Shashi Bhushan (1924–2011) was an Indian independence activist, social worker, politician, writer and an institution builder. He was the founder of several organisations such as Rashtriya Ekta Samiti, All India Freedom Fighters' Organisation, Punjab Ekta Samiti and the Institute for Socialist Education, and represented Khargone (Madhya Pradesh) ( 1967- 1971) and South Delhi constituency in the

5th Lok Sabha The 5th Lok Sabha (15 March 1971 — 18 January 1977) was elected during February–March 1971.The term of the House was extended two times by one year at a time. However, the House was dissolved after having been in existence for a period of ...

(1971–1977).

Early life

Born on 11 November 1924 at Lashkar of the Indian princely state of

Gwalior Gwalior (Hindi: , ) is a major city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh; It is known as the Music City of India having oldest Gwalior gharana, musical gharana in existence. It is a major sports, cultural, industrial, and political c ...

, now in the state of

Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh (; ; ) is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and the largest city is Indore, Indore. Other major cities includes Gwalior, Jabalpur, and Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, Sagar. Madhya Pradesh is the List of states and union te ...

). Shashi Bhushan was involved in the Indian freedom struggle and participated in the Quit India movement.

Political career

After the Indian independence, he continued his association with the

Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party, or simply the Congress, is a political parties in India, political party in India with deep roots in most regions of India. Founded on 28 December 1885, it was the first mo ...

and contested in the Indian general elections of 1971, winning from South Delhi constituency against Balraj Madhok, the then president of Jan Sangh. He was the author ''Feroze Gandhi: A Political Biography'', the only known work about the life of the politician-journalist husband of

Indira Gandhi Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (Given name, ''née'' Nehru; 19 November 1917 – 31 October 1984) was an Indian politician and stateswoman who served as the Prime Minister of India, prime minister of India from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 un ...

. He has been

Member of parliament, Lok Sabha A Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha ( abbreviated: MP) is the representative of a legislative constituency in the Lok Sabha; the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of parliament of Lok Sabha are chosen by direct elections ...

from Khargone (Lok Sabha constituency) of

from 1967-1971 and South Delhi (Lok Sabha constituency) in

Awards and Honour

The Government of India awarded him the third highest civilian honour of the

Padma Bhushan The Padma Bhushan (IAST: ''Padma Bhūṣaṇa'', lit. 'Lotus Decoration') is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 Januar ...

, in 2006, for his contributions to public affairs. The Institute for Social Education, an institution he founded in 1970, was awarded the ''National Communal Harmony Award'' by the President of India in 2007.

Personal life and death

He died on 30 September 2011, at the age of 86, succumbing to age-related illnesses, survived by his wife, son and daughter.

References

External links