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{{Short description|Indian politician and social reformer (1934-2006)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Kanshi Ram
| image = Kanshiram.jpg
| caption = Kanshi Ram at [[Lucknow]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1934|03|15|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Rupnagar district|Rupnagar]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age |2006|10|09|1934|03|15|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[New Delhi]], [[India]]
| office = 1st President of the [[Bahujan Samaj Party]]
| predecessor = ''office established''
| successor = [[Mayawati]]
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =
| predecessor2 = [[Kamal Chaudhry]]
| successor2 = [[Kamal Chaudhry]]
| predecessor3 = [[Ram Singh Shakya]]
| successor3 = [[Ram Singh Shakya]]
| party = [[Bahujan Samaj Party]]
| children =
| website = {{URL|http://www.bamcef.info/manyawar-shri-kanshiram-ji.php|Kansi Ram Official Website}}
| date =
| year =
| source =
| office1 = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]
| termstart1 = 1998
| termend1 = 2004
| constituency1 = [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh|Uttar Pradesh]]
| termstart = 14 April 1984
| termend = 18 September 2003
| office2 = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| termend2 = 1998
| termstart2 = 1996
| constituency2 = [[Hoshiarpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hoshiarpur]]
| termend3 = 1996
| termstart3 = 1991
| constituency3 = [[Etawah (Lok Sabha constituency)|Etawah]]
}}
'''Kanshi Ram''' (15 March 1934 – 9 October 2006), also known as '''Bahujan Nayak'''<ref>{{cite news |title=Kanshi Ram should be given the Bharat Ratna: Mayawati |work=DNA |date=15 March 2016 |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-kanshi-ram-should-be-given-the-bharat-ratna-mayawati-2189533 |access-date=2016-04-24}}</ref> or '''Manyavar''', '''Sahab Kanshiram'''<ref>{{cite web | title=How 'manyavar' Kanshiram stood up for a colleague and changed Indian politics | website=ThePrint | date=2018-10-09 | url=https://theprint.in/politics/how-manyavar-kanshiram-stood-up-for-a-colleague-and-changed-indian-politics/131612/ | access-date=2020-09-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=This bard wants Kanshi Ram loyalists to spread wings |first=Rajesh Kumar |last=Singh |work=Hindustan Times |date=30 July 2015|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/this-bard-wants-kanshi-ram-loyalists-to-spread-wings/article1-1374661.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814004143/http://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/this-bard-wants-kanshi-ram-loyalists-to-spread-wings/article1-1374661.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 August 2015 |access-date=2016-10-16}}</ref> was an Indian politician and [[social reformer]] who worked for the upliftment and political mobilisation of the [[Bahujan]]s, the [[untouchability|backward or lower caste people including untouchable groups]] at the bottom of the [[caste system in India]].<ref name="Narayan 2012">{{cite web | last=Narayan | first=Badri | title=Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram – so alike, yet so different | website=The Hindu | date=11 May 2012 | url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/ambedkar-and-kanshi-ram-so-alike-yet-so-different/article3405293.ece | access-date=2016-05-15}}</ref> Towards this end, Kanshi Ram founded [[Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti]] (DS-4), the All India Backwards (SC/ST/OBC) and Minorities Communities Employees' Federation ([[BAMCEF]]) in 1971 and the [[Bahujan Samaj Party]] (BSP) in 1984. In 2001, he ceded leadership of the BSP to his protégé [[Mayawati]] who has served four terms as [[Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh]].

