Kamalapati Tripathi

Kamalapati Tripathi

Kamalapati Tripathi (September 3, 1905 – 1990), the writer, journalist, editor and freedom fighter was a senior Indian National Congress leader from Varanasi. He served as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh as well as the Union Minister for Railways.

His father’s name was Pandit Narayan Pati Tripathi.He started his career as a journalist working for the daily Hindi newspaper Aaj and later Sansaar. He was also the editor of the two tabloids. He was married at the age of 19 and had 5 children.

During 1921 he participated in Asahyog Andolan. He was also an active participant in the Civil Disobedience Movement, for which he was jailed. In 1942 he was on his way to Mumbai to participate in the Qut India Movement when he was arrested and jailed for 3 years.

He remained Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 4 April 1971 till 12 June 1973.

Union Minister for Railways

He was Union Minister for Railways for two times first from 1975 to 1977 and then briefly in 1980. He presented Railway Budget of India four times: 1975-76, 1976-77, 1980-81 (interim) and 1980-81 (final).