R. S. Gavai

Ramkrishna Suryabhan Gavai (30 October 1929 – 25 July 2015), popularly known as Dadasaheb Gavai, was an Indian politician, social activist, senior leader of the Ambedkarite movement, and founder of the Republican Party of India (Gavai). He was the President of Ambedkar's ideological party Republican Party of India, through this party, he did many works in political and social fields. Gavai also worked with Babasaheb Ambedkar, a polymath. He was the Governor of the three states of Bihar, Sikkim and Kerala, as well as he has served in both houses of the Indian Parliament, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Gavai was a 30-year member (MLC) of the Maharashtra Legislative Council during which he served on the posts of the chairman, the deputy chairman, and the Opposition leader of the council.

R. S. Gavai
Governor of Kerala
In office
11 July 2008 (2008-07-11) – 7 September 2011 (2011-09-07)
Governor of Sikkim
In office
13 July 2006 (2006-07-13) – 12 August 2006 (2006-08-12)
Governor of Bihar
In office
22 June 2006 (2006-06-22) – 9 July 2008 (2008-07-09)
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
for Maharashtra
In office
3 April 2000 (2000-04-03) – 2 April 2006 (2006-04-02)
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
10 March 1998 (1998-03-10) – 26 April 1999 (1999-04-26)
ConstituencyAmravati
Leader of the Opposition of the Maharashtra Legislative Council
In office
22 December 1986 (1986-12-22) – 20 December 1988 (1988-12-20)
In office
20 December 1990 (1990-12-20) – 17 July 1991 (1991-07-17)
Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council
In office
1978 (1978)–1982 (1982)
Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council
In office
1968 (1968)–1978 (1978)
Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council
In office
1964 (1964) – 26 July 1994 (1994-07-26)
Personal details
Born
Ramkrishnan Suryabhan Gavai

(1929-10-30)October 30, 1929
Darapur, Amravati district, Maharashtra, British India
Died25 July 2015(2015-07-25) (aged 85)
Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Political partyRepublican Party of India
Republican Party of India (Gavai)
SpouseKamala Gavai
Children2 son: Rajendra Gavai, Bhushan Gavai; a daughter: Kirti
Parents
  • Suryabhan Gavai (father)
  • Sarubai Gavai (mother)
Alma materNagpur University
OccupationPolitician, Ambedkarite social activist

Life and career

Gavai was born in 1929 at Daryapur, Amravati.[1][2] He was an Ambedkarite and Buddhist.[3][4] An agriculturist by profession and an avid wrestler, Gavai was from the state of Maharashtra. From 1964 to 1994, he was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council; during that time, he was Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council from 1968 to 1978, chairman from 1978 to 1984, and twice Leader of the Opposition of the Legislative Council from 1986 to 1988 and from 1990 to 1991.[5][6]

In 1998, Gavai was elected to the 12th Lok Sabha from Amravati.[6] He was member of Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra State April 2000 until April 2006.[7] In June 2006 he became the Governor of Bihar. He was the acting Governor of Sikkim from 13 July 2006 to 12 August 2006. On 26 June 2008, Gavai was instead appointed Governor of Kerala, switching posts with Kerala Governor R. L. Bhatia.[6] He was sworn in as Governor of Kerala on 10 July 2008.[8]

Gavai was a recipient of the Kusta Mitra Award, as well as the National Integration awards for peace and harmony.[6] He was President of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak Samiti, Deeksha Bhoomi, Nagpur and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, Amravati.[1] He died on 25 July 2015 at Nagpur. He is survived by wife Kamaltai and two sons Bhushan Gavai, a judge of the Supreme Court Of India, Rajendra Gavai, a prominent political leader and daughter Kirti.[9]

Overruling of AG's advice in Lavalin case

On 7 June 2009, Gavai gave the Central Bureau of Investigation permission to prosecute CPI(M) Kerala State Secretary and former Kerala Electricity Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the SNC-Lavalin case.[10] This became controversial as he ignored the advice of the Advocate General not to allow the CBI to prosecute Vijayan. The CPI(M) termed Gavai's decision as unfortunate and politically motivated,[11] whereas the opposition parties of the state, including Indian National Congress, welcomed the governor's decision.

References
  1. "Biographical Sketch Member of Parliament 12th Lok Sabha". Lok Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  2. Correspondent, dna (26 July 2015). "Dalit veteran leader RS Gavai no more; CM Devendra Fadnavis calls him 'ajat shatru'". DNA India. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  3. "R S Gavai, veteran Ambedkarite leader, dies at 86". 26 July 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  4. Sikka, Sonia; Puri, Bindu; Beaman, Lori G. (11 August 2015). Living with Religious Diversity. Routledge. ISBN 9781317370987. Retrieved 5 May 2019 – via Google Books.
  5. List of the Leaders of the Opposition of the Maharashtra Legislative Council
  6. "R.S. Gavai is new Kerala Governor", The Hindu, 27 June 2008.
  7. "Alphabetical List Of Former Members Of Rajya Sabha Since 1952". Rajya Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  8. "R S Gavai sworn in as Kerala Governor", IST, PTI (The Times of India), 10 July 2008.
  9. "R S Gavai, veteran Ambedkarite leader, dies at 86". The Indian EXPRESS, New Delhi. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  10. "Governor clears prosecution of Kerala CPI(M) leader". 8 June 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
  11. "Politically motivated, says CPI(M)". 8 June 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
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