Bindeshwari Dubey

Bindeshwari Dubey (14 January 1921 - 20 January 1993), often referred to with the epithet of Baba, was a veteran freedom fighter and an able administrator who became the very Chief Minister of Bihar(March 25, 1985 to February 14, 1988) and became noted in the nationalisation of collieries of chhotanagpur region of Bihar(now Jharkhand).He held the portfolios of Law, Justice and Labour in the Union Council of Ministers in Rajeev Gandhi's cabinet. Earlier he had served the State of Bihar as Minister of Education, Transport and Health in the State Council of Ministers.He was a member of Seventh, Lok Sabha 'during 1980- 84 representing Giridih constituency of Bihar. He was a sitting member of Rajya Sabha since 1988. Earlier he had been a member of Bihar Legislative Assembly during 1952-57, 1962–77 and 1985-88.

Early life

Bindeshwari Dubey was born in a poor Kanyakubja Brahmin family of Bhojpur, Bihar in a village named Mahuaon. His father Shiv Naresh Dubey was a small peasant. He was second among the four brothers.The eldest was Rajendra Dubey, third was Bachchan Dubey and the youngest was Chhotan Dubey. His spouse Lt.Shiv Shakti Dubey was very religious and a great companion during his freedom struggle. He had four daughters and no son. The first three, Lt.Rajmani Devi, Lt.Manorma Devi and Lt.Pratibha Devi was married in the same family with Ashok Kumar Choubey, Lt. Chandreshwar Choubey and again Ashok Kumar Choubey(after the early death of first wife) while the youngest one Asha Devi was married to Dr.Ramesh Pandey. Later, after the death in a road accident of his second daughter Lt.Manorma Devi and son in law Lt.Chandreshwar Choubey when he was the Chief Minister of Bihar, he took care of their children Shivashish Choubey, Shobha Choubey, Rakesh Choubey and Ritesh Choubey and declare them as his successors. Now Shivashish and Ritesh are living with family in his old house of Bokaro Steel City, Jharkhand. He was born after the visit of his parents to Vindhyachal. So his parents kept his name Bindeshwari after the name of Vindhyachal goddess. His nickname was nunnu means a loveable child. Once, when he was approximately 12 years old, a big man Pathakji(a very expert astrologer, who could read one's forehead as well as hands) saw him somewhere and he read his broad forehead that this boy is going to become a very great and big man. So he decided to tie the knot of his only daughter(eldest than his two brothers) Shiv Shakti Devi with him. And he followed him up to his home. And finally he fulfilled his desire.

Career

Dubey was very good in studies. But unfortunately being a small peasant his father Shiv Naresh Dubey decided to stop his studies despite his request to continue his studies. But he was not agreed with his father. One day when he was preparing to go to school after his bath his father caught him and scolded him. Being upset with his father he ran away from his home in the towel only and reached Patna to his maternal uncle's house. With his cooperation he continued his studies in St. Michael School there. He also started taking some tuitions for his study fees. After the matriculation he also started doing a night shift job in a factory apart from the tuitions. Finally his dream came true. He got the admission in the prestigious engineering college of patna. He worked harder and harder and studied more and more.

• [1]
• [2]

Pre Independence

Quit India Movement

Being a very patriotic by nature Dubey left his engineering studies to join the freedom struggle and actively participated in 'Quit India Movement' in 1942. He among his few colleagues was most wanted by Britishers. During that time when he used to go to his village to encourage people to participate in the freedom struggle, they used to call him 'Gunda' means looter and kept apart their children with him. Once he among his colleagues set fire on Patna Railway Station. When the police tried to catch him he climbed on the running train. After couple of hours he got down to an unknown place and moved forward to a small colliery belt named Bermo . He saw a small tea and snacks shop over there and sat outside that. The shop owner Jha was continuously watching him for sometime. He was in a traditional patriotic 'Dhoti-Kurta-Topi" dress. Jha came to him and said "Come and have some food and tea" but he replied "I have no hunger". Jha said "You have no hunger or no money? Come." Jha understood that he was a freedom fighter for whom he had gret respect. After sometime he got a job in a private colliery.

Post Independence

In the-post independence period, he served the country in various capacities. He held the portfolios of Law, Justice and Labour in the Union Council of Ministers. Earlier he had served the State of Bihar as Minister of Education, Transport and Health in the State Council of Ministers. He served the State as its Chief Minister during 1985-88.

Chief Minister of Bihar

He served the State as its Chief Minister from March 25, 1985 to February 14, 1988.Dubey was a great organiser and motivator.However, during his Chief Ministership political criminals had a field day.Genocides and corruption made his government controversial.He introduced many innovative measures to help the people in the state.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 fight with terrorist group MCC and Coal Mafias of Dhanbad respectively. It was his rare administrative quality that during his tenure the then opposition leader Laloo Prasad Yadav was his great admirer.

Minister of Law & Justice

He served the country as its minister of law & justice from 14.2.1988-25.6.1988.

• [3]
• [4]
• [5]

Minister of Labour

He served the country as its minister of labour from 25.6.1988-1.12.1989.

• [6]

Trade Union

Shri Dubey was a renowned trade unionist. He was closely connected with the Trade Union Movement in coal, steel, engineering and power industries. He ceaselessly campaigned for better wages and working conditions for coal miners. He visited many European countries to acquaint himself with the conditions of working class in the mines and factorie in those countries. He was also closely associated with Indian National Trade Union Congress and became its National President in 1981(though he was the state president of it for a long time).He was also the President of many other labour unions like Rastirya Colliery Mazdoor Sangh(RCMS), Indian National Mineworkers Federation(INMF), Pyrite Phosphate Company Ltd(PPCL) and many more. A widely travelled persons Shri Dubey represented the country in many international labour conferences and seminars.

Member of Parliament

He was a member of Seventh, Lok Sabha 'during 1980- 84 representing Giridih constituency of Bihar. He was a member of Rajya Sabha from 1988 till death. A seasoned parliamentarian, he effectively used the highest forum of Parliament in solving the problems of the under-privileged sections of the society. He made valuable contribution to the proceedings of both the Houses of Parliament as a member and as a Minister.

• [7]
• [8]

Member of Legislative Assembly, Bihar

He had been a member of Bihar Legislative Assembly during 1952-57, 1962–67, 1967–69, 1869–72, 1972-77 (Bermo constituency, Bihar, now Jharkhand) and 1985-88 (Shahpur Constituency, Bihar).

Legacy

He did a lot for the people of Chhotanagpur region of Bihar (now Jharkhand) specially. Today the collieries of all over India are nationalised and the coal miners are getting better working conditions and better wages is due to him along with his colleagues and the then central governments of Indira Gandhi, Rajeev Gandhi etc.

See also

• List of Chief Ministers of Bihar

References

• [9]
• [10]
• [11]
• [12]
• [13]
• [14]
• [15]
• [16]