Minimata Agam Dass Guru
Indian politician
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Minimata Agam Das Guru (15 March 1916 – 11 August 1973) was an Indian politician from the Indian National Congress Party, and a Member of Parliament in the first through fifth terms of the Lok Sabha from Madhya Pradesh.
Minimata Agam Dass Guru | |
|---|---|
| Member of Lok Sabha | |
| In office 1957–1973 | |
| Succeeded by | Manhar Bhagatram |
| Constituency | Janjgir-Champa |
| In office 1955–1957 | |
| Preceded by | Guru Agamdas |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Constituency | Bilaspur-Durg-Raipur |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Meenakshi Devi March 15, 1916 Sainabagan, Assam |
| Died | August 11, 1973 (aged 57) |
| Spouse | Guru Agam Das (m. 1932) |
| Parent(s) | Budhari Das Mahant Devmati Bai |
Early life
Minimata was born in Meenakshi Devi in Sainabagan, Nagaon district in Assam in 1916 to Budharidas Mahant.[1] She was educated at Girls School, Nagaon and Raipur.[2]
She married Guru Agam Das, the then Guru of the Satnami Panth, on 2 July 1930.[2]
Political career
Minimata was elected to the first Lok Sabha in a bye-election in 1955 after the death of the sitting MP, her husband, Guru Agam Das.[1] She contested the same constituency on a Congress party nomination and won. In 1962, she contested for the Indian National Congress party in Madhya Pradesh state, in Baloda Bazar, a Scheduled Caste reserved constituency. She won with more than 52% of the vote, defeating the Prajya Socialist Party candidate.[3] In 1967, she contested for the Indian National Congress Party in the Schedule Caste reserved constituency of Janjgir, then in Madhya Pradesh state, winning with more than 62% of the vote.[4] Minimata contested the same constituency of Janjgir in 1971, again for the Indian National Congress Party, and again winning the election.[5] She died in 1973 before the end of her parliamentary term, prompting a by-election.[citation needed]
Besides her parliamentary work, she served as General Secretary, State Congress Committee; President of Guru Ghasidas Seva Sangh; President of Harijan Education Society; Vice-President, State Depressed Classes League; Secretary, Mahila Mandal, Raipur.[2] She was also a member of the Social Welfare Board, Raipur and a member of District Congress Committee, Raipur.[2] Minimata was associated with Satnami politics, a form of Ambedkarite Dalit self-assertion.[6] After the death of her husband, she took on the leadership of the community.[6] She stood against casteism and untouchability, as well as child marriage and dowry.[1]