Kanshi Ram
Encyclopedia
Kanshi Ram (March 15, 1934 – October 9, 2006) was an India
n politician. He founded the Bahujan Samaj Party
(BSP), a political party with the stated goal of serving the traditionally lower castes of Indian society (that historically also included untouchables). He transferred the BSP's leadership to Mayawati
. His leadership brought the party to power in India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh
in 1995, at that point Mayawati
became the state's Chief Minister
.
.
He completed his Bachelor's degree in Science (B.Sc) from the Government College at Ropar affiliated to The Punjab University
.
(HEMRL), then part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO), in Pune, through a reserved quota for Scheduled Caste.
During his tenure in the DRDO in 1965 he joined the agitation started by Scheduled Caste Employees of Government of India
to prevent the abolition of a holiday commemorating B.R. Ambedkar's birthday.
-Backward(SC/ST & OBC) and Minority Community Employees Federation. The BAMCEF
was purely non political,Non Religious & Non Agitional organisation. Later on he formed another Social organisation known as DS4.He started his attempt of unifying the Dalit
vote bank in 1981 and by 1984 he founded the Bahujan Samaj Party
.
He represented the 11th Lok Sabha
from Hoshiarpur
Constituency, Kanshiram was also elected as member of lok sabha from ETAWAH (UP) . In 2001 he publicly announced Kumari Mayawati
as his successor.
On October 9, 2006, he died of a severe heart attack
in New Delhi. Ram, who suffered from multiple ailments such as stroke, diabetes and hypertension, was virtually bed-ridden for more than two years.
According to his wish, last ritual were performed as per buddhist tradition, the pyre of Kanshi Ram was lit by his soul heir Kumari Mayawati
. His ashes were placed in Urn and kept at Prerna Sthal, with huge procession accompanied by lakhs of supports.,
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. He founded the Bahujan Samaj Party
Bahujan Samaj Party
The Bahujan Samaj Party is a centrist national political party in India with socialist leanings. It was formed to chiefly represent Bahujans , referring to people from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Castes as well as Buddhists. The party claims to be inspired by the...
(BSP), a political party with the stated goal of serving the traditionally lower castes of Indian society (that historically also included untouchables). He transferred the BSP's leadership to Mayawati
Mayawati
Mayawati is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India. She heads the Bahujan Samaj Party, which represents the Bahujans or Dalits, the weakest strata of Indian society. This is her fourth term as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh...
. His leadership brought the party to power in India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
in 1995, at that point Mayawati
Mayawati
Mayawati is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India. She heads the Bahujan Samaj Party, which represents the Bahujans or Dalits, the weakest strata of Indian society. This is her fourth term as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh...
became the state's Chief Minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
.
Early life
Kanshi Ram was born to Bishan Kaur and Hari Singh, of Dalit Ravidassia/Ramdassia/Chamar Sikh background, at Khawaspur village in Ropar district of PunjabPunjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
.
He completed his Bachelor's degree in Science (B.Sc) from the Government College at Ropar affiliated to The Punjab University
Panjab University, Chandigarh
Panjab University is one of the oldest universities in India. The university campus is residential, spread over an area of in sectors 14 and 25 of the city of Chandigarh...
.
Career
Kanshi Ram joined the offices of the High Energy Materials Research LaboratoryHigh Energy Materials Research Laboratory
High Energy Materials Research Laboratory is a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation . Located in Pune, its main function is the research and development of technologies and products in the area of High Energy Materials and Explosive materials. HEMRL is organized under...
(HEMRL), then part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation
Defence Research and Development Organisation
The Defence Research and Development Organisation is a agency of the Republic of India, responsible for the development of technology for use by the military, headquartered in New Delhi, India...
(DRDO), in Pune, through a reserved quota for Scheduled Caste.
During his tenure in the DRDO in 1965 he joined the agitation started by Scheduled Caste Employees of Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
to prevent the abolition of a holiday commemorating B.R. Ambedkar's birthday.
Political career
In 1978 he formed the, BAMCEFBAMCEF
All India Backward and Minority Communities Employees' Federation popularly known as BAMCEF is an organization of educated employees from scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, Other Backward Classes,and converted minority communities in India. In 1973, Kanshiram along with D.K...
-Backward(SC/ST & OBC) and Minority Community Employees Federation. The BAMCEF
BAMCEF
All India Backward and Minority Communities Employees' Federation popularly known as BAMCEF is an organization of educated employees from scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, Other Backward Classes,and converted minority communities in India. In 1973, Kanshiram along with D.K...
was purely non political,Non Religious & Non Agitional organisation. Later on he formed another Social organisation known as DS4.He started his attempt of unifying the Dalit
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
vote bank in 1981 and by 1984 he founded the Bahujan Samaj Party
Bahujan Samaj Party
The Bahujan Samaj Party is a centrist national political party in India with socialist leanings. It was formed to chiefly represent Bahujans , referring to people from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Castes as well as Buddhists. The party claims to be inspired by the...
.
He represented the 11th Lok Sabha
Lok 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...
from Hoshiarpur
Hoshiarpur
Hoshiarpur is a city and a municipal council in Hoshiarpur district in the Indian state of Punjab. It was founded, according to tradition, during the early part of the fourth century. In 1809 it was occupied by the forces of Maharaja Karanvir Singh and was united into the greater state of Punjab....
Constituency, Kanshiram was also elected as member of lok sabha from ETAWAH (UP) . In 2001 he publicly announced Kumari Mayawati
Mayawati
Mayawati is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India. She heads the Bahujan Samaj Party, which represents the Bahujans or Dalits, the weakest strata of Indian society. This is her fourth term as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh...
as his successor.
Illness
He was already a diabetic and he suffered from a heart attack in 1994 followed by the formation of a clot in the brain artery in 1995. He has suffered a brain stroke in 2003. From around 2004 or so, Kanshi Ram stopped appearing publicly as he was suffering from various health problems. He convalesced at the home of Mayawati.On October 9, 2006, he died of a severe heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in New Delhi. Ram, who suffered from multiple ailments such as stroke, diabetes and hypertension, was virtually bed-ridden for more than two years.
According to his wish, last ritual were performed as per buddhist tradition, the pyre of Kanshi Ram was lit by his soul heir Kumari Mayawati
Mayawati
Mayawati is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India. She heads the Bahujan Samaj Party, which represents the Bahujans or Dalits, the weakest strata of Indian society. This is her fourth term as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh...
. His ashes were placed in Urn and kept at Prerna Sthal, with huge procession accompanied by lakhs of supports.,
Author
As an author Kanshiram wrote two books- "An Era of the Stooges" (Chamcha Age)http://ambedkar.org/research/The_Chamcha_Age.htm
- "New Hope"