Sukh Ram (1927–2022) was an Indian politician and agriculturist. He is known for serving as the Minister of Communications and Information Technology from 1993 to 1996. He was fondly known as Pandit Sukh Ram. He was also known as ‘King of Mandi’ and ‘Kingmaker of Himachal’.
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Wiki/Biography
Sukhram alias Sukhram Sharma was born on Wednesday, 27 July 1927 (age 94 at the time of death) in Aryana, Tungal (Kotli), Mandi, British Punjab Province (British India; now Himachal Pradesh, India). His zodiac sign is Leo. He did BA from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Later, he did LLB from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, Delhi.
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 5″
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye colour: brown
Family
parents and siblings
His father’s name is Bhav Dev. Sukhram had nine brothers and sisters.
wife and children
He married Ram Devi on 6 August 1953. Sukhram had two sons and three daughters, and one of his sons, Anil Sharma, is a politician (member of the BJP) and agriculturist.
Sukhram with his son Anil Sharma
other relatives)
His grandson Ashray Sharma is a politician. His other grandson, Ayush Sharma, is an actor who is married to Arpita Khan.
Sukhram with Ashray Sharma
Sukhram with his son and grandson
Caste
He was born in a Brahmin Hindu family.
Address
Samkhetar Street, Mandi Town-175001, Himachal Pradesh
livelihood
After completing his graduation in law, he started practicing in Mandi district law courts. In 1962 he became a member of the Territorial Council, Himachal Pradesh. From 1963 to 1984, he was a member of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly. During this tenure he represented Mandi Assembly seat. During this tenure, he also served as General Secretary, PCC(I), Himachal Pradesh. Subsequently, he won the eighth Lok Sabha election and served as a junior minister in the Rajiv Gandhi government.
An old picture of Sukhram with Rajiv Gandhi
From September 1985 to October 1986, he served as the Union Minister of State, Defense Production and Supplies and from October 1986 to February 1988, he served as the Union Minister of State, Planning. He then served as the Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies (Independent) from February 1988 to December 1989. In 1991, he was re-elected to the 10th Lok Sabha. From July 1992 to January 1993, Sukh Ram served as the Minister of State for Planning and Program Implementation (Independent Charge) and Non-Conventional Energy Sources. He held independent charge as the Union Minister of State for Communications from January 1993 to May 1996. In 1996, he was re-elected to the 11th Lok Sabha. He was the one who introduced mobile phones in India. The first mobile phone call in India was between Sukhram and Rajiv Gandhi. He talked about this during an interview, he said,
Once I went to Japan as Telecom Minister. I saw that the driver had kept the mobile phone in his pocket. Seeing this I thought that if Japan can have this technology then why not India.”
After a falling out with a Congress leader, he left the Congress and formed his own independent political party, Himachal Vikas Congress, on 6 July 1997.
Sukhram on the day of inauguration of Himachal Vikas Party
Election symbol of Himachal Vikas Party
In 1998, he formed a post-poll alliance with the BJP and contested the assembly elections from Mandi Sadar. He won the election by a huge margin of 22000+ votes. In 2004, his Swatantra Party merged with the Congress. He announced his retirement from electoral politics in 2007. He joined the BJP in 2017 and within two years he left the party and rejoined the Congress.
An old picture of Sukhram
Controversy
imprisonment for improper activities
In 2002, he passed a contract to supply communication equipment to a Hyderabad-based firm, causing a loss of Rs 1.66 crore to the government. He was then sentenced to prison for three years. In 2011, they agreed to a contract worth Rs 30 crore with Haryana Telecom Limited (HTL), a private firm, to supply 3.5 lakh conductor kilometers (LCKM) of polythene insulated jelly filled (PIJF) cables to the Department of Telecommunications. For this he took a bribe of Rs 3 lakh and was sentenced to five years in jail. During the hearing of his case in a Delhi court, he pleaded before the judges that his age should be considered before giving the verdict. He said,
I (Sukhram) am an 86 year old man and have been participating in litigation for the last 12 to 13 years. I am suffering from old age related ailments and have lost my wife. Therefore a soft approach can be adopted. So, this is not a case where the government has lost any money. CBI alleged that he (Sukhram) took bribe but there was no financial loss to the government exchequer.
CBI prosecutor said,
He is a “habitual offender” and maximum punishment has been sought for him.
While talking to journalists, Sukhram said,
Despite the fact that age is not on my side, I have not lost hope of justice. I am a victim of political conspiracy. My fight will continue until I come out of the court clean.
After being sentenced to jail in a Delhi court, a man named Harvinder Singh slapped and kicked him. The incident took place in the premises of a court in Delhi.
property and properties
- Cash: Rs 3.61 crore
- Jewellery: Rs 10.29 lakh
- Bank Balance: Rs 4.29 Lakh
- Household items: Rs 10.30 lakh
Death
He breathed his last on 11 May 2022 at AIIMS, New Delhi. Earlier, on May 4, 2022, he suffered a brain stroke and was immediately rushed to a hospital in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. Seeing his deteriorating condition, he was airlifted to AIIMS, Delhi, where he was put on a ventilator. On May 11, 2022, he suffered a cardiac arrest from which he could not survive. The news of his demise was shared by his grandchildren. His grandson Ashray Sharma shared this news through his Twitter account. He tweeted,
the end of an era. Goodbye Grandpa, your phone will not ring anymore.
Sukhram’s other grandson Ayush Sharma shared this news on Instagram.
Ayush Sharma’s Instagram post for Sukhram
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn