Navnit Dholakia, Baron Dholakia, OBE,PC,JP,DL (born 4 March 1937), is a British Liberal Democrat politician and a deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords.
From 1997 to 2002 he served as a Liberal Democrat whip in the House, and from 2002 to 2004 he was the Home Affairs Spokesman.
He was elected President of the Liberal Democrats at the end of 1999 and served in the post from 2000 to 2004. In November 2004 he was elected a joint deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, and became the party's sole deputy leader in the Lords in 2010.[5]
Dholakia is involved with a range of charities including being a Patron of the British branch of Child In Need India (CINI UK).[6]
Sejant affronty upon a cushion Argent a representation of Ganesh Argent tusked vested bejewelled and crowned with a Hindu crown holding in each of the upper hands a baton and in the lower sinister a sweetmeat Or charged on the abdomen with a Hindu symbol and the sinister leg fesswise above a rat couchant Sable.[9]
Escutcheon
Per fess wavy Or and Sable two heraldic dolphins naiant counterchanged that in base contourny a border Sable in chief and Argent in base nine martlets counterchanged.
Supporters
Two blackbuck reguardant Proper gorged with a plain collar armed and unguled Or.
Motto
Carpe Diem
Personal life
He has been married to Lady Dholakia, née Ann McLuskie, since 1967. They have two daughters and live in West Sussex. He is a Hindu of Gujarati origin.[10]
Sources
Lord Dholakia biography at the site of Liberal Democrats