Prof. Haripada Bharati, ex-Vice President of Bhartia Janasangha
Ideology: Integral humanism
Prof. Haripada Bharati alias ”Master Mosai” was the First President of the Bharatiya Janata Party [1980-1982], West Bengal unit. He was famous for his oratory skills and his kindness. He was also the principal of Narasingha Dutta College and taught in the philosophy department in Howrah. In 1977 he was elected MLA [15/Jun/77 to 24/May/82] from Jorabagan Assembly Constituency (8th L.A-General Election) as a Janata Party candidate with 19005 Votes.
It is worth remembering that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came into existence in 1980. Atal Behari Vajpayee became the first president of the new party. Ram Jethmalani and Sikandar Bakht were given the post of Vice Presidents of the BJP along with Vijaya Raje Scindia, L K Advani, and Murli Manohar Joshi and entrusted with the task, together with S S Bhandari, of writing the party’s constitution [The Times of India, 6 April 1980]
During the emergency phase of Indian politics of 1975-77, the Sangh leaders and activists were arrested. In West Bengal, Assembly election was held in 1977 and Janata Dal contested this election as a separate entity. In this election, some old Jana Sanghis like Bishnukanta Shastri and Haripada Bharati were elected in the West Bengal Bidhan Sabha. Later, the Janata Dal broke and the old Jana Sanghis reorganised and formed the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980.
ELECTION RESULT 1980
HARIPADA BHARATI
Jadavpur Constituency, West Bengal
Party: JNP Gender: M
Votes Polled Total-31846
Position-3
Vote %0.06
Year 1980
Prof. Haripada Bharati: Role in Indian Politics and Marichjhapi Massacre
In 1979 during the Marichjhapi massacre, Prof Bharati tried to rescue the victims and provided shelter to the survivors. He took a few of his party workers and boats to Marichjhapi. The rescue mission was aborted by the CPM. They sent their party cadres behind him. With 5-6 boats they encircled him in the mid-river. Marichjhapi was already surrounded by 100s of the armed Police force. Prof Bharati was later arrested by the Jyoti Basu-led CPIM govt.
Some information on Prof Bharati
- Calcutta University has instituted an Endowment lecture in the name of Prof. Haripada Bharati.
- Professor Bharati`s witness has been reported in Mt. Sukhraji Bhuj vs Calcutta State Transport [ AIR 1966 Cal 620]
- A historic meeting held at Mahajati Sadan of Calcutta on 6th July 1972 was attended by the then Governor of West Bengal, Sri A.L. Dias, Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, P.B. Mukherjee, ex-Chief Minister of West Bengal, Sri Ajay Mukherjee, Sri Atal Behari Vajpayee, Acharya Deva Prasad Ghosh, Haripada Bharati, and a few other distinguished personalities.