Shyama Charan Shukla was born on February 27, 1925 in Raipur to Pt. Ravi Shankar Shukla, the first chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. Shyama Charan went on to become the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh thrice. A law graduate he also had a stint as a journalist. Shyama Charan, who was elected to the Madhya Pradesh Assembly for the first time during 1957 was elected to the assembly from Rajim constituency for six terms. He has also served as leader of opposition in the Madhya Pradesh assembly during 1967 and 1969. An ardent flier, he holds a private pilots license. He was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1999. In the parliament he has been a member, Committee on Petroleum and Chemicals and member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Defence.