Shrikant Jichkar

Dr. Shrikant Jichkar (Marathi: श्रीकांत जिचकर; September 14, 1954 – June 2, 2004) was an Indian politician of the Indian National Congress party. He held numerous academic degrees and is hence well known as "the most qualified person" of India and is noted likewise in Limca Book of Records.^[1] He holds the Limca Book of Records for the most qualified person in the country. Began as a Medical Doctor (MBBS and MD) he did his Law (LL.B.) with Post-graduation in International Law (LL.M.) and his Masters in Business Administration (DBM and MBA) and in Journalism (B.Journ). He did his Masters in ten subjects. M.A. (Public Administration ; M.A. (Sociology) ; M.A. (Economics); M.A. (Sanskrit); M.A. (History); M.A.(English Literature); M.A. (Philosophy); M.A. (Political Science) ; M.A. (Ancient Indian History,Culture and Archaeology); M.A (Psychology). He got his D. Litt (Doctor of Literature) in Sanskrit, the highest of any Degree in a University. Most of his Degrees are with First Merit and he has obtained several Gold Medals for his degrees. Between 1973 and 1990 he has written 42 University Examinations, every summer and every winter. In 1978 he wrote the IPS (Indian Police Service) examination and got into it, resigned, wrote the prestigious IAS (Indian Administrative Services) examination in 1980 and got into it, resigning in four months to contest his first general election. In 1980 he was elected to Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, becoming the youngest MLA in the country at 25 and subsequently became a very powerful government Minister holding 14 portfolios at a time.^[2] He had one of the biggest personal libraries in India with 52,000 books. Jichkar was also an academician, painter, professional photographer, and stage actor. He has been member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (1982–85), Maharashtra Legislative Council (1986–92) and served as Minister of State, Government of Maharashtra. He was also a member of Rajya Sabha (1992–98). He joined I.P.S. in 1978 and I.A.S. in 1980.,^[3][4]

Personal life

Jichkar was born into a Maratha family of wealthy farmers in Aajangaon near Katol in Nagpur district, Maharashtra, India. On June 2, 2004,evening, he succumbed to the injuries sustained after his car, a Mitsubishi Lancer slammed into an oncoming bus at Dhamana Shivar on National Highway 6, about 40 kilometres west of Nagpur.^[5]

Political career

In 1977, Jichkar was elected President of the Nagpur University Student's Council. In 1980 he was elected to Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, becoming the youngest MLA in the country at 25, and subsequently became a government minister holding fourteen different portfolios simultaneously. After twelve years in the Maharashtra legislature, he was elected as Member of Parliament in 1992 until 1998. In 1999 he lost the election of the Lok Sabha by a slender margin of 3000 votes in an electorate of 1.4 million voters.

He began his political career as a student and youth leader. He worked on several committees of the state and central government, including the Parliamentary Standing committee on Finance; the Patents Committee; the Planning Board; the Resources Mobilization Committee; the Taxation Reforms Committee, and the High Power Committee on Irrigation and Transport. He served as a member of the legislative assembly of Maharashtra from 1980 to 1985, a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council from 1986 to 1992,^[6] and member of Rajya Sabha between 5 July 1992 and 4 July 1998.^[7] He also contested the Lok Sabha election in 2004 but lost to Shiv Sena's Subodh Mohite. He held ministerial posts in almost all government departments. He was the Minister of States in the Maharashtra government in 1982 when the policemen of the state had called a strike, and had a key role in rounding up the strike.

Opposition to separate Vidarbha from Maharashtra

Late Dr. Shrikant Jichkar opposed separation of Vidarbha from rest of Maharashtra based on the facts that such separation is nonviable for sustenance of Vidarbha.In the quotes of Dr. Jichkar: ``I do this every time the demand surfaces. Those who made an issue of it have lost elections. The Shiv Sena won seats there despite being opposed to Vidarbha and the BJP lost despite being in favor of it.

If Vidarbha is hived off, Dr. Jichkar says, ``we will have no funds from day one to run the new State. ``The region's share is burdened by a deficit and Monopoly Cotton Purchase Scheme, Employment Guarantee Scheme and such activity will immediately cease since we would not have money to pay salaries. All available resources - iron ore, surplus power generation, forestry - would not be enough. In this context, Mumbai - and by implication the rest of the State - subsidizes Vidarbha's sustenance. ``Mumbai is the door to the temple of development and we cannot allow a division of the Marathi-speaking State, says Dr. Jichkar.^[8]

Hobbies

Jickhkar was also an academician, painter, professional photographer, and stage actor. He had one of the biggest personal libraries in India with 52,000 books.^[9] He traveled all around India speaking on health, economics and also giving religious discourses. Jichkar was an active Amateur radio operator, and used the callsign VU2SJA.^[10]

References

External links

• Memorial website for Shrikant Jichkar
• Shrikant Jichkar - A gentle politician
• A Nagpur Doctor Starts A Movement For A Healthier India
• Dr Shrikant Jichkar: A scholar-politician