Quick Info
| Profession | Politician |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 05/08/1933 |
| Age | 89 years (died on 16, May, 2023) |
| Birthplace | Tanda village in Chillupar, Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh, India (then - United Province, British India) |
| Date of Death | 16/05/2023 |
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Bio/Wiki
| Hari Shankar Tiwari was an Indian gangster and criminal who successfully transitioned into politics, becoming a prominent figure in Uttar Pradesh. | |
| He was known as 'Purvanchal ka Sher' (The Lion of Eastern Uttar Pradesh) and is considered the first gangster-turned-politician in the state. | |
| He was the first person in India to win a legislative election while incarcerated. | |
| Religion: Hinduism | |
| Hometown: Chillupar, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh |
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 175 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 70 kg |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Salt and pepper |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Education | Master of Arts |
|---|---|
| College/University | Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur |
| PhD Status | Enrolled for PhD in Sociology in 1984 but did not complete the program |
Personal Life
| Place of Death | Dharamshala area of Gorakhpur |
|---|---|
| Age (at the time of death) | 89 Years |
| Death Cause | Kidney failure (acute kidney problem) and Heart disease |
| Time of Death | Approximately 7:30 pm on 16 May 2023 |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Married |
|---|
Family
| Father | Bhola Nath (priest) |
|---|---|
| Mother | Mrs. Tiwari |
| Siblings |
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| Spouse | Ramlali Devi |
| Children |
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Career
| Profession(s) | Politician, Social Worker |
|---|---|
| Famous for | First gangster turned politician of Uttar Pradesh; First person in India to win an election while in jail |
| Political Party | Indian National Congress (INC), All India Indira Congress (Tiwari), Akhil Bharatiya Loktantrik Congress, Samajwadi Party |
| Political Journey | Contested MLC election in 1974 but lost; Contested Lok Sabha election from Maharajganj in 1984 but lost; In 1985, became MLA from Chillupar constituency in Uttar Pradesh while in jail; Joined Indian National Congress (INC) in late 1980s; Joined All India Indira Congress (Tiwari) in 1996; Formed Akhil Bharatiya Loktantrik Congress in October 1997; Became MLA for 6 consecutive times from 1985 till 2002; Served as cabinet minister under Kalyan Singh (Transport, 1997), Ram Prakash Gupta (Stamp and Registration, 2000), Rajnath Singh (Science and Technology, 2001), Mayawati (2002), and Mulayam Singh Yadav (2003–2007); Lost legislative elections in 2007 and 2012; Retired from active politics after 2012 defeat |
| Awards & Honors | None publicly recorded, but recognized as a veteran leader of Eastern UP |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Hari Shankar Tiwari had a long political career of over five decades, serving as a cabinet minister under five different Chief Ministers in Uttar Pradesh. | |
| 2. His political influence was primarily strong in the Brahmin community of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, notably in Gorakhpur. | |
| 3. Tiwari collaborated with well-known politicians like Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Mulayam Singh Yadav. | |
| 4. He worked with Rajiv Gandhi during the late 1980s and entered politics after completing his education. | |
| 5. Though he enrolled for a PhD in Sociology in 1984, Tiwari did not finish the program. | |
| 6. Hari Shankar Tiwari engaged in student politics at Gorakhpur University and was mentioned in an FIR after an MLA's assassination. | |
| 7. His group competed for railway scrap contracts, using profits to buy firearms and vied for dominance in Gorakhpur. | |
| 8. A feud developed between Tiwari and Gorakhnath Math over influence in the region. | |
| 9. While in jail, Tiwari won the Chillupar constituency election in 1985, a first in Indian history for an imprisoned candidate. | |
| 10. He later aligned with various political parties, won six legislative elections, and became a cabinet minister five times. | |
| 11. Tiwari's decline began in 2007 after electoral defeats, leading to his retirement from active politics. | |
| 12. He passed away in May 2023 at his home in Gorakhpur, having battled kidney and heart ailments. | |
| 13. After his demise, his body was taken to his ancestral village Tanda, where many paid their respects. | |
| 14. Tiwari, known as the 'Purvanchal ka Sher,' was considered the first gangster-turned-politician in Uttar Pradesh. | |
| 15. He was the first in India to win an election while in jail and had a significant impact on Uttar Pradesh politics. | |
| 16. Religion: Hinduism | |
| 17. Hometown: Chillupar, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh |