Chaturanan Mishra
Encyclopedia
Chaturanan Mishra was an India
n politician and trade union
ist. Mishra, who was born in Nahar, Madhubani District
, was a key leader of the Communist Party of India
in Bihar
, and served as the Agriculture Minister of India in the United Front
government.
. Due to his pro-Independence activism, he had to go into exile in Nepal
for a period. Back in India, he was imprisoned at Darbhanga
jail.
seat in the 1962 Bihar Legislative Assembly election, finishing second with 6,379 votes.
Mishra joined the National Council of the Communist Party of India in 1964. He became the president of the Bihar State Committee of the All India Trade Union Congress
.
Between 1969 and 1980 he was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Bihar, representing the Giridih
seat. He led the CPI faction in the Legislative Assembly for ten years. During this period he was referred to as 'the backbone of CPI in Bihar'. Madhubani, Mishra's home turf, got the nickname 'Leningrad
of Bihar. Mishra also served as president of the World Miners Association for a period.
Mishra contested the Hazaribagh seat
in the 1977 Lok Sabha election
. He finished third with 35,809 votes (12.45%).
and Lok Dal.
.
In April 1989 he was included in the party secretariat of CPI.
In 1990, he was again elected to the Rajya Sabha.
in the 1996 election
from the Madhubani constituency
with 282,194 votes. His candidature had been supported by Janata Dal
. After the election he became Union Minister for Agriculture, a position he would hold until 1998. Mishra was one of the two (along with Indrajit Gupta
) first communist Union Ministers in Indian history. In May 1997 he also overtook the portfolios of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution as Union Minister.
In 1998 Mishra was excluded from the CPI secretariat. Officially health factors were claimed as the rationale behind his exclusion, but the press speculated that the move was motivated by Mishra's opposition on the position of the party in opposing the introduction of President's Rule
in Bihar.
Mishra died in New Delhi
, aged 86.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n politician and trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
ist. Mishra, who was born in Nahar, Madhubani District
Madhubani District
Madhubani District is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Madhubani town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Madhubani district is a part of Darbhanga Division. The district occupies an area of 3501 km² and has a population of 3,570,651...
, was a key leader of the Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
in Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, and served as the Agriculture Minister of India in the United Front
United Front (India)
The United Front was a coalition government of 13 political parties formed in India after the 1996 general elections. The coalition formed two governments in India between 1996 and 1998. The government was headed by two Prime Ministers from Janata Dal - H. D. Deve Gowda, and I. K. Gujral...
government.
Quit India Movement
Mishra took part in the 1942 Quit India MovementQuit India Movement
The Quit India Movement , or the August Movement was a civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in response to Mohandas Gandhi's call for immediate independence. Gandhi hoped to bring the British government to the negotiating table...
. Due to his pro-Independence activism, he had to go into exile in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
for a period. Back in India, he was imprisoned at Darbhanga
Darbhanga
Darbhangā is a twin city and a municipal corporation and the capital city of the Darbhanga district and Darbhanga Division in the state of Bihar, India. It is one of the most important districts of North Bihar situated in the very heart of Mithilanchal. According to the latest 2011 census, the...
jail.
1962-1980
He contested the GiridihGiridih
Giridih is headquarters of the Giridih district of Jharkhand state, India. The literal meaning of Giridih is the land of hills & hillocks - giri, a Hindi word, means hills and dih, another word of the local dialect, indicates upland...
seat in the 1962 Bihar Legislative Assembly election, finishing second with 6,379 votes.
Mishra joined the National Council of the Communist Party of India in 1964. He became the president of the Bihar State Committee of the All India Trade Union Congress
All India Trade Union Congress
-External links:**...
.
Between 1969 and 1980 he was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Bihar, representing the Giridih
Giridih
Giridih is headquarters of the Giridih district of Jharkhand state, India. The literal meaning of Giridih is the land of hills & hillocks - giri, a Hindi word, means hills and dih, another word of the local dialect, indicates upland...
seat. He led the CPI faction in the Legislative Assembly for ten years. During this period he was referred to as 'the backbone of CPI in Bihar'. Madhubani, Mishra's home turf, got the nickname 'Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
of Bihar. Mishra also served as president of the World Miners Association for a period.
Mishra contested the Hazaribagh seat
Hazaribagh (Lok Sabha constituency)
Hazaribagh Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in Jharkhand state in eastern India. This constituency covers the entire Ramgarh district and part of Hazaribagh district-Assembly segments:...
in the 1977 Lok Sabha election
Indian general election, 1977
India held general elections to the 6th Lok Sabha. This sixth general elections, which were conducted for 542 seats from 542 constituencies, represented 27 Indian states and union territories. These 542 constituencies were remain same till Indian general elections, 2004 for the 14th Lok Sabha.The...
. He finished third with 35,809 votes (12.45%).
1981 election
He was defeated by Urmila Devi of the Congress (I) in a 1981 by-election (the 1980 election had been suspended following the death of Congress (I) candidate Randhir Prasad, Urmila Devi's husband). Mishra's candidature had been supported by the CPI(M), RSPRevolutionary Socialist Party (India)
Revolutionary Socialist Party is a Marxist-Leninist political party in India. The party was founded on March 19, 1940 and has its roots in the Bengali liberation movement Anushilan Samiti and the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army. The party got around 0,4% of the votes and three seats in the Lok...
and Lok Dal.
1980s
During the 1980s, Mishra became the president of the All India Trade Union Congress. In 1984 he was elected to the Rajya SabhaRajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
.
In April 1989 he was included in the party secretariat of CPI.
In 1990, he was again elected to the Rajya Sabha.
Union Minister
Mishra was elected to the Lok SabhaLok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
in the 1996 election
Indian general election, 1996
General elections were held in India in 1996 to elect the members of the 11th Lok Sabha. The result of the election was a hung parliament, which would see three Prime Ministers in two years and force the country back to the polls in 1998. The United Front, was created and got support from 332...
from the Madhubani constituency
Madhubani (Lok Sabha constituency)
Madhubani Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 40 Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar state in eastern India.-Assembly segments:...
with 282,194 votes. His candidature had been supported by Janata Dal
Janata Dal
Janata Dal is an Indian political party which was formed through the merger of Janata Party factions, the Lok Dal, Congress, and the Jan Morcha led by V. P...
. After the election he became Union Minister for Agriculture, a position he would hold until 1998. Mishra was one of the two (along with Indrajit Gupta
Indrajit Gupta
Indrajit Gupta was a Communist leader who became Indias Union Minister for Home Affairs in the United Front government from 1996 to 1998...
) first communist Union Ministers in Indian history. In May 1997 he also overtook the portfolios of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution as Union Minister.
In 1998 Mishra was excluded from the CPI secretariat. Officially health factors were claimed as the rationale behind his exclusion, but the press speculated that the move was motivated by Mishra's opposition on the position of the party in opposing the introduction of President's Rule
President's rule
President's rule is the term used in India when a state legislature is dissolved or suspended and the state is placed under direct federal rule...
in Bihar.
Mishra died in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, aged 86.
External links
- No Subsidies For A Lost Cause, article in Outlook