Radha Raman Shastri

Radha Raman Shastri is a former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh and Education Minister of Himachal Pradesh.

Shastri was born on 23 March 1943 at village Sunog in Tehsil Chopal in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. He started his career as Sanskrit teacher in Himachal Pradesh Education Department, served only for 8 years and was selected as lecturer for College Cadre but resigned to participate in social and political activities.

He established two periodicals namely " HIMBALA " monthly and " HIMYUVAK " weekly and edited successfully for 9 years. Digvijay Printing Press owned by him was raided during emergency by police 9 times and both the periodicals had to be stopped as these were being printed in his own Press.

During emergency in 1975, he was arrested under Maintenance of Indian Security Act (MISA) and remained in Central Jail Nahan with other most senior leaders for 19 months.

He was elected to Himachal Pradesh state assembly in 1977 immediately after the release from jail, and was made chairman of Himachal Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation, where he envisaged Master Plan to boost the tourism in the State. He was also president of Janta Party District Shimla immediately after its formation.

He remained as General Secretary of Bhartiya Janta Party, Himachal Pradesh continuously for 10 years w.e.f. 6 April 1980 to March 1990, and founded Snatan Dharm Degree College in the interiors of District Shimla at Nerwa (Chopal), which has been serving the people of this area by uplifting students educationally from weaker sections of different societies.

Again he was elected as a member of State Legislative Assembly in 1990 and was elected Speaker of HP State Assembly. After this he was given an opportunity of becoming Education Minister of Himachal Pradesh with 6 portfolios. He had the chance to visit many countries in the world and got opportunities to deliver lectures on different topics of Social, Educational and Political concerns. He participated in international seminars also.

He wrote two reference books namely " MAHASU KSHETRA KI LOK PARAMPRAYAIN " and " SITUATIONAL STUDY OF TRIBAL AREAS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH ". Now both the reference books are property of Government of India.

Electoral performance

1990 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election : Chopal^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	BJP	Radha Raman Shastri	17,124	69.56%	*New*
	INC	Yogendra Chandra	7,027	28.55%	42.61
	JP	Kripa Ram Thakur Chopali	377	1.53%	New
Margin of victory			10,097	41.02%	2.81
Turnout			24,616	67.81%	7.00
Registered electors			36,534		19.21
	BJP gain from INC		Swing

1977 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election : Chopal^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	JP	Radha Raman Shastri	6,466	45.19%	*New*
	Independent	Sant Ram	3,313	23.16%	New
	Independent	Mangal Singh	1,901	13.29%	New
	Independent	Sabla Ram	1,744	12.19%	New
	Independent	Mangat Ram	307	2.15%	New
	Independent	Shyam Singh	304	2.12%	New
	Independent	Davinder Singh	251	1.75%	New
Margin of victory			3,153	22.04%	50.71
Turnout			14,307	57.57%	13.35
Registered electors			25,210		3.63
	JP gain from INC		Swing	37.36

1972 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election : Chopal^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	INC	Kewal Ram Chauhan	8,717	82.56%	34.56
	Independent	Shyam Singh	1,035	9.80%	New
	Independent	Radha Raman Shastri	807	7.64%	New
Margin of victory			7,682	72.75%	68.75
Turnout			10,559	44.24%	14.57
Registered electors			24,326		16.83
	INC gain from Independent		Swing	30.55

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_speakers_of_the_Himachal_Pradesh_Legislative_Assembly

References

^ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1990 to the Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (pdf) on 14 January 2012.
^ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1977 to the Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh" (PDF). Archived from the original (pdf) on 19 March 2016.
^ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1972 to the Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 10 February 2022.

[1] "Statistical Report on General Election, 1990 to the Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (pdf) on 14 January 2012.

[2] "Statistical Report on General Election, 1977 to the Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh" (PDF). Archived from the original (pdf) on 19 March 2016.

[3] "Statistical Report on General Election, 1972 to the Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 10 February 2022.

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