Ram, Jagjivan

Ram, Jagjivan

▪ Indian politician
born April 5, 1908, Chandwa, near Arrah, India
died July 6, 1986, New Delhi

      Indian politician and spokesman for the untouchables, the lowest caste in India.

      Ram was born into an untouchable family and was among the first of his caste to receive a higher education. He attended Benares Hindu University and Calcutta University (B.Sc., 1931), becoming a member of Mohandas K. Gandhi's Congress Party in 1931. He played a role in the founding (1935) of the All-India Depressed Classes League, an organization dedicated to attaining equality for untouchables. During the late 1930s he also was elected to a position in the Bihar government and helped organize a rural labour movement.

      Jailed twice in the early 1940s for his political activities, Ram in 1946 became the youngest minister in Jawaharlal Nehru's provisional government. He held the Labour portfolio until 1952. Thereafter he held the posts of minister for communications (1952–56), for transport and railways (1956–62), and for transport and communications (1962–63).

      Ram supported Indira Gandhi's bid for office, and, when in 1966 she succeeded Lal Bahadur Shastri to the office of prime minister, Ram was appointed minister for labour, employment, and rehabilitation (1966–67). He served as minister for food and agriculture (1967–70), and in 1970 he was made minister of defense. During his tenure in that office, India helped to establish the independent state of Bangladesh. From 1974–77 Ram was minister for agriculture and irrigation. Although he initially supported Prime Minister Gandhi's declaration (1975) of a state of emergency, in 1977 Ram and five other politicians resigned from the Cabinet and formed a new political party. Disappointed that he was not chosen prime minister, Ram once again accepted the post of minister of defense (1977–79). He remained a member of Parliament until his death.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Jagjivan Ram — (Devanāgarī: जगजीवन राम) (5 April 1908 6 July 1986), known popularly as Babuji was a freedom fighter and a social reformer hailing from the backward classes of Bihar in India. He served as a minister in the Indian parliament with various… …   Wikipedia

  • RAM — bezeichnet: Ram (Serbien), Ort in Serbien Rama (Religion), indische Gottheit Rāma bzw. Rām, iranische Gottheit, siehe Iranische Mythologie Ram (Panzer), kanadischer Panzer im II. Weltkrieg Ram (Album), Musik Album von Paul McCartney aus dem… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Jagjivan Ram — Babu Jagjivan Babuji Ram (Hindi: जगजीवन राम) (* 5. April 1908 in Chandwa, Arrah, Bihar; † 6. Juli 1986 in Delhi) war ein indischer Politiker des Indischen Nationalkongresses (INC), dessen Präsident er von 1970 bis 1971 war, sowie der Janata Party …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Indian National Congress (Jagjivan) — Congress (Jagjivan) was a political party in India. It was formed in August 1981, after Jagjivan Ram was expelled from the Indian National Congress (Urs). Ram had rallied an All India Congress Committee (U) meeting of his own, expelling party… …   Wikipedia

  • Congress for Democracy — The Congress for Democracy (CFD) was an Indian political party founded in 1977 by Jagjivan Ram. It was formed after Jagjivan Ram left the Congress party of Indira Gandhi and denounced her rule during the Indian Emergency. The party contested the… …   Wikipedia

  • Sasaram (Lok Sabha constituency) — Sasaram is a Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar. Members of Parliament [ [http://archive.eci.gov.in/GE2004/States/index fs.htm Election Commission of India ] ] [ [http://164.100.47.134/newls/lokprev.aspx Lok Sabha Former Members ] ] *1952: Jagjivan… …   Wikipedia

  • Deputy Prime Minister of India — The Deputy Prime Minister of India (Hindi: भारत के उप प्रधान मंत्री) is a member of the Indian cabinet in the Indian government. The post is not a constitutional post and seldom carries any specific powers. Generally a Deputy Prime Minister also… …   Wikipedia

  • Constituent Assembly of India — First day (December 11, 1946) of the Constituent Assembly. From right: B. G. Kher and Sardar Vallabhai Patel; K. M. Munshi is seated behind Patel The Constituent Assembly of India was elected to write the Constitution of India, and following… …   Wikipedia

  • Janata Party — The Janata Party (जनता पार्टी, People s Party in Hindi) was an Indian political party that contested the Indian Emergency (1975 77) and became the first political party to defeat the Indian National Congress in the 1977 Lok Sabha elections,… …   Wikipedia

  • Charan Singh — This article is about the Indian Prime Minister. For the fourth satguru of the Radha Soami Satsang Beas, see Charan Singh (guru). Charan Singh चरण सिंह Prime Minister of India In office 28 July 1979 – 14 January 1980 President Neelam Sanjiva …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”