==Early life==
Kanshi Ram was born on 15 March 1934 into a [[Ramdasia]] Sikh family of [[Chamar]] caste in Pirthipur Bunga village, near Khawaspur, [[Ropar district]],{{Efn|Ropar district is now known as [[Roopnagar]] and lies midway between [[Chandigarh]] and [[Jalandhar]]. Kanshiram's ancestral home is Khawaspur village. The local dalits call his house 'Chann Sahib', 'chann' meaning house and 'sahib' being a mark of respect.}} [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-03-15|title=Kanshi Ram Death Anniversary: Know contributions made by Bahujan Nayak for upliftment of Dalits|url=https://newsd.in/kanshiram-birth-anniversary-know-contributions-made-by-bahujan-nayak-for-upliftment-of-dalits/|access-date=2020-09-21|website=Newsd.in|language=en-US}}</ref> Significantly, he was not subjected to much social discrimination during his childhood or youth. As reason for the comparative absence of social discrimination in Kanshi Ram's early years is because he belonged to a Sikh family. Kanshi Ram referred to this in a later interview to French political scientist [[Christophe Jaffrelot]] saying, ''<nowiki/>'the teachings of the Sikh gurus were more egalitarian' and that 'converted Chamars at least had some upward mobility''.'<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jaffrelot |first=Christophe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HWms_1WzF1sC |title=India's Silent Revolution: The Rise of the Lower Castes in North India |date=2003 |publisher=Permanent Black |isbn=978-81-7824-080-0 |pages=389 |language=en}}</ref> As a young Sikh from a family of soldiers, he was largely unaware about his caste while in school or in a college in Punjab.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Narayan |first=Badri |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0bo0AwAAQBAJ |title=Kanshiram Leader of the Dalits |date=2014-04-18 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-93-5118-670-0 |pages=25–26 |language=en |quote=Kanshiram’s family was Telasingh Ravidasia, gotra Chaukri, Ramdasiya Sikh Panth, and came from the once-untouchable Chamar caste. The fifth Sikh guru Ramdas had brought the Chamars into the fold of Sikhism. Despite being Chamars, the family was relatively well off. Unlike in UP, in Punjab the Chamars engaged in agriculture and earned better than they did in the rest of north India. The family owned a fair amount of land, so their main source of income was agriculture. Besides, they had a small tannery, and also took on lease a mango orchard and made money by selling the fruit. Kanshiram’s paternal grandfather, Dheloram, was a retired jawan from Lahore who had set up a cottage industry in tanning leather. He had three sons, Hari, Bishan and Rachan, and one daughter, Haro. While Bishan Singh and Rachan Singh joined the army like their father, Hari Singh took up leather tanning. In addition, he farmed on leased land to supplement his income.}}</ref>

After studies at various local schools, Ram graduated in 1956 with a [[Bachelor of Science|BSc]] degree from Government College Ropar.<ref name="bose">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N3MGWTeMUNMC&pg=PT35|title=Behenji: A Political Biography of Mayawati|last=Bose|first=Ajoy|year=2009|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=9788184756500|language=en|page=35}}</ref>

==Career==
Kanshi Ram joined the offices of the [[High Energy Materials Research Laboratory|Explosive Research and Development Laboratory]] in [[Pune]].<ref name="India 14">{{cite news |title=The man who saw tomorrow |work=The Indian Express |date=24 May 2014 |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-others/the-man-who-saw-tomorrow-2/ |access-date=2016-10-16}}</ref> It was at this time that he first experienced caste discrimination<ref name="bose"/>{{how|date=March 2019}} and in 1964 he became an activist. Those who admire him point out that he was spurred to this after reading [[B. R. Ambedkar]]'s book ''[[Annihilation of Caste]]'' and witnessing the discrimination against a Dalit employee who wished to observe a holiday celebrating Ambedkar's birth. Kanshi Ram strongly inspired by B. R. Ambedkar and his philosophy.<ref>{{cite book|last=Waghmore|first=Suryakant|title=Civility against Caste: Dalit Politics and Citizenship in Western India|date=30 September 2013|page=39|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PPenAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA39|publisher=Sage|isbn=9788132118862}}</ref>

Ram initially supported the [[Republican Party of India]] (RPI) but became disillusioned with its co-operation with the [[Indian National Congress]]. In 1971, he founded the All India SC, ST, OBC and Minority Employees Association and in 1978 this became BAMCEF, an organisation that aimed to persuade educated members of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backwards Classes and Minorities to support Ambedkarite principles.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Yadav |first=Shyamlal |date=2022-03-16 |title=88 and going strong: Beyond BSP, the reach of its founder Kanshi Ram |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/kanshi-ram-bsp-founder-mayawati-dalits-oppressed-politics-7823177/ |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> BAMCEF was neither a political nor a religious body and it also had no aims to agitate for its purpose. Suryakant Waghmore says it appealed to "the class among the Dalits that was comparatively well-off, mostly based in urban areas and small towns working as government servants and partially alienated from their untouchable identities".<ref>{{cite book|last=Waghmore|first=Suryakant|title=Civility against Caste: Dalit Politics and Citizenship in Western India|date=30 September 2013|page=40|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PPenAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA40|publisher=Sage|isbn=9788132118862}}</ref>

Later, in 1981, Ram formed another social organisation known as [[Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti]] (DSSSS, or DS4). He started his attempt of consolidating the Dalit vote and in 1984 he founded the [[Bahujan Samaj Party]] (BSP). He fought his first election in 1984 from [[Janjgir-Champa (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Janjgir-Champa]] seat in [[Chhattisgarh]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/chhattisgarh-polls-towards-a-photo-finish/article5359312.ece|title=Chhattisgarh polls: Towards a photo finish|last=Bagchi|first=Suvojit|date=2013-11-17|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-08-09|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The BSP found success in [[Uttar Pradesh]], initially struggled to bridge the divide between Dalits and [[Other Backward Class]]es<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?232896 |title=The Dalit Chanakya |first=Ramnarayan |last=Rawat |author-link=Ramnarayan Rawat |work=Outlook |date=23 October 2006 |access-date=2016-10-16}}</ref> but later under leadership of Mayawati bridged this gap.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lal|first=Ratan Mani|title=17 castes included Shakyas, Rajbhar, Saini, Maurya and others members of this community are more inclined towards Mayawati and her BSP.|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/why-badaun-gangrape-could-mark-mayawatis-big-political-return-1553959.html}}</ref>

In 1982, he published his only book ''The Chamcha Age'', on the fiftieth anniversary of the [[Poona Pact]]. He dedicated the book to [[Jyotirao Phule]], [[B. R. Ambedkar]], [[Periyar]], and ‘many other rebellious spirits’ who worked for Dalit emancipation. In the Poona Pact, Ambedkar who had worked hard to earn separate electorates from the British, had to surrender the possibility due to [[Mahatma Gandhi|Mahatma]] Gandhi's fast unto death. Ambedkar feared the possible consequences to the nascent Dalit movement if he had not. Ram believed that the separate electorates would have provided the Dalits autonomy and authority; it would have undermined the power of the upper castes who constituted a relatively smaller population. Ram argued that Gandhi manipulated Ambedkar into signing the pact, and implied a defeat for the Dalits. This directly led to ''The Chamcha'' (stooge) ''Age,'' where Dalit leaders were made stooges of the upper caste. Dalit electorates had little say in getting their representatives elected even in seats reserved for them.<ref name=":1">{{Citation |last=Jodhka |first=Surinder S. |title=Annihilation, Identity, Representation: Kanshi Ram and the Conundrums of Dalit Political Agency |date=2023-09-30 |work=Dalits in the New Millennium |pages=193–209 |editor-last=Pai |editor-first=Sudha |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/9781009231220%23c11/type/book_part |access-date=2024-02-08 |edition=1 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |doi=10.1017/9781009231220.011 |isbn=978-1-009-23122-0 |editor2-last=Babu |editor2-first=D. Shyam |editor3-last=Verma |editor3-first=Rahul|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Ram used the term to describe Dalit leaders such as [[Jagjivan Ram]] and [[Ram Vilas Paswan]].<ref name="India 14"/> He argued that Dalits should work politically for their own ends rather than compromise by working with other parties.<ref name="India 2014">{{cite news |title=Return of the chamcha age |work=The Indian Express |date=3 November 2014 |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/return-of-the-chamcha-age/ | access-date=2016-02-27}}</ref> Opportunist mobilization of a section of Dalits in the ''chamcha'' age thus produces, what Kanshi Ram calls, an ‘alienation of the elite’. The Dalit elite could overcome this alienation by ‘payback to the oppressed and exploited society’.<ref name=":1" />

After forming BSP, Ram said the party would fight first election to lose, next to get noticed and the third election to win.<ref>{{cite news|title=a new party loses the first election, gets noticed in the next and wins the third, these are Kanshiram ji's words – Yogendra Yadav|url=http://www.catchnews.com/politics-news/yogendra-yadav-on-swaraj-india-we-need-a-secular-politics-that-is-not-shy-of-offending-anyone-1475938166.html}}</ref> In 1988, he contested in [[Allahabad Lok Sabha constituency|Allahabad]] against a future Prime Minister [[V. P. Singh]] and performed impressively but lost polling close to 70,000 votes.<ref>{{cite news|last1=SUBRAHMANIAM|first1=VIDYA|title=A quarter century of Kanshi Ram & Mayawati|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-quarter-century-of-kanshi-ram-mayawati/article261256.ece}}</ref>

