Shyama Sharma
Kumari Shyama Sharma | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 25, 1946 |
| Died | September 21, 2020 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | LL.B. from DAV College, Dehradun;
Masters in Political Science from Allahabad University;Masters in Sociology from Agra University |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, Revolutionary |
| Known for | Minister of Law, Panchayati Raj, Food and Civil Supplies (1977–79) |
Kumari Shyama Sharma (March 25, 1946 – September 21, 2020) was an Indian politician and revolutionary. She served as Minister of Law, Panchayati Raj, Food and Civil Supplies (1977–79), Chairperson of Public Accounts Committee (1982-84), Chairperson of Himachal Pradesh Finance Commission (1999), Vice Chairperson of Himachal Planning Board (2000-2003)
Early life
She was born on March 25, 1946, in Village Saroga-Tikkar of
National emergency
On 25 June 1975, National Emergency was proclaimed in India during the regime of PM Indira Gandhi. Shyama Sharma led a massive protest of Labourers working in Yamuna Hydel Project of Khodri Majri. It was one of the biggest labour protests in India that demanded formation of Wage Board for labourers. At the same time Shyama was actively participating in J.P. Andolan led by
Notable milestones
1974 Elected as Councillor to Nahan Municipal Committee
1975 Only Women in Himachal to be jailed during National Emergency
1977 First Female Member of Himachal Vidhan Sabha from District Sirmaur
1977-79 Minister for Law, Panchayati Raj, Food and Civil Supplies
1977 First Female Minister in Himachal Pradesh
1980 Elected From Nahan Constituency for consecutively second time
1980 Janta Party State President
1982-84 Chairperson of Public Accounts Committee
1989 Formed Himachal Krantikari Morcha which won 11 seats out of 17 contested in Himachal State Elections
1990 Elected with thumping majority from Nahan Constituency as Janta Dal candidate
1990 Supported Shanta Kumar led government with 11 MLAs of Himachal Krantikari Morcha
1995 Joined BJP
1998 played a vital role in forming the BJP government under Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal
1999 Chairperson of State Finance Commission
2000 Vice - Chairperson Himachal Planning Board
2004 Star Campaigner for BJP in Himachal State Election
2011 Left BJP & founded Himachal Lokhit party along with Maheshwar Singh (Former MP)
2016 Merged HLP in BJP to strengthen BJP in Himachal Pradesh and actively participated in achieving Mission 50 + in 2017 in Himachal Pradesh
Key activities
Padyatra from Kanyakumari to Delhi along with former Prime Minister Chander Shekhar
Padyatra from Nahan to Delhi for Youth Unemployment & their moral rights.
Raised voices against the Corruption& ill practices in Government.
Founder Member Himachal Lokhit Party.
Political career
In 1977, ten women were given ticket to contest Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls but nine women lost the election and only Shyama won the election with 71% of total votes of her Nahan Assembly constituency. She was then made Minister of Law, Panchayati Raj, Food and Civil Supplies in Government of Himachal Pradesh. In 1982 she again won assembly elections from Nahan and made Chairperson of Public Accounts Committee. At the same time she was the State President of Janta Party Himachal Unit. In 1990, Shyama Sharma for third time won election from Nahan. She was made National General Secretary of Janta Dal (S).
In 1991, Shyama was declared as a Lok Sabha candidate from Hoshiyarpur Lok Sabha Constituency. But due to some violence and terrorist attacks in Punjab, elections were cancelled. Then she was offered the post of Governor of Punjab by the then Prime Minister Chandrashekhar but she humbly declined the offer.
In 1995, Shyama joined
Shyama is now remembered as 'Iron Lady of Himachal'.
In 2017, Shyama stepped down from active politics. On 21 September 2020, Shyama Sharma died from COVID-19 in Nahan constituency in Sirmaur district.
Family background
Shyama Sharma was born to a Landlord family. Her father Pandit Durga Dutt was a big Landlord in erstwhile Sirmaur State. He was honoured with the title of 'Rayees-e-Aazam’ by Maharaja of Sirmaur for having the highest number of lands. Shyama’s mother Savitri Devi was a daughter of a Landlord from District Dehradun. Their family history finds its traces in Jaisalmer. Their ancestors migrated from Kuldhara of Jaisalmer in early 1800s to Himachal. Shyama lived in a joint family along with her elder brother Sukh Dev Sharma, who is a retired excise and taxation inspector who currently owns a private hotel in Nahan, elder sister Madhur Sharma, who was married to a bureaucrat, and younger brother Jai Dev Sharma, who served in Home Guard Force, her younger sister Vinod Sharma married to army officer Colonel SP Sharma, who played a vital role in the Kargil War. Her nephew’s son Bhaavan Sharma, who founded a youth organisation in 2014, currently heads Nav-Bharat Yuva Sangh as national president. His organisation is working in 13 States of India. [1][2][3]
Death
She died of COVID-19 in September 2020.[4]
References
- ^ ‘People want Third Alternative in Himachal’[permanent dead link]
- ^ My Neta
- ^ Shyama Sharma hoping to win Nahan for HLP
- ^ "Former HP minister among Covid casualties, Sundernagar MLA tests positive". The Indian Express. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2023.