Jagjivan Ram

Jagjivan Ram Biography

Jagjivan Ram was a freedom fighter, politician and a social reformer from Bihar. He was fondly called Babuji by his followers. He was the first Labour minister of Republic India, serving under Nehru. Belonging to a scheduled caste, he was a leader of their community. He was instrumental in foundation of the 'All-India Depressed Classes League', an organization meant for lower caste people. He was the Defence Minister of India during the Indo-Pak war of 1971 and thus witnessed the formation of Bangladesh. He served as Union Agriculture Minister for two terms and he is still remembered for his significant contributions for Green Revolution in India during his tenure in 1970’s, especial during 1974 drought when he was given an additional portfolio to overcome food crisis. The first woman speaker of Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar is his daughter.

He was elected to Bihar Legislative Assembly in 1937, and after that he played a significant role in organizing rural labour movement. In 1946, he was the youngest minister in the provisional government of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and later became the Union minister in control of the portfolio, Labour. He left Congress in 1977 during Emergency period, though supported Indira Gandhi and joined Janata Party alliance. He served as the Deputy Prime Minister of India during the period 1977–1979 and then in 1980, he formed Congress (J).

Jagjivan Ram was born at Chandwa, Arrah of Bihar in 1908. His father Sobhi Ram was in British Indian Army. His childhood days were spent in hardships following his father’s premature death. He had faced caste discrimination while at school as he belonged to Chamar caste. In 1925, while at school he made a welcome speech to address Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya. Malviya was impressed by his speech and he invited him to join Banaras Hindu University where he passed his matriculation in the first division. He completed graduation from the University of Calcutta in 1931. He has faced a lot of caste discriminations throughout his studies and for the same reason he decided to fight for them.

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Updated: May 07, 2014