He unsuccessfully contested from [[East Delhi (Lok Sabha constituency)]] (against [[H. K. L. Bhagat|HKL Bhagat]]) and [[Amethi (Lok Sabha constituency)]] (against Rajiv Gandhi) in 1989 and came in the third position on both the seats. Then he represented the 11th [[Lok Sabha]] (1996-1998) from [[Hoshiarpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hoshiarpur]],<ref name="IIS Windows Server 1934">{{cite web | title=Biographical Sketch of Member of XI Lok Sabha: KANSHI RAM, SHRI B.S.P. – HOSHIARPUR (PUNJAB) | website=IIS Windows Server | date=15 March 1934 | url=http://164.100.47.192/loksabha/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/3518.htm | access-date=2016-05-02 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Kanshiram was also elected as member of [[Lok Sabha]] from [[Etawah (Lok Sabha constituency)|Etawah]] in Uttar Pradesh.<ref name=":0" />

After [[Demolition of the Babri Masjid]] in 1992, [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]] and Kanshi Ram joined hands to keep communal forces out of power by creating unity among the backward and Dalit castes and giving the popular slogan "''Mile Mulayam-Kanshi Ram, Hawa mein ud gaye Jai Shri Ram''" (When Mulayam & Kanshiram come together, Jai Shri Ram vanishes).<ref>{{Cite web |title='Slogan hai': Some known and not-so-well-known electorally successful slogans - Sabko dekha bari bari, abki bari Atal Bihari |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/slogan-hai-some-known-and-not-so-well-known-electorally-successful-slogans/mile-mulayam-kanshi-ram-hawa-ho-gaye-jai-shri-ram/slideshow/68546012.cms |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=The Economic Times}}</ref> After the election, a coalition government of [[Samajwadi Party]] and [[Bahujan Samaj Party]] was formed in UP under the leadership of [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]], although due to some differences and Mayawati's ambition, this alliance broke up in June 1995, Mayawati became first time [[Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh]] in support of [[BJP]]. In the late 1990s, Ram described the BJP as the most corrupt (''mahabrasht'') party in India and the [[Indian National Congress]], [[Samajwadi Party]] and [[Janata Dal]] as equally corrupt. In 2001, he declared Mayawati as his successor.<ref name="India Today 15041997 1997">{{cite web | title=Continuity of govt policies may be a casualty as BJP, BSP take turns to rule | website=India Today 15041997 | date=15 April 1997 | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/19970415-continuity-of-govt-policies-may-be-casualty-as-bjp-bsp-take-turns-to-rule-831294-1997-04-14 | access-date=2016-04-24}}</ref><ref name="Rediff.com 1998">{{cite web | title=Rediff on the NeT Elections '98: BSP to vote against Vajpayee | website=Rediff.com | date=20 March 1998 | url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/mar/20kanshi.htm | access-date=2016-04-24}}</ref>

==Proposed conversion to Buddhism==
In 2002, Ram announced his intention to convert to [[Buddhism]] on 14 October 2006, the 50th anniversary of [[Ambedkar]]'s conversion. He intended for 50,000,000 of his supporters to convert at the same time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pippal |first=K.C. |date=15 March 2023 |title=Kanshi Ram Saheb who gave edge to caste politics - RSVS India. All rights reserved. Managed by ProtoCom India |url=http://www.rsvsindia.com/pi/index.php/activities/196-2023-03-16-07-48-45 |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=www.rsvsindia.com |quote=Under this vision, Manyavar Kanshi Ram Saheb expressed his desire in 2002 to be initiated into Buddhism along with 6 crore Bahujan people on October 20, 2006. He specifically chose this date because it marked the 50th anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar's Buddhist initiation. This was intended to be a significant cultural act by Manyavar Kanshi Ram, akin to that of Babasaheb Ambedkar, but it remained incomplete due to his untimely death.}}</ref> Part of the significance of this plan was that Ram's followers include not only untouchables, but persons from a variety of castes, who could significantly broaden Buddhism's support. However, he and his successor Mayawati decided to convert to Buddhism when BSP will form the absolute government in some states and government at the centre.<ref>{{cite news |date=2006-10-10 |title=Mayawati claims Kanshi Ram's legacy |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/10/stories/2006101003771200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001001756/http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/10/stories/2006101003771200.htm |archive-date=1 October 2007 |access-date=2016-10-16 |work=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lal |first=Krishna Mohan |date=2024-10-09 |title=The enduring Buddhist legacy of Kanshi Ram |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/news/the-enduring-buddhist-legacy-of-kanshi-ram |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref>

