Sukh Ram (1927-2022) was an Indian politician and agriculturalist. He is best known for serving as Minister of Communications and Information Technology from 1993 to 1996. He is affectionately called Pandit Sukh Ram. He is also known as the “King of Mandi” and the “Kingmaker of Himachal”.
Wiki/Biography
Sukhram alias Sukh Ram Sharma was born in Tongal (Kotli) Arnyana, Mandi, British Punjab (British India; now Himachal Pradesh, India) on Wednesday, 27 July 1927 (age 94; at the time of death). His zodiac sign is Leo. He received his bachelor’s degree from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Later, he obtained his LLB from Delhi University Law School, Delhi.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′ 5″
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye color: brown
family
Parents and siblings
His father’s name is Bhav Dev. Sukhram has nine brothers and sisters.
wife and children
On August 6, 1953, he married Ram Devi. Sukh Ram has two sons and three daughters. One of his sons, Anil Sharma, is a politician (member of the Bharatiya Janata Party) and a farmer.
Sukh Ram and his son Anil Sharma
other relatives)
His grandson Aashray Sharma is a politician. Another grandson of his is Aayush Sharma, an actor who is married to Arpita Khan.
Sukh Ram and Aashray Sharma
Sukh Ram with his son and grandson
caste
He was born into a Brahmin Hindu family.
address
Samkhetar Street, Mandi Town-175001, Himachal Pradesh
Profession
After completing his law graduation, he started practicing in the Mandi District Court. In 1962, he became a member of the Himachal Pradesh Territorial Council. He served as a member of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly from 1963 to 1984. During this term, he represented the Mandi Assembly seat. During this period, he also served as Himachal Pradesh PCC(I) general secretary. Thereafter, he won the 8th Lok Sabha elections and served as deputy minister in Rajiv Gandhi’s government.
Old photos of Sukh Ram and Rajiv Gandhi
From September 1985 to October 1986, he served as Federal Minister of State for Defense Production and Supply, and from October 1986 to February 1988, he served as Federal Minister of State for Planning. Subsequently, he served as the State Food and Civil Supplies (Independent) Minister from February 1988 to December 1989. In 1991, he was re-elected as a member of the 10th Lok Sabha. From July 1992 to January 1993, Sukh Ram served as Minister of National Planning and Program Implementation (with independent responsibility) and Minister of National Unconventional Energy. From January 1993 to May 1996, he independently served as Federal Minister of State Communications. In 1996, he was re-elected as a member of the 11th Lok Sabha. He was the one who introduced mobile telephony in India. The first ever mobile phone call in India was between Sukh Ram and Rajiv Gandhi. He talked about this in an interview, saying,
Once I went to Japan as Minister of Telecommunications. I saw the driver put his cell phone in his pocket. Seeing this, I felt that if Japan can have this technology, why not India. “
After a dispute with Congress leaders, he left the Congress and formed an independent party, Himachal Vikas Congress Party, on July 6, 1997.
Sukh Ram on the day of the founding of Himachal Vikas Party
Himachal Vikas Party election logo
In 1998, he formed a poll alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party and contested the assembly elections against Mandy Sardar. He won the election by a huge margin of more than 22,000 votes. In 2004, his Independence Party merged with the Congress Party. He announced his retirement from electoral politics in 2007. Joining the BJP in 2017, within two years, he left the party and rejoined the Congress.
Old photos of Sukh Ram
dispute
Jailed for inappropriate activities
In 2002, he approved a contract to supply communication equipment to a Hyderabad company, causing a loss of Rs 1.66 lakh to the government. He was subsequently sentenced to three years in prison. In 2011, he signed a Rs 30-crore contract with a private company, Haryana Telecom Limited (HTL), to supply 3.5 lakh conductor kilometers (LCKM) of polyethylene insulated jelly-filled (PIJF) cables to the telecom sector. He received a bribe of 300,000 rupees and was sentenced to five years in prison. During the hearing of his case in a Delhi court, he pleaded with the judge to take into account his old age before passing judgment. He said,
I (Sukhram) am an 86-year-old man and have been attending trials for the past 12-13 years. I suffer from age-related illnesses and lost my wife. Therefore, a tolerant attitude can be adopted. So this is not a case where the government loses any money. The CBI accused him (Sukhram) of accepting bribes but did not cause any financial loss to the government exchequer. “
CBI prosecutor said,
He was a “repeat offender” and the harshest punishment was sought. “
Suhram said in an interview with reporters,
Even though age is not on my side, I have not lost hope for justice. I am a victim of political conspiracy. My fight will continue until I am cleared in court. “
He was slapped and kicked by a man named Harvinder Singh after he was jailed in a Delhi court. The incident took place inside a Delhi court.
Assets and property
- Cash: Rs 361,000
- Jewelry: Rs 10.29 Lakh
- Bank Balance: Rs 4.29 Lakhs
- Household goods: Rs 10.30 lakh
die
He breathed his last on May 11, 2022, at AIIMS, New Delhi. Earlier, on May 4, 2022, he suffered a stroke and was immediately admitted to a hospital in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. Considering his condition worsened, he was airlifted to AIIMS in Delhi, where he was put on a ventilator. On May 11, 2022, he suffered cardiac arrest and could not survive. News of his death was shared by his grandchildren. His grandson Aashray Sharma shared the news through his Twitter account. He tweeted,
The end of an era. Alvida Dada ji abi nhi bjegi phone ki ghanti (Dada ji okay, now your phone will not ring.”
Aayush Sharma, another grandson of Sukh Ram, shared the news on Instagram.
Aayush Sharma’s Instagram post for Sukh Ram
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education