Deep Chand Bandhu
Shri Deep Chand Bandhu (Tewatia) (b.1931 – d. 17 September 2003) was Minister of Industry, Environment, Forest and Wild Life, Labour, Employment and Election in Government of Delhi under Chief Minister Sheila Dixit. He has been also the President of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee. He belonged to a family of freedom fighters. One of his forefathers namely, Maharaja Nahar Singh was hanged at Chandni Chowk. Justice and MLA Devi Singh Tewatia was his brother
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Education
Shri Deep Chand Bandhu was born in the year 1931 in Village Kondal of District Faridabad, in a simple peasant family. He belonged to a family of freedom fighters. His wife was Smt Santosh Kumari from Mangolpur Kalan Delhi, born in a Shokeen Jat Gotra. [1] He was Post-Graduate by qualification and had keen interest in History and Indian Culture. He did his Teachers Training from DA V College, Jalandhar in the year 1949 and thereafter was appointed as teacher in Delhi. For about 19 years (From 1952 to 1971) he remained General Secretary and President of Delhi Teachers Association. He had also been President of All India Teachers Association for 5 years.
Political career
Shri Bandhu stepped into active politics in the year 1971 when he was elected Municipal Councilor. Soon after becoming Municipal Councilor he became Chairman of Rural Areas Committee of Delhi Municipal Corporation, which is a Statutory Body. From 1971 to 1990 he held different positions of authority in the Corporation and in the year 1984 he was elevated to the post of Deputy Mayor of Municipal Corporation of Delhi. He was elected Chairman of Standing Committee of the Corporation in the year 1985 which is, statutorily and administratively, the most important Committee of the Corporation. From the year 1985 to 1990 he was Leader of the House in the Corporation and was also Chairman of the Appointments, Promotions, Disciplinary and allied matters Committee.
Shri Bandhu was elected as Member of Legislative Assembly in the year 1993 and was appointed as Chief Whip of Congress Legislature Party; he continued to hold the post of Chief Whip till 1998. He was again elected Member of Legislative Assembly and was nominated as Deputy Leader of Congress Legislature Party.
Apart from the above, in the year 1972 Shri Bandhu was nominated as Member of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee and subsequently in the year 1974 he was nominated General Secretary of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee. Thereafter in the year 1975 he became Member of All India Congress Committee. From 1987 to 1994, Shri Bandhu held the position of Vice-President of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee. In the year 1994 he got elevated to the post of President of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee and continued holding the said post till 1996. In the year 1996 he was one of the Members of Central Parliamentary Election Committee.
Before his demise, Sh Bandhu ji was a well known political figure of long standing in Delhi. Congress unit of Delhi in particular and Congress party in general was benefited by his astute political genius and rich political experience. His personal participation in several Congress movements had made him not only a popular figure, but a man of the masses in every respect. He believed in simple life, swadeshi, and was an ardent supporter of the promotion of education, industry and numerous developmental schemes aimed at bringing prosperity for people, particularly weaker and down-trodden sections of society. He always championed the cause of socio-economic upliftment of the farmers. In recognition of his devotion to duty, sincerity, and services rendered to the masses of Delhi he was entrusted with the responsibility of Ministry of Industry, environment, Forest and Wild Life, Labour, Employment and Election in Government of Delhi under Chief Minister Sheila Dixit.
Death
Deep Chand Bandhu died on 17th September 2003 following an infection in his intestine and multi-organ failure. He was then 72 years. Thus from the farms of Kondal, district Faridabad, Haryana, to the Minister of Industry, Environment, Forest and Wild Life, Labour, Employment and Election, it has been an immense struggle of a checkered career for the son of a farmer who was indeed an embodiment of selfless service and an apostle of the toiling masses.
The Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee condoled the death of the minister of Industry, Delhi Government, Shri Deep Chand Bandhu. In a condolence message, Shri Vajpayee said that Shri Bandhu was a popular leader, who was dedicated to the cause of downtrodden. In his long public career, Shri Deep Chand Bandhu made a valuable contribution in education and social service, the Prime Minister added.
Book By Deep Chand Bandhu
Bandhuji also wrote a book "History of Indian National Congress (1885-2002)" which was published in 2003 just few months before his death.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The political history of Indian National Congress is a saga of struggle of millions of our countrymen for attainment of Poorna Swaraj. Political freedom, economic self-reliance and upliftment of weaker and down-trodden sections of the Indian society are the objectives which the Congress has consistently and vehemently pursued right from 1885 till now. The role of Mahatma Gandhi and other national leaders has been highlighted along with numerous satyagrahis of all the regions of India. The significant political movements have been dealt with comprehensively. The post-independence era having deep bearing on socio-economic problems during five decades have been attended to properly. Undoubtedly this book would be highly useful for social scientists, researchers, politicians, bureaucrats and students in India and abroad.
Honour
A central market at Ashok Vihar in Delhi is named as Deep Chand Bandhuji market.
See also
Tewatia/Teotia : For the gotra history of Deep Chand Bandhu
References
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