Guru Radha Kishan – Delhi’s Eternal Hero, Who Refused Pension For His Efforts As A Freedom Fighter

[JANASENA]

Guru Radha Kishan was an Indian freedom movement activist and a veteran communist party leader. People fondly remember him for his humility, his honesty, him being elected consecutively for the longest time to the Municipal Corporation Of Delhi and for his efforts in mobilizing people to defend their right and demand what they deserve. He never rested even after India’s independence and continued to take up people’s issues and mobilized people for the same.

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Refused pension for his efforts as a freedom fighter

One of his revolutionary stances was not accepting the Freedom Fighter Pension, even after a lot of request from the then Madhya Pradesh CM Prakash Chandra Sethi.  He was entirely not interested in accepting any pension for his participation in the Independence struggle of India. He refused to accept any pension and never applied for the same till it was declared as Sammaan Nidhi (out of respect) by the government.

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India was independent – But he still continued to fight

After India’s independence, he fasted for 24 days to promote the cause of textile workers in Delhi. Later he also became the youngest member of Delhi Municipal Committee. Joining the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) he tried to mobilise the workers of factories, when there was a nationwide crackdown on the communists.

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Champion of communal harmony

He was a champion of communal harmony. When riots broke out after Indira Gandhi’s death in 1984, Radha Kishan came out on the streets of Delhi to save innocent Sikhs in the worst-affected regions of Delhi.

He was an avid reader and had wide knowledge on varied societal elements.He was a very popular leader among the mass and fought valiantly for the deprived section in Delhi.  His honest, down-to-earth approach was loved by all.

As a leader of CPI, he bluntly criticised the failures of the government with this constructive reasoning. His nature and popularity had brought admiration for him from the opponents as well. Kishan represented India in Germany leading a delegation to Düsseldorf. He discussed the welfare plans for working class in Germany and briefed about Indian Civic System to his counterparts from other countries. Returning from Europe he enforced Delhi administration and MCD officials to adapt many of those welfare schemes for a better life of working class in Delhi. People from all walks of life come out to support Guru Radha Kishan when Communist Party of India announced his candidature from Delhi Sadar Parliamentary Constituency in 1977, the same year he successfully contested the civic body polls also.