Nathuram Mirdha
Encyclopedia
Nathuram Mirdha was a parliamentarian
, freedom fighter, social reformer and popular farmer leader of Marwar
region in Rajasthan
, India
. He was born in a Rad (also spelled Rar (Hindi:राड़)) gotra Jat
Hindu
family of village Kuchera
in Nagaur
district in Rajasthan
on 20 October 1921. His father’s name was Thana Ram Mirdha
.
with first division. He did MA (Economics) and completed LLB degree in 1944 from Lucknow University. He started practice as advocate in 1946.
under the Chairmanship of Sir Chhotu Ram
. He joined the Institution of farmers “Kisan Sabha” founded by Baldev Ram Mirdha
as Secretary in 1946. He was made the Revenue minister in the Jodhpur state. Nathuram Mirdha had intimate association with Kan Singh Parihar
(Parihar was a great advisor to Baldev Ram Ji Mirdha). Parihar was the backbone of the Marwar tenancy act 1949 and Marwar Land Revenue Act 1949. He strongly emphasized Natu Ram Mirdha to act quickly on land reforms in Marwar. The Marwar tenancy act 1949 and Marwar Land Revenue Act 1949 was drafted by Kan Singh Parihar, which gave ownership rights to the farmers of Marwar over the night without having to pay anything. Nathuram Mirdha played an instrumental role in enactment of the Marwar tenancy act 1949 and Marwar Land Revenue Act 1949 and it was one of the important objectives set forth by Baldev Ram Ji Mirdha.
Nathuram Mirdha visited every village of Marwar
region and had person-to-person contact. He united farmers of Marwar against the oppression of Jagirdars under the banner of “Marwar Kisan Sabha” and “Rajasthan Kisan Sabha”. These Institutions developed into very strong organizations and became instruments of social change in abolition of Jagirs and spread of education.
during the Indian independence movement
. Drawing his strength primarily from the peasantry, he was an undisputed leader of his
People for nearly five decades. Nathuram Mirdha made the service of poor farmers and labourers as main objective of his life.
On 15 August 1947 India
became free and a popular Ministry was installed in Jodhpur
. Recognizing the importance of the Kisan Sabha, its general Secretary Nathuram Mirdha, nephew of Baldev Ram Mirdha
, was included in the Ministry. He won his first assembly election in 1952 from Merta City constituency with a huge majority. He was a Member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
from 1952 to 1967 and 1984 to 1989 and held several important portfolios in the Government of Rajasthan
. He is known for strengthening agriculture
and cooperative
sectors in Rajasthan
. Commencing from 1972, he was returned to the Lok Sabha six times. He served in the Union Council of Ministers in 1979-80 and 1989-90. He served too, with distinction, as the Chairman of the National Agricultural Prices Commission.
, replied “Agriculture
and no other culture is the culture of India
”. The kingpin of agriculture in the country is the Cow, otherwise known as “Kamdhenu”.
He was Chairman of Maharaja Suraj Mal
Institute, New Delhi
for ten years. This institute progressed very fast during this period.
in 1975 during emergency period. He left the National Congress and joined Lok Dal Party under the leadership of Choudhary Charan Singh
. Nathuram Mirdha, then of the Congress, won the 1971 and 1977 elections. He retained the seat for the Congress-Urs in 1980, and in 1984 kinsman Ram Niwas Mirdha
of the Congress defeated him. In 1985 he was leader of Lok Dal in Rajasthan
assembly. It was with his efforts and strategy that made Lok Dal party a national level organization. He was state president of Lok Dal Party in 1988. In 1989, contesting on the Janata Dal
ticket, Nathuram defeated Ram Niwas.
By 1991 he had joined the Congress, for which party he won the seat in 1991 and 1996. Nathuram Mirdha joined Congress in 1991 after a period of fourteen years. He was also the Deputy Leader of the Congress-I Parliamentary Party till 1996. In 1996 he got elected to Lok Sabha
with a huge majority. That his popularity was undiminished can be seen from the 1996 result: he defeated his BJP rival H Kumawat by almost 160,000 votes. However, he died soon after. In the by-election that followed Nathuram Mirdha's death, the BJP fielded his son Bhanu Prakash Mirdha
, a newcomer to politics, and took the seat from the Congress (I).
was elected to Lok Sabha
in 1996 presently lives in Jodhpur. The two daughters Usha and Shobha are married and live in Jaipur. Kesar devi lives in Jaipur with her eldest daughter Usha.
Nathuram Mirdha was a successful politician, leader of farmers and a man of mass appeal in Rajasthan
. He was popularly known as Gandhi Baba of Rajasthan
. Nathuram Mirdha died on the 30 August 1996 in New Delhi
at the age of seventy-five.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, freedom fighter, social reformer and popular farmer leader of Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
region in Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was born in a Rad (also spelled Rar (Hindi:राड़)) gotra Jat
Jat people
The Jat people are a community of traditionally non-elite tillers and herders in Northern India and Pakistan. Originally pastoralists in the lower Indus river-valley of Sindh, Jats migrated north into the Punjab region in late medieval times, and subsequently into the Delhi Territory,...
Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
family of village Kuchera
Kuchera
The Kucheriya people are a historical Aryan-Scythian tribal group native to the Balochistan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, Punjab, Jammu, Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan....
in Nagaur
Nagaur
Nagaur is a city in the state of Rajasthan in India. It is the administrative headquarters of Nagaur District. The Nagaur city lies about midway between Jodhpur and Bikaner. It was founded by the Naga Kshatriyas.- History :...
district in Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
on 20 October 1921. His father’s name was Thana Ram Mirdha
Mirdha
Mirdha is surname of Jats found in Jodhpur Marwar region of Rajasthan, India. It is based on title Mirdha which was awarded by Emperor of Delhi in 1584 when Raja Uday Singh of Jodhpur, under the orders of Emperor Akbar, marched to Gujarat and defeated Sultan Muzzafar in battle. Distribution of...
.
Education
Nathuram Mirdha passed his matriculation from Darbar High School JodhpurJodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
with first division. He did MA (Economics) and completed LLB degree in 1944 from Lucknow University. He started practice as advocate in 1946.
Rise as farmer leader
Nathuram Mirdha was simple, soft-spoken but talented personality. He was committed to the service of people especially farmers. He was friendly with every person who came in his contact. He was straightforward and man of words. He organized a massive farmer gathering at JodhpurJodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
under the Chairmanship of Sir Chhotu Ram
Chhotu Ram
Rao Bahadur Sir Chhotu Ram was one of the most prominent pre-partition politicians in Punjab and an ideologue of the Jat peasantry and a champion of its interests. Sir Chottu Ram was the first Stephanian to be knighted in 1937...
. He joined the Institution of farmers “Kisan Sabha” founded by Baldev Ram Mirdha
Baldev Ram Mirdha
Baldev Ram Mirdha was a great social reformer of the Marwar region in Rajasthan, India. He was born in a Rad gotra Jat Hindu family of village Kuchera in Nagaur district in Rajasthan in 1889. His father’s name was Mangla Ram ji. His family was given the work of Department of Post and Telegraph...
as Secretary in 1946. He was made the Revenue minister in the Jodhpur state. Nathuram Mirdha had intimate association with Kan Singh Parihar
Kan Singh Parihar
Justice Kan Singh Parihar was a judge of Rajasthan High Court and Vice-Chancellor of Jodhpur University. He belongs to Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.-Early life and education:...
(Parihar was a great advisor to Baldev Ram Ji Mirdha). Parihar was the backbone of the Marwar tenancy act 1949 and Marwar Land Revenue Act 1949. He strongly emphasized Natu Ram Mirdha to act quickly on land reforms in Marwar. The Marwar tenancy act 1949 and Marwar Land Revenue Act 1949 was drafted by Kan Singh Parihar, which gave ownership rights to the farmers of Marwar over the night without having to pay anything. Nathuram Mirdha played an instrumental role in enactment of the Marwar tenancy act 1949 and Marwar Land Revenue Act 1949 and it was one of the important objectives set forth by Baldev Ram Ji Mirdha.
Nathuram Mirdha visited every village of Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
region and had person-to-person contact. He united farmers of Marwar against the oppression of Jagirdars under the banner of “Marwar Kisan Sabha” and “Rajasthan Kisan Sabha”. These Institutions developed into very strong organizations and became instruments of social change in abolition of Jagirs and spread of education.
Freedom fighter and political leader
Nathuram Mirdha simultaneously fought feudalism as well as the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
during the Indian independence movement
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
. Drawing his strength primarily from the peasantry, he was an undisputed leader of his
People for nearly five decades. Nathuram Mirdha made the service of poor farmers and labourers as main objective of his life.
On 15 August 1947 India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
became free and a popular Ministry was installed in Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
. Recognizing the importance of the Kisan Sabha, its general Secretary Nathuram Mirdha, nephew of Baldev Ram Mirdha
Baldev Ram Mirdha
Baldev Ram Mirdha was a great social reformer of the Marwar region in Rajasthan, India. He was born in a Rad gotra Jat Hindu family of village Kuchera in Nagaur district in Rajasthan in 1889. His father’s name was Mangla Ram ji. His family was given the work of Department of Post and Telegraph...
, was included in the Ministry. He won his first assembly election in 1952 from Merta City constituency with a huge majority. He was a Member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly or the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha is the unicameral legislature of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is situated in Jaipur — the capital of the state. Members of the Legislative assembly are directly elected by the people. Presently, the legislative assembly...
from 1952 to 1967 and 1984 to 1989 and held several important portfolios in the Government of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
. He is known for strengthening agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
sectors in Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
. Commencing from 1972, he was returned to the Lok Sabha six times. He served in the Union Council of Ministers in 1979-80 and 1989-90. He served too, with distinction, as the Chairman of the National Agricultural Prices Commission.
Chairman of National Agricultural Prices Commission
As Chairman of National Agricultural Prices Commission, he implemented number of schemes in the interest of farmers. There is an interesting historical anecdote about the Chairman of the National Agricultural Commission, Nathuram Mirdha, who, when asked by a foreign delegation as to what, according to him, was the culture of IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, replied “Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and no other culture is the culture of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
”. The kingpin of agriculture in the country is the Cow, otherwise known as “Kamdhenu”.
He was Chairman of Maharaja Suraj Mal
Maharaja Suraj Mal
Maharaja Suraj Mal was ruler of Bharatpur in Rajasthan in India. He has been described by a contemporary historian as "the Plato of the Jat people" and by a modern writer as the "Jat Ulysses", because of his political sagacity, steady intellect and clear vision.-Early life:Surajmal was born on...
Institute, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
for ten years. This institute progressed very fast during this period.
Differences with Indira Gandhi
Nathuram Mirdha developed differences with Mrs. Indira GandhiIndira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
in 1975 during emergency period. He left the National Congress and joined Lok Dal Party under the leadership of Choudhary Charan Singh
Choudhary Charan Singh
Chaudhary Charan Singh was the fifth Prime Minister of the Republic of India, serving from 28 July 1979 until 14 January 1980.Born into a Jat family in 1902, Charan Singh entered politics as part of the Independence Movement...
. Nathuram Mirdha, then of the Congress, won the 1971 and 1977 elections. He retained the seat for the Congress-Urs in 1980, and in 1984 kinsman Ram Niwas Mirdha
Ram Niwas Mirdha
Ram Niwas Mirdha was an Indian politician from Rajasthan. He served as member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from 1953 to 1967 and as speaker of the assembly from 1957 to 1967...
of the Congress defeated him. In 1985 he was leader of Lok Dal in Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
assembly. It was with his efforts and strategy that made Lok Dal party a national level organization. He was state president of Lok Dal Party in 1988. In 1989, contesting on the Janata Dal
Janata Dal
Janata Dal is an Indian political party which was formed through the merger of Janata Party factions, the Lok Dal, Congress, and the Jan Morcha led by V. P...
ticket, Nathuram defeated Ram Niwas.
By 1991 he had joined the Congress, for which party he won the seat in 1991 and 1996. Nathuram Mirdha joined Congress in 1991 after a period of fourteen years. He was also the Deputy Leader of the Congress-I Parliamentary Party till 1996. In 1996 he got elected to Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
with a huge majority. That his popularity was undiminished can be seen from the 1996 result: he defeated his BJP rival H Kumawat by almost 160,000 votes. However, he died soon after. In the by-election that followed Nathuram Mirdha's death, the BJP fielded his son Bhanu Prakash Mirdha
Bhanu Prakash Mirdha
Bhanu Prakash Mirdha is an Indian politician and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is a former member of Lok Sabha. In 1990, he was elected to the 11th Lok Sabha from Nagaur constituency in Rajasthan state defeating Ram Niwas Mirdha.Born in 1953 he was educated at Delhi University. He is...
, a newcomer to politics, and took the seat from the Congress (I).
Gandhi of Rajasthan
Mirdha was a veteran freedom fighter and an erudite Parliamentarian. He was Minister of State for Irrigation, Finance, Food and Civil Supplies and Chairman of many important Parliamentary Committees. He rendered yeoman service to the cause of the farmers, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections of the society. His services to the farming community will be long remembered. A lawyer by profession, he also rendered invaluable service in the field of education by establishing many educational institutions and Hostels.Family
He was married to Kesar devi in 1936 and they had two sons and two daughters. His older son, Ram Prakash Mirdha died on 22 July, 1993. His younger son Bhanu Prakash MirdhaBhanu Prakash Mirdha
Bhanu Prakash Mirdha is an Indian politician and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is a former member of Lok Sabha. In 1990, he was elected to the 11th Lok Sabha from Nagaur constituency in Rajasthan state defeating Ram Niwas Mirdha.Born in 1953 he was educated at Delhi University. He is...
was elected to Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
in 1996 presently lives in Jodhpur. The two daughters Usha and Shobha are married and live in Jaipur. Kesar devi lives in Jaipur with her eldest daughter Usha.
Nathuram Mirdha was a successful politician, leader of farmers and a man of mass appeal in Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
. He was popularly known as Gandhi Baba of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
. Nathuram Mirdha died on the 30 August 1996 in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
at the age of seventy-five.