Bindeshwari Dubey (14 January 1921 – 20 January 1993) was a freedom fighter, trade unionist and politician who served as Chief Minister of Bihar between 12 March 1985 and 13 February 1988.

Bindeshwari Dubey
17th Chief Minister of Bihar
In office
12 March 1985 – 13 February 1988
Preceded byChandrashekhar Singh
Succeeded byBhagwat Jha Azad
Minister of Law and Justice
In office
14 February 1988 – 26 June 1988
Prime MinisterRajiv Gandhi
Preceded byP. Shiv Shankar
Succeeded byB. Shankaranand
ConstituencyRajya Sabha, Bihar
Minister of Labour and Employment
In office
26 June 1988 – 1 December 1989
Prime MinisterRajiv Gandhi
Preceded byRavindra Varma
Succeeded byRam Vilas Paswan
ConstituencyRajya Sabha, Bihar
President INTUC
In office
May 1984 – March 1985
Succeeded byGopala Ramanujam
Minister of Education Bihar Government
In office
28 May 1973 – 24 June 1973
Chief MinisterKedar Pandey
Succeeded byVidyakar Kavi
ConstituencyBermo
Minister of Science & Technology, Bihar Government
In office
28 May 1973 – 24 June 1973
Chief MinisterKedar Pandey
ConstituencyBermo
Minister of Transport Bihar Government
In office
25 September 1973 – 18 April 1974
Chief MinisterAbdul Gafoor
Preceded byShatrughna Sharan Singh
ConstituencyBermo
Minister of Health Bihar Government
In office
11 April 1975 – 30 April −1977
Chief MinisterJagannath Mishra
Preceded byKedar Pandey
Succeeded byJabir Hussain
ConstituencyBermo
Lok Sabha
In office
1980–1984
Preceded byRamdas Singh
Succeeded bySarfaraz Ahmed
ConstituencyGiridih
Rajya Sabha
In office
3 April 1988 – 20 January 1993
Bihar Legislative Assembly
In office
1952–1957
Preceded byconstituency created
ConstituencyJaridih-Petarvar
In office
1962 – 1967, 1967 – 1969, 1969 – 1972, 1972 – 1977
Preceded byBrajeshwar Prasad Singh
Succeeded byMithilesh Sinha
ConstituencyBermo
In office
March 1985 – 3 April 1988
Preceded byAnand Sharma
Succeeded byDharampal Singh
ConstituencyShahpur
Personal details
Born14 January 1921
Mahuaon, Bihar and Orissa Province, British India
Died20 January 1993
(aged 72)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Resting placeGanges, Varanasi
Political partyIndian National Congress
OccupationTrade unionist, politician

Dubey was involved in the nationalisation of Indian collieries, especially in the Chhotanagpur region that was then a part of Bihar (now Jharkhand). He held the portfolios of Law, Justice and Labour in the Union Council of Ministers in Rajiv Gandhi's cabinet. Earlier, he had held offices at state level as Minister of Education, Transport and Health. He was a member of the Seventh Lok Sabha between 1980 and 1984, representing the Giridih constituency in Bihar. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1988 until his death. Earlier he had been a member of Bihar Legislative Assembly during 1952–57, 1962–77 and 1985–88. He had also been a National as well as State President of INTUC besides being a Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee President.

Early life

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Bindeshwari Dubey's Family Photograph

Bindeshwari Dubey was the second of four sons born to a humble farming Kanyakubja Brahmin[1] family in the village of Mahuaon, Bhojpur, Bihar.[2] His father, Shiv Naresh Dubey, was a peasant and despite showing promise in school, Dubey's education was not considered important. This caused him to run away to Patna, where he lived with his maternal uncle and continued his studies at St. Michael's High School, Patna[3][4] After his matriculation he worked on night-shifts in a factory as well as continuing to offer tuition to people as he had done during his school days in order to fund his education. He was eventually offered a place at Bihar college of engineering (today's National Institute of Technology, Patna) in Patna.[5][2]

Quit India Movement

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Dubey left his engineering studies to join the Quit India Movement in 1942.[6][7][8]

