ArleneBelmore12 at 04:55, 10 April 2026

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{{Short description|Indian freedom fighter and politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Khubchand Baghel
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1900|7|19}}
| birth_place = Pathri, Raipur district, [[Central Provinces and Berar]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1969|2|22|1900|7|19}}
| death_place = [[Raipur]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], India
| office1 = [[Member of Parliament|Member of Parliament]], [[Rajya Sabha]]
| term_start1 = 1965
| term_end1 = 1968
| constituency1 = [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| office2 = Member of [[Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]
| constituency2 = [[Dharsiwa Assembly constituency|Dharsiwa]]
| term_start2 = 1952
| term_end2 = 1962
| occupation = Politician<br> Freedom fighter<br> Social reformer
}}
'''Khubchand Baghel''' (19 July 1900 – 22 February 1969) was an Indian freedom fighter and politician from the present-day state of [[Chhattisgarh]]. He is considered one of the early proponents of a separate Chhattisgarh state.<ref>{{cite book |title=Manorama Year Book, Volume 39 |date=2004 |publisher=Manorama Publishing House |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Manorama_Year_Book/SfptAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Khubchand+Baghel+Rajya+Sabha&dq=Khubchand+Baghel+Rajya+Sabha&printsec=frontcover}}</ref> He represented the [[Dharsiwa Assembly constituency]] in the [[Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly]] during the 1950s. He also contributed to rural education and social reform.<ref name="naidunia">{{cite news |last1=Pandey |first1=Prashant |title=खूबचंद बघेल ने एक दशक तक किया था धरसींवा का प्रतिनिधित्व, यह थी बड़ी वजह |url=https://www.naidunia.com/chhattisgarh/raipur-chhattisgarh-election-2023-khubchand-baghel-had-represented-dharsiwa-for-a-decade-this-was-the-big-reason-8240885 |publisher=Nai Dunia |date=October 30, 2023 |language=hi}}</ref> He served as a [[Member of parliament|Member of Parliament]] in the [[Rajya Sabha]], the upper house of the [[Indian Parliament]], from 1965 to 1968.<ref name="CG">{{cite news |title=डॉ. खूबचंद बघेल जीवन परिचय |url=https://www.cgnewshindi.in/2020/07/dr-khubchand-baghel-life-history.html |publisher=CG News Hindi |date=July 2020 |language=hi}}</ref>

A few government schemes in Chhattisgarh have been named after Khubchand Baghel.<ref name="dprcg">{{cite news |title=रायपुर : सिंचाई पम्प के लिए निःशुल्क विद्युत सहायता योजना का नाम अब डॉ खूबचंद बघेल किसान विद्युत सहायता योजना : मुख्यमंत्री विष्णुदेव साय की घोषणा |url=https://dprcg.gov.in/post/1737299115/Raipur-Free-electricity-assistance-scheme-for-irrigation-pumps-is-now-named-Dr-Khubchand-Baghel-Kisan-Electricity-Assistance-Scheme-Announcement-of-Chief-Minister-Vishnudev-Sai |publisher=Directorate of Public Relations |date=January 19, 2025 |language=hi}}</ref><ref name="ibc">{{cite news |last1=Sinha |first1=Mansu |title=Dr. Khubchand Baghel Swasthya Sahayata Yojana 2022 |url=https://www.ibc24.in/sarkari-yojana/khubchand-baghel-swasthya-sahayata-yojana-2022-815441.html |publisher=IBC24 |language=hi}}</ref>
== Early life ==
Baghel was born on 19 July 1900 in Pathri, a village near Siliyari in [[Raipur district]], into a farming family. His father's name was Jodhavan Prasad, and his mother's name was Kekati Bai. After passing the medical examination in Nagpur in 1925, he was appointed as an Assistant Medical Officer.<ref name="0:2">{{cite web |title=Dr. Khubchand Baghel Samman |url=http://cgculture.in/samman_front_list.aspx?id=NlHZl4HtAA8KCEGkdYYi9Q== |publisher=Chhattisgarh Culture Department, [[Government of Chhattisgarh]] |date=May 2025}}</ref>

== Freedom movement ==
Khubchand Baghel started participating in the [[Indian independence movement]] during his student days. In 1921–22, he was inspired by Gandhi's [[Non-cooperation movement (1919–1922)|Non-cooperation movement]] and left his medical studies to join the freedom movement, promoting the cause in villages across Raipur district.<ref name="o:1"/>

In 1930, he participated in the Salt Satyagraha after resigning from his government job.<ref name="0:2"/> In 1931, he took part in the Jungle Satyagraha and was imprisoned along with his fellow protesters. He was arrested again in 1932 for supporting the boycott of foreign cloth during [[Swadeshi movement]].<ref name="o:1">{{cite news |last1=Yadav |first1=Bhemendra |title=छत्तीसगढ़ के 6 वीर सपूत, जिन्होंने आजादी के यज्ञ में दी आहुति |url=https://www.patrika.com/raipur-news/6-brave-sons-of-chhattisgarh-who-sacrificed-in-the-sacrifice-freedom-6131261 |publisher=[[Patrika.com]] |date=May 24, 2020 |language=hi}}</ref>

== Work ==
After his release from prison in 1933, Baghel began working for [[Harijan]] (Dalit) upliftment following [[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s call. He was appointed secretary of the Provincial Harijan Sevak Sangh by the Congress committee. A keen writer, Baghel authored plays such as ''Karamchadha'', ''Janrail Singh'', ''Unch-Neech'', and ''Ledga'', through which he addressed social evils and promoted the spirit of patriotism.<ref>{{cite web |title=Paying tribute to India’s freedom fighters: डॉ खूबचंद बघेल |url=https://cmsadmin.amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?6284 |publisher=[[75th Anniversary of Indian Independence|Amrit Mahotsav]], [[Government of India]] |language=hi}}</ref>

He focused on issues related to rural development, education, and social upliftment.<ref name="naidunia"/> In 1962, Baghel, with the help of local farmers, established a school in Siliyari village. The school, named after him as Khubchand Baghel Government Higher Secondary School, caters to students from nearby rural areas.<ref name="o:1"/>

In 1967, Khubchand Baghel publicly voiced the demand for a separate [[Chhattisgarh]] state during a gathering in [[Rajnandgaon]], becoming one of the earliest figures to articulate this vision. In the mid-1960s, Khubchand Baghel founded the Chhattisgarh Bhratri Sangh to promote regional unity. As a member of the [[Central Provinces and Berar|Central Provinces and Berar Assembly]], he had earlier raised the demand for separate statehood for Chhattisgarh.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Ashutosh Kumar |title=Rethinking State Politics in India |date=2016 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=9781315391441 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Rethinking_State_Politics_in_India/6YqiDQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Khubchand+Baghel+Rajya+Sabha&pg=RA1-PT66&printsec=frontcover}}</ref> He also established the Chhattisgarh Mahasabha to advocate for the region's interests.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Asha Sarangi |author2=Sudha Pai |title=Interrogating Reorganisation of States Culture, Identity and Politics in India |date=2020 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=9781000084078 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Interrogating_Reorganisation_of_States/vOYJEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Khubchand+Baghel+Rajya+Sabha&pg=PT87&printsec=frontcover}}</ref>

== Politics==
In 1946, Khubchand Baghel was elected unopposed from [[Raipur]] Tehsil in the Congress elections. He was appointed as the Chairman of the Tehsil Executive Committee and a member of the Provincial Executive Committee. After independence, he was appointed [[Parliamentary secretary|Parliamentary Secretary]] in the provincial government.<ref name="CG"/>

Baghel was elected as a Member of the [[Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly]] from Dharsiwa constituency in 1952 and again in 1957.<ref name="naidunia"/>

He served as a Member of the [[Rajya Sabha]] after being elected in 1965 and remained active in politics until 1968.<ref name="CG"/><ref>{{cite book |title=Parliamentary Debates, House of the People Official Report |date=1966 |publisher=[[Parliament Secretariat]] |page=14265 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Parliamentary_Debates_House_of_the_Peopl/XmI3AAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Khubchand+Baghel+Rajya+Sabha&dq=Khubchand+Baghel+Rajya+Sabha&printsec=frontcover}}</ref>

== Death ==
Khubchand Baghel died of a [[heart attack]] on 22 February 1969.<ref name="naidunia"/>

== Recognition ==
Some government schemes have been named after Baghel.<ref name="dprcg"/><ref name="ibc"/> In 2025, the state government of Chhattisgarh launched the Khubchand Baghel Kisan Vidyut Sahayata Yojana to support farmers with electricity needs.<ref>{{cite news |title=रायपुर : सिंचाई पम्प के लिए निःशुल्क विद्युत सहायता योजना का नाम अब डॉ खूबचंद बघेल किसान विद्युत सहायता योजना : मुख्यमंत्री विष्णुदेव साय की घोषणा |url=https://dprcg.gov.in/post/1737299115/Raipur-Free-electricity-assistance-scheme-for-irrigation-pumps-is-now-named-Dr-Khubchand-Baghel-Kisan-Electricity-Assistance-Scheme-Announcement-of-Chief-Minister-Vishnudev-Sai |publisher=Directorate of Public Relations |date=January 19, 2025 |language=hi}}</ref> The Dr. Khubchand Baghel Swasthya Sahayata Yojana was also launched to provide healthcare assistance to residents.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sinha |first1=Mansu |title=Dr. Khubchand Baghel Swasthya Sahayata Yojana 2022 |url=https://www.ibc24.in/sarkari-yojana/khubchand-baghel-swasthya-sahayata-yojana-2022-815441.html |publisher=IBC24 |language=hi}}</ref>

The Dr. Khubchand Baghel Krishak Ratna Award, named after him, is awarded by the state government to farmers in Chhattisgarh who have made notable contributions to agriculture.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shukla |first1=Deependra |title=छत्तीसगढ़ के किसान को मिलेगा डॉ. खूबचंद बघेल कृषक रत्न पुरस्कार, जानें कब तक इसके लिए कर सकेंगे आवेदन? |url=https://mpcg.ndtv.in/chhattisgarh-news/dr-khubchand-baghel-krishak-ratna-award-will-get-chhattisgarh-farmer-know-till-when-will-he-be-able-to-apply-for-it-6272855 |publisher=[[NDTV]] |date=August 6, 2024 |language=hi}}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baghel, Khubchand}}
[[Category:1900 births]]
[[Category:1969 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from Raipur district]]
[[Category:Indian social reformers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]

Khubchand Baghel - Revision history

ArleneBelmore12 at 04:55, 10 April 2026