Born on this day on 23rd March 1910 in Akbarpur town in Ambedkar Nagar district in UP, Ram Manhar Lohia is remembered for being the father of non-Congressism and for being the fountainhead of backward caste politics of north India. His socialist ideals and socio-political thinking greatly inspired and shaped the politics of north Indian states like UP and Bihar. He was strong critic of Congress’s dynastic politics of Nehru-Gandhi family, opposed elitist English education and championed the cause of backward class rural masses. He was Guru to backward caste politicians like Karpuri Thakur of Bihar and Mulayam Singh Yadav of UP.
Echoes of Lohia’s politics is very much audible in Indian politics even today.
Subramanian Swamy has remebered him as the genius who depleted Congress ideologically.
Narendra Modi has remembered him as a towering intellectual and prolific thinker who contributed immensely to India’s freedom struggle and later as a dedicated leader.
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