Political career

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Bindeshwari Dubey with Indira Gandhi in Bokaro Steel Worker's Union office in sector-3, Bokaro Steel City in the year 1979

Dubey was a member of Bihar Legislative Assembly for five periods as a representative of the Bermo constituency, being 1952–57,[9] 1962–67,[10] 1967–69,[11] 1969–72,[12] 1972–77.[13] Between 1985 and 1988 he was again a member, this time for the Shahpur constituency.[14]

For the short period of 28 May – 24 June 1973, Dubey served as Education Minister for the state government headed by Kedar Pandey.[7][15] He was Transport Minister from 25 September 1973 until 18 April 1974[16][7] in an Abdul Gafoor-led government, and from 11 April 1975 to 30 April 1977 he was in Jagannath Mishra's government of Bihar as a Cabinet Minister of Health & Family Planning and Science & Technology.[17]

Chief Minister of Bihar

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Dubey became Chief Minister in 1985 and held the post until 1988.[6][18] However, his Chief Ministership was controversial and there were accusations of genocide and corruption.[18] He launched the 'Operation Black Panther' in Champaran to free the area from the criminals and other anti-social elements. He also launched 'Operation Siddhartha' and 'Mafia Trial' to combat the MCC terrorist group and the Coal Mafias of Dhanbad, respectively.[19][20]

Controversies

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The short tenure of Bindeshwari Dubey witnessed the atrocities against the backward caste in Pararia village, in Deogarh district of Bihar. In the Pararia mass rape incident, the policemen of Bihar Police Force raped women belonging to twenty six families and looted the valuables from their houses. The contemporary media reports criticised Dubey government on not taking appropriate action on the incident in which backward caste women were raped and humiliated. The Congress (I) politicians under him were accused of falsifying the incident and unilaterally declaring that no rape or assault has happened.[21]

Besides corruption which swept every part of Bihar's administration, Dubey government is also accused of patronising political criminals. The Police's excesses also reached a new height during his tenure.[18]

National offices

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Dubey was a member of the Seventh Lok Sabha between 1980 and 1984 as a representative of the Giridih constituency in Bihar.[6] He was a member of the Rajya Sabha from 3 April 1988 until his death on 20 January 1993.

While in the Rajya Sabha, he was Union minister for Law and Justice between 14 February – 26 June 1988,[22][23] and then Minister for Labour from 26 June 1988 until 1 December 1989.[24]

Trade Unionism

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Dubey was closely connected with the trade union movement in the coal, steel, engineering, power and sugar industries. He was also closely associated with Indian National Trade Union Congress and became its national president in 1984, having previously been a state president until his last breath. He was also the president of many other labour unions, such as the Rastirya Colliery Mazdoor Sangh (RCMS), the Indian National Mineworkers' Federation (INMF), and the Bokaro Steel Workers Union.

Dubey started his Trade Union movement in the mid-1940s before independence when the collieries of India were in private hands where colliery owners and contractors used to exploit the contract labourers. He campaigned for better wages and working conditions for coal miners, visiting many countries like West Germany, U.K., Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Yugoslavia, Switzerland and Japan to acquaint himself with employment conditions in mines and factories. He represented the country at many international labour conferences and seminars.[25][26][27][28]

Legacy

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Among the numerous structures and institutions named in Dubey's honour are:

