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Raghuvansh Prasad Singh

Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (6 June 1946 – 13 September 2020)[note 1] was an Indian socialist[1] politician. In the Lok Sabha, he represented the Vaishali constituency of Bihar and was the national vice president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal political party. He was one of the senior most politicians in India as a people's representative in the legislature for four decades from 1977.[2]

Raghuvansh Prasad Singh
Raghuvansh Prasad Singh
Member of the Lok Sabha
In office
May 1996–16 may 2014
Preceded byShiva Saran Singh
Succeeded byRama Kishor Singh
ConstituencyVaishali
Personal details
Born(1946-06-06)6 June 1946
Vaishali, Bihar, British India
Died13 September 2020(2020-09-13) (aged 74)
New Delhi, India
Political partyRashtriya Janata Dal
SpouseKiran Singh
Children2 sons and 1 daughter
ResidencePatna
WebsiteOfficial website
As of 25 February, 2006
Source: [1]
Raghuvansh Prasad Singh in his office after taking charge as the Union Minister of Rural Development in New Delhi on 24 May 2004

He started his political career when he was elected as an MLA and was subsequently made the Energy minister of Bihar in the Karpoori Thakur ministry.[3] He had represented Belsand constituency five times in the Bihar vidhan sabha. He was made the member of Bihar legislative council in a 1991 post. He became the chairman of Bihar legislative council.[4] He has represented Vaishali constituency from Bihar in Lok Sabha consecutively for five terms and has been in the Union cabinet for three terms. He was the Union Cabinet Minister for Rural Development in UPA-I of Manmohan Singh's government and is credited with conceptualization and implementation of NREGA (National rural employment guarantee act).[5]

Singh died from complications from COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in India at All India Institutes of Medical Sciences in New Delhi on 13 September 2020, at age 74.[6] In his final days, Singh wrote an emotional letter to Lalu Prasad Yadav mentioning the humiliation meted out to him in his last days.[7]

Early life and education

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Singh was born in a Rajput family[8][note 2] of Bihar. He was born to Ramvriksh Singh in the year 1946.[9] He was a Professor and Ph.D. in mathematics and an expert in rural and agricultural landscape in India.[10]

Political history

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  • Secretary, Samyukta Socialist Party (S.S.P.), Sitamarhi district (1973–77)
  • Member, Bihar Legislative Assembly (1977–90)
  • Minister of State (Independent charge), Power, Government of Bihar (1977–79)
  • President, Lok Dal, Sitamarhi district (1980–85)
  • Deputy Speaker, Bihar Legislative Assembly (1990)
  • Deputy Leader, Bihar Legislative Council (1991–94)
  • Member, Bihar Legislative Council (1991–95)
  • Chairman, Bihar Legislative Council (1994–95)
  • Minister, Energy, Relief, Rehabilitation and Department of Official Languages, Government of Bihar (1995–96)
  • Elected to 11th Lok Sabha (1996)
  • Union Minister of State, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (Independent Charge) (1996–97)
  • Union Minister of State, Food and Consumer Affairs (Independent Charge) (1997–98)
  • Re-elected to 12th Lok Sabha (2nd term) (1998)
  • Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha (3rd term) (1999)
  • Leader, Rashtriya Janata Dal Parliamentary Party, Lok Sabha (1999–2000)
  • Re-elected to 14th Lok Sabha (4th term) (2004)
  • Union Cabinet Minister, Rural Development (2004–09)
  • Vice President, Parliamentary Forum on Water Conservation & Management
  • Re-elected to 15th Lok Sabha (5th term) (2009)

Family

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Singh married Kiran Singh and has 2 sons and 1 daughter.[11]

Social and cultural activities

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He was associated with the socialist, Teachers' and Farmers' movements as well as activities related to nation building.[12]

Special Interests

His special interests included social service, the struggle against exploitation, legal aid to the farmers, the labourers and the oppressed, as well as promotion of education and educational reforms.

Sports, clubs, favourite pastimes and recreation

He was interested in Yoga, exercise and music. Among the countries he visited were South Korea, Germany, U.K., Mauritius and U.S.A.[13]

Other information

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He was imprisoned during the socialist movement, Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan movement and involved in several political agitations.[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Explained: The importance of Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, the last of true socialists". The Indian Express. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  2. ^ Mishra, Dipak (13 September 2020). "Raghuvansh Prasad Singh — Lalu's conscience keeper and the driving force behind NREGA". ThePrint. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  3. ^ "रघुवंश प्रसाद: जेपी आंदोलन से शुरू हुआ राजनीतिक सफर, 1977 में पहली बार बने विधायक". Hindustan (in Hindi). Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  4. ^ "जब अरुण जेटली ने रघुवंश प्रसाद से कहा था तो 'कैसा चल रहा है वन मैन ऑपोजिशन', ऐसे थे प्रोफेसर साहब". Prabhat Khabar - Hindi News (in Hindi). 13 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Explained: The importance of Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, the last of true socialists". The Indian Express. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Former Union Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh passes away in Delhi". newsd.in. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  7. ^ "RAGHUVANSH PRASAD SINGH : Bio, Political life, Family & Top stories". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Brain Behind Biggest Anti-Poverty Scheme, How RJD Sidelined Raghuvansh Prasad Amid Family Poll Game". News18. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Raghuvansh Prasad Singh". MyNeta.info.
  10. ^ "Raghuvansh Prasad Singh". MyNeta.info.
  11. ^ "End of an era in Bihar politics". Rediff. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  12. ^ "End of an era in Bihar politics". Rediff. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  13. ^ Hebbar, Nistula (13 September 2020). "Former Union Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh passes away at 74". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Former Union Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh passes away at 74". DNA India. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.

Notes

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  1. ^ Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, was former Professor of Mathematics.
  2. ^ Despite belonging to an upper caste - he was a Rajput - he practised the upliftement of Lower castes.

See also

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Lok Sabha
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Vaishali
1996 – 2014 		Succeeded by
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