[[Mayawati]] his successor said "Saheb Kanshi Ram and I had decided that we will convert and adopt [[Buddhism in India|Buddhism]] when we will get 'absolute majority' at the centre. We wanted to do this because we can make a difference to the religion by taking along with us millions of people. If we convert without power then only we two will be converting. But when you have power you can really create a stir".<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/oct/16look.htm?zcc=rl Mayawati claims Saheb Kanshi Ram's legacy]</ref>

==Death==
Kanshi Ram was a [[diabetes|diabetic]]. He suffered a heart attack in 1994, an arterial clot in his brain in 1995, and a paralytic [[stroke]] in 2003.<ref name="times">[https://archive.today/20130125111750/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Mobile/Pages/StoryPage.aspx?ID=ada7e2c5-9ca5-4923-bab3-3b391fd38783&BC=Lifestyle-Wellness HT News]</ref> He died in New Delhi on 9 October 2006 of a severe heart attack at the age of 72.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/10/obituaries/10ram.html|title=Kanshi Ram, 72, a Voice for India's Outcasts, Dies|last=Hevesi|first=Dennis|date=2006-10-10|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-05-20|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He had been virtually bed-ridden for more than two years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-kanshi-ram-breathes-his-last-1057545|title=Kanshi Ram breathes his last |date=2006-10-09|work=dna|access-date=2018-05-20|language=en-US}}</ref> According to his wishes,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/oct/10kanshi.htm |title=Kanshi Ram's ashes will not be immersed: Mayavati |work=Rediff.com |access-date=2012-08-04}}</ref> his funeral rites were performed according to Buddhist tradition, with Mayawati lighting the pyre.<ref name="times"/> His ashes were placed in an urn and kept at Prerna Sthal, where many people paid their respects.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/162979.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022094453/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/162979.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 October 2012 |title=Maya gives city traffic blues! |work=Hindustan Times|date=19 October 2006 |access-date=2012-08-04}}</ref>

In his condolence message, Indian Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]] described Ram as "one of the greatest social reformers of our time.. his political ideas and movements had a significant impact on our political evolution... He had a larger understanding of social change and was able to unite various underprivileged sections of our society and provide a political platform where their voices would be heard." Under Ram's leadership, the BSP won 14 parliamentary seats in the 1999 parliamentary elections.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6032563.stm Indian Dalit leader passes away]</ref>

==Books==
In 1982, Kanshi Ram wrote ''The Chamcha Age'' (The Era of the Stooges), a book in which he used the term ''chamcha'' (stooge) for Dalit leaders who he alleged had selfish reasons to work for parties such as the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC)<ref name="India 14"/> and [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP).<ref name="India 2014"/> His book ''Birth of BAMCEF'' was also published.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://164.100.47.194/loksabha/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/3518.htm|title=Biographical Sketch of Member of XI Lok Sabha|website=164.100.47.194|access-date=2018-05-20}}</ref> His biography, ''Kanshiram: Leader of the Dalits'' was written by Badri Narayan Tiwari.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dalitliterature.com/product/kanshiram-leader-of-the-dalits/|title=Kanshiram: Leader of the Dalits {{!}} DALITLITERATURE|website=DALITLITERATURE|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-20|archive-date=6 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706030856/https://www.dalitliterature.com/product/kanshiram-leader-of-the-dalits/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/L6346mmJ2rPkz3gKWfoo3O/Book-Review--Kanshiram-Leader-Of-The-Dalits.html|title=Book Review {{!}} Kanshiram: Leader of the Dalits|last=Bose|first=Ajoy|date=2014-05-31|work=livemint|access-date=2018-05-20}}</ref> His speeches are compiled in books like ''Bahujan Nayak Kanshiram Ke Avismarniya Bhashan'' by Anuj Kumar, ''Writings & Speeches of Kanshiram'' compiled by S. S. Gautam & [[A.R. Akela]] and ''The Editorials of Kanshi Ram'' by Bahujan Samaj Publications in 1997.

