Manywar Kanshiram - Life History

Born: 15 March 1934, Rorapur, Punjab

Death: 9 October 2006

Occupation: Politician

Kanshi Ram was an Indian politician and social reformer. He worked hard for political integration and upliftment of untouchables and Dalits. He prepared a land for the downtrodden section of the society on which he could speak and fight for his rights. He adopted many avenues to carry out this task, but the establishment of Bahujan Samaj Party was the most important step among them all. Kanshi Ram devoted his entire life to the upliftment of the backward classes and giving them a strong and organized voice. He remained unmarried for a lifetime and devoted his entire life to fighting and strengthening the backward people.

Early life

Kanshi Ram was born on 15 March 1934 in Rorapur, Punjab, into a Raidasi Sikh family. This is a society which had abandoned its religion and adopted Sikhism. Kanshi Ram's father was less educated but he ensured that all his children would be given higher education. Kanshi Ram had two brothers and four sisters. Kanshi Ram is also the eldest and most educated of all siblings. He studied B. Sc. After graduating in 1958, Kanshi Ram was appointed to the post of Assistant Scientist in the Department of Defense Production in Poona.

Tenure

In 1965, he fought against the cancellation of a public holiday on Dr. Ambedkar's birthday. After this incident, he made up his mind to fight for the suffering society. He thoroughly studied the entire caste system and the works of Dr. BR Ambedkar and made a lot of efforts for the salvation of Dalits. Eventually, he quit his job in 1971 and together with one of his colleagues established the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Castes and Minority Employees Welfare Association.

This institution was registered in the Poona Charity Officer Office. Though this institution was formed to prevent exploitation of the employees of the oppressed society and for effective solution, the main objective of this institution was to educate the people and awaken them about the caste system. Gradually more and more people joined this institution, which made it very successful. In 1973, Kanshi Ram along with his co-workers established the BAMCEF (Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation), whose first operational office was started in Delhi in 1976. The motto of this institution was Educate Organize and Agitate. This institution did the basic work of spreading Ambedkar's ideas and his beliefs to the people. After this Kanshi Ram strengthened his dissemination system and made people aware about the caste system, its produce in India and Ambedkar's ideas. Wherever he went, he preached his point and got the support of a large number of people.

In 1980, he started the Pad Yatra named 'Ambedkar Mela' in which the life and thoughts of Ambedkar were depicted through pictures and story. In 1984, Kanshi Ram established the Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti parallel to the BAMCEF. This committee was set up to protect the activists who were attacked for spreading awareness about the caste system. Though this institution was not registered, but it was a political organization. In 1984, Kanshi Ram formed a political party called Bahujan Samaj Party. In 1986, he transformed himself from a social worker to a politician, saying that he would no longer work for any institution other than the Bahujan Samaj Party. Through party meetings and his speeches, Kanshi Ram said that if governments promise to do something, they should fulfill it otherwise they should accept that they do not have the capacity to fulfill their promises.

Contribution to politics

Through his social and political work, Kanshi Ram gave a low voice to the lower caste people, which no one had even imagined. The Bahujan Samaj Party gave an effective voice to the lower caste people in Uttar Pradesh and other northern states like Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.

The death

Kanshi Ram had diabetes and high blood pressure. He also had a heart attack in 1994. He suffered a brain attack in 2003 after a bundle of blood in his brain vein. He left public life after 2004 due to poor health. He died of a heart attack on 9 October 2006 after being bedridden for nearly 2 years. According to his last wish, he was cremated with Buddhist rituals.

Heritage

Kanshi Ram's most important legacy is the political party he founded - Bahujan Samaj Party. Some awards are also given in his honor. These awards include Kanshi Ram International Sports Award (10 Lakh), Kanshi Ram Kala Ratna Award (5 Lakh) and Kanshi Ram Bhasha Ratna Award (2.5 Lakh). A district in Uttar Pradesh is named Kanshi Ram Nagar. The district was christened on 15 April 2008.

Time Line (Life Events)

1934: Born in Rorapur, Punjab

1958: Appointment to the post of Assistant Scientist in the Department of Defense Production at Poona

1971: Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Castes and Leaving Jobs

Minority Employees Welfare Association established

1973: Establishment of BAMCEF.

1976: Establishment of first working office of BAMCEF in Delhi

1981: Establishment of Dalit Shodh Samaj Sangharsh Samiti

1984: Establishment of Bahujan Samaj Party

2006: He died of a heart attack on 9 October