. He is married to Rema Menon from Kerala and they have a son – Ranjay and a daughter – Tamanna.