GS Paper 1:
Topics Covered: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
Context:
The Prime Minister paid tributes to freedom fighter Babu Jagjivan Ram on his 115th birth anniversary (5th April).
About Babu Jagjivan Ram:
- Jagjivan Ram, popularly known as Babuji was a national leader, a freedom fighter, a crusader of social justice, a champion of depressed classes, an outstanding Parliamentarian, a true democrat, a distinguished Union Minister, an able administrator and an exceptionally gifted orator.
- Jagjivan Ram had organized a number of Ravidas Sammelans and had celebrated Guru Ravidas Jayanti in different areas of Calcutta (Kolkata).
- In 1934, he founded the Akhil Bhartiya Ravidas Mahasabha in Calcutta.
- He was instrumental in the foundation of the All India Depressed Classes League.
- In October 1935, Babuji appeared before the Hammond Commission at Ranchi and demanded, for the first time, voting rights for the Dalits.
- Babu Jagjivan Ram played a very active and crucial role in the freedom struggle. Inspired by Gandhiji, Babuji courted arrest on 10 December 1940. After his release, he entrenched himself deeply into the Civil Disobedience Movement and Satyagraha.
- Babuji was arrested again on 19 August 1942 for his active participation in the Quit India Movement launched by the Indian National Congress.
- He has also served as the deputy prime minister of India.
Insta Curious:
Did you know that In 1925, Jagjivan Ram met scholar Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and was greatly inspired by him? On Malaviya’s invitation, he joined the Banaras Hindu University.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- About Babu Jagjivan Ram.
- His contributions to India’s freedom struggle.
- Post Independence contributions.
- All India Depressed Classes League.
- Guru Ravidas.
Sources: PIB.
