Mr. Mundakkal Mathew Jacob was born in Ramapuram, Kottayam district, Kerala State. He was appointed Governor of Meghalaya in 1995 and again in 2000 for a second term. Mr. Jacob has a keen interest in the traditional forms of local democracy in tribal areas, particularly in Meghalaya, and has been advocating a marriage of modernity and tradition to strengthen grass root democracy in tribal areas.The Governor M.M. Jacob welcomed news reports, which speculated that he might be considered as the Congress nominee for the post of Vice-President. "It certainly is good news. It is too premature to comment since I have not received any information. The election will be held only after a year. After all it is not me who decides the candidature. I know nothing of it. You could ask those who published the news," he said, addressing journalists in Cochin. He is a graduate in Law and has a Masters Degree in Political Science. He also holds a diploma in Income Tax Law. He has done a course in social work from the University of Chicago, U.S.A.He lost his wife, Achamma, a few years ago and has four daughters.