==Legacy==
[[File:MANYAWAR SHRI KANSHIRAM JI SMARAK STHAL.jpg|thumb|Kanshi Ram's memorial at [[Manyawar Shri Kanshiram Ji Green Eco Garden]]]]
There are many government programmes and schemes<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/Kanshi-Ram-Shahri-Samagraya-Vikas-Yojna-developed/articleshow/4163383.cms|title=Kanshi Ram Shahri Samagraya Vikas Yojna developed|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Kanshiram-housing-scheme-gets-Rs-100Cr-in-new-avatar/articleshow/18082791.cms|title=Kanshiram housing scheme gets Rs 100Cr in new avatar |work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-05-20}}</ref> and public institutions named after Kanshi Ram in Uttar Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/noida/OPD-at-Kanshiram-hospital-in-Greater-Noida-starts/articleshow/19353484.cms|title=OPD at Kanshiram hospital in Greater Noida starts|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mkitm.com/vission_mission.htm|title=::Manyawar Kanshiram Institute of Tourism Management::|last=Upaddhayay|first=Dr. Sunil|website=www.mkitm.com|access-date=2018-05-20|archive-date=18 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818133558/http://www.mkitm.com/vission_mission.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/uttar-pradesh-after-bloody-trail-cops-clamp-down-on-celebratory-firing/story-Pm1WoGfn2IkJn5BkRq9dsN.html|title=Kanshiram Memorial Trauma Centre Kanpur|date=2018-05-02|work=hindustantimes.com|access-date=2018-05-20|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/govt-to-drop-kanshiram-from-urdufarsi-university/|title=Govt to drop Kanshiram from Urdu-Farsi university|date=2012-06-17|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2018-05-20|language=en-US}}</ref> His birthplace Pirthipur Bunga Sahib has a memorial with his statue.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/dalit-bsp-leader-arvind-kejriwal-give-bharat-ratna-to-kanshi-ram/|title=Kejriwal wants Bharat Ratna for Dalit leader Kanshi Ram, gets Dullo's backing|date=2016-03-16|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2018-05-20|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Manyawar Shri Kanshiram Ji Green Eco Garden]] in Lucknow has been named in his memory.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Eco-friendly-Mayawati-gifts-Rs-834-cr-park/articleshow/7623582.cms|title='Eco-friendly' Mayawati gifts Rs 834 cr park – Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-05-20}}</ref>

==Biopic==
{{anchor|The Great Leader Kanshiram}} In 2017, a [[Hindi]]-language [[Biographical film|Biopic]] film ''[[The Great Leader Kanshiram]]'' was released in India, directed and produced by Arjun Singh,<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/ready-for-release-a-film-on-the-journey-of-kanshiram-the-great/articleshow/57054683.cms|title=Ready for release: A film on the journey of Kanshiram 'the great' – Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=9 February 2017 |access-date=2018-12-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/breaking-caste-barriers-to-script-their-own-stories/story-UDstlkLENxkROJ3wmzyvlJ.html|title=3 Dalit youngsters who are breaking caste barriers to script own stories|date=2016-03-12|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2018-12-22}}</ref> based on the story of [[Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti|DS4]], [[BAMCEF]] and [[Bahujan Samaj Party]] founder Kanshi Ram from his childhood to 1984.

==See also==
* [[Ravidassia]]
* [[List of Jatav]]
* [[Bahujan Samaj Party]]
* [[Ramdasia|Ramdasia Sikh]]
* [[Chandrashekhar Azad (politician)|Chandrashekhar Azad]]
* [[Bhim Army]]
* [[Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram)]]

==Notes==
===Explanatory notes===
{{notelist}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book |last=Narayan |first=Badri |title=Kanshiram: Leader of the Dalits |year=2014 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-9351186700}}

==External links==
* [http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok11/biodata/11pn06.htm Profile on Parliament of India]
* [http://www.ambedkartimes.com/sahib_kanshi_ram.htm Shri Kanshi Ram ]
* [http://www.bspindia.org/manyawar-shri-kanshiram-ji.php Profile on Bahujan Samaj Party website]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ram, Kanshi}}
[[Category:Dalit politicians]]
[[Category:India MPs 1996–1997]]
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian socialists]]
[[Category:Indian Buddhists]]
[[Category:Converts to Buddhism from Sikhism]]
[[Category:Bahujan Samaj Party politicians from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:People from Hoshiarpur]]
[[Category:Indian political party founders]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Indian social reformers]]
[[Category:Former Sikhs]]
[[Category:People from Rupnagar district]]
[[Category:India MPs 1991–1996]]
[[Category:People from Etawah district]]
[[Category:Ravidassia]]
[[Category:Dalit politics]]

Kanshi Ram - Revision history

RosemaryBrifman at 06:24, 25 November 2025