  • Bihar Government organize Birth Anniversary of Dubey as a State Function every year on 14 January.[29][30][31]
  • 'Bindeshwari Dubey Smriti Granth' was published by Dubey lovers after few days after the death of Dubey.[32]
  • A statue of him at Collectory Talaab, Ara, Bhojpur, Bihar.[33]
  • Bindeshwari Dubey Awasiya Mahavidyalaya, Pichhri, Bokaro, Jharkhand[34]
  • Bindeshwari Dubey Inter College, Bihiyan, Bhojpur, Bihar[35]
  • Bindeshwari Dubey Bridge
  • Bindeshwari Dubey Smarak Complex, Bhojpur District, Bihar[36]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Prasad, Jyotindra Nath (2019). "My date with editors". Educreation publishing. p. 57.
  2. ^ a b "पुण्यतिथि पर याद किए गए बिन्देश्वरी दुबे".
  3. ^ "St. Michael's High School, Digha Ghat, Patna | Admission 2022, Fees, Reviews - CBSE Coed School".
  4. ^ "St. Michaels High School Patna: Notable Alumini". 10 November 2007.
  5. ^ "Home". jharnet.com. 9 September 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "Obituary References". Parliament of India. 22 February 1993. Archived from the original on 29 September 2003.
  7. ^ a b c "पुण्यतिथि पर याद किए गए बिन्देश्वरी दुबे".
  8. ^ "न खाता न बही, जो चचा केसरी कहें वही सही". 24 October 2017.
  9. ^ "हम माफियागीरी को नष्ट करना चाहते हैं : बिंदेश्वरी दुबे". www.prabhatkhabar.com. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018.
  10. ^ "Bihar Assembly Election Results in 1962".
  11. ^ "Bihar Assembly Election Results in 1967".
  12. ^ "Bihar Assembly Election Results in 1969".
  13. ^ "Bihar Assembly Election Results in 1972".
  14. ^ "Bihar Assembly Election Results in 1985".
  15. ^ and Science & Technology
  16. ^ List of Transport Ministers of Bihar[circular reference]
  17. ^ "November 9, 1976, Forty Years Ago: Desterilisation Plan". 9 November 2016.
  18. ^ a b c Chaturvedi, Ritu (2007). Bihar Through the Ages. Sarup & Sons. pp. 219–220, 230. ISBN 9788176257985.
  19. ^ "Bihar ready for talks with naxals". The Hindu. 14 October 2003. Archived from the original on 6 November 2003. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  20. ^ "Bihar CM Bindeshwari Dubey fights Jagannath Mishra mafia gangs in battle for Dhanbad". India Today.
  21. ^ Shiri Ram Bakshi; Shiri Ram Bakshi; Sita Ram Sharma; S. Gajrani (1998). Contemporary Political Leadership in India George Fernandes, Defence Minister of India. APH Publishing. pp. 101–102. ISBN 8170249996. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  22. ^ "14 Commonwealth Law Bulletin 1988 Announcements". Commonwealth Law Bulletin. 14. Heinonline.org: 501. 1988. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  23. ^ Law commission of India One Hundred Twenty Fifth Report on the Supreme Court - a fresh look (PDF) (Report). 1988. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2009.
  24. ^ "Parliament okays changes in Journalists Act - Deccan Herald". Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
  25. ^ "Archived copy". parliamentofindia.nic.in. Archived from the original on 29 September 2003. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  26. ^ m.jagran.com/jharkhand/bokaro-8794987.html
  27. ^ "बिन्देश्वरी दूबे ने श्रमिकों के हित में कई काम किए: कांग्रेस".
  28. ^ "Hindi News: राष्ट्रीय कोलियरी मजदूर संघ ने जयंती पर विंदेश्वरी दुबे को दी श्रद्धांजलि| गिरिडीह समाचार - दैनिक भास्कर हिंदी न्यूज़ | राष्ट्रीय कोलियरी मजदूर संघ ने जयंती पर विंदेश्वरी दुबे को दी श्रद्धांजलि". Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  29. ^ "List of Bihar State Functions". Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  30. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. ^ "Daily Press Release". Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  32. ^ "Sapre Sangrahalaya".
  33. ^ "आरा: मजदूरों के मसीहा बिंदेश्वरी दुबे की जयंती लोगों ने उनके योगदान को किया याद – Arrah News in Hindi, आरा समाचार, Latest Arrah Hindi News, आरा न्यूज़ – Live Cities News". 14 January 2018.
  34. ^ "Bindeshwari Dubey Awasiy Mahavidyalay, Pichhri – Affiliated with Binod Bihari Mahto Koylanchal University". Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  35. ^ "बिहार बोर्ड का सहायक रिश्वत लेते गिरफ्तार".
  36. ^ "Babu Jagjivan Ram's 30th Death anniversary held". www.inc.in. Archived from the original on 18 June 2018.