Amichand Rajbansi
Encyclopedia
Amichand Rajbansi is a South Africa
n politician
. He is a former Chief Minister of the House of Delegates
Tricameral parliamentary chamber for Indian people, and leader of the Minority Front.
Amichand Rajbansi, nicknamed the Bengal Tiger, was born in Clairwood, Durban
on 14 January 1942. He attended Clairwood Secondary School and the Indian University College to study History
and Psychology
as major subjects.
After a long service as a sports administrator, professional soccer referee, civic leader, and serving in local government structures dealing with local affairs, Rajbansi was elected to the Indian Council in 1974. In 1976 he resigned from the Indian Council protesting the inter Cabinet council between the Indian Council and government cabinet of Prime Minister John Vorster. In 1981 he formed the National Peoples Party (NPP) and was elected leader of this new party. The NPP successfully competed for the election to the South African Indian Council and took control of SAIC.
In 1984, following Prime Minister Pieter Willem Botha
's constitutional reforms, the NPP stood for the newly constituted House of Delegates
, the Indian only parliamentary chamber, and won the majority of seats in the House. As a result, Rajbansi became member of the South African Cabinet
and chairman for the Ministers' Council for Indian Affairs. After South Africa's transition to multi-racial democracy in 1994, the NPP became the Minority Front and continued to draw support from the Indian community.
After the 2004 elections, Rajbansi made an alliance with the African National Congress
and he became MEC for Sports and Recreation for Kwazulu Natal Province. In January 2009 Mr Rajbansi received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the India International Friendship Society
in New Delhi, in recognition of his selfless service to humanity. Mr Rajbansi was the only African to receive this award.
in an interview published by the Sunday Times in the 1980s about her affection for her husband. She referred to her husband as "her hero". "Even if it means sleeping on a bed of nails or walking on coals for him, I will do it ... I will always stand by him." They also had four daughters and a son together. Their relationship soured when Devi joined the IFP
. The couple separated in 1998, with political and alleged paranoraml activity in their marital home being cited as reasons attributed to their separation. The couple divorced in 2000. Rajbansi lost his hair A year later Rajbansi married Shameen Thakur.
In 2003 Rajbansi's ex-daughter-in-law, Karnagie Tandree was strangled to death Police have deliberated over both murder and suicide as a cause of the death.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is a former Chief Minister of the House of Delegates
House of Delegates
The House of Delegates is the name given to the lower house of the legislature in three U.S. states – Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.House of Delegates may also refer to:...
Tricameral parliamentary chamber for Indian people, and leader of the Minority Front.
Amichand Rajbansi, nicknamed the Bengal Tiger, was born in Clairwood, Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
on 14 January 1942. He attended Clairwood Secondary School and the Indian University College to study History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
as major subjects.
After a long service as a sports administrator, professional soccer referee, civic leader, and serving in local government structures dealing with local affairs, Rajbansi was elected to the Indian Council in 1974. In 1976 he resigned from the Indian Council protesting the inter Cabinet council between the Indian Council and government cabinet of Prime Minister John Vorster. In 1981 he formed the National Peoples Party (NPP) and was elected leader of this new party. The NPP successfully competed for the election to the South African Indian Council and took control of SAIC.
In 1984, following Prime Minister Pieter Willem Botha
Pieter Willem Botha
Pieter Willem Botha , commonly known as "P. W." and Die Groot Krokodil , was the prime minister of South Africa from 1978 to 1984 and the first executive state president from 1984 to 1989.First elected to Parliament in 1948, Botha was for eleven years head of the Afrikaner National Party and the...
's constitutional reforms, the NPP stood for the newly constituted House of Delegates
Tricameral Parliament
The Tricameral Parliament was the name given to the South African parliament and its structure from 1984 to 1994, established by the South African Constitution of 1983...
, the Indian only parliamentary chamber, and won the majority of seats in the House. As a result, Rajbansi became member of the South African Cabinet
Government of South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a constitutional democracy with a three-tier system of government and an independent judiciary, operating in a nearly unique system that combines aspects of parliamentary and presidential systems. Legislative authority is held by the Parliament of South Africa...
and chairman for the Ministers' Council for Indian Affairs. After South Africa's transition to multi-racial democracy in 1994, the NPP became the Minority Front and continued to draw support from the Indian community.
After the 2004 elections, Rajbansi made an alliance with the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
and he became MEC for Sports and Recreation for Kwazulu Natal Province. In January 2009 Mr Rajbansi received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the India International Friendship Society
India International Friendship Society
The India International Friendship Society is a prominent – though not the only – voluntary organisation seeking to strengthen the ties between India and the international Indian diaspora in the hopes of utilising their potential for the benefit of the country, and at the same to build bridges of...
in New Delhi, in recognition of his selfless service to humanity. Mr Rajbansi was the only African to receive this award.
Personal life
Rajbansi was formerly married to Asha Devi, a journalist and popular aunty in local government. Devi spoke to Jani AllanJani Allan
Jani Allan is a South African columnist and radio commentator. She became a household name as a columnist for the Sunday Times where she worked between 1979-90. She is also known for her alleged affair with an interviewee, the late right-wing political leader Eugène Terre'Blanche...
in an interview published by the Sunday Times in the 1980s about her affection for her husband. She referred to her husband as "her hero". "Even if it means sleeping on a bed of nails or walking on coals for him, I will do it ... I will always stand by him." They also had four daughters and a son together. Their relationship soured when Devi joined the IFP
Inkatha Freedom Party
The Inkatha Freedom Party is a political party in South Africa. Since its founding, it has been led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi. It is currently the fourth largest party in the National Assembly of South Africa.-History:...
. The couple separated in 1998, with political and alleged paranoraml activity in their marital home being cited as reasons attributed to their separation. The couple divorced in 2000. Rajbansi lost his hair A year later Rajbansi married Shameen Thakur.
In 2003 Rajbansi's ex-daughter-in-law, Karnagie Tandree was strangled to death Police have deliberated over both murder and suicide as a cause of the death.