Physical Stats & More
| Height | 175 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 70 kg |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Salt and pepper |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Education | Master of Arts |
|---|---|
| College/University | Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur |
Personal Life
| Date of Birth | 01/01/1935 |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Tanda village in Chillupar, Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh, India (then - United Province, British India) |
| Date of Death | 16/05/2023 |
| Place of Death | Dharamshala area of Gorakhpur |
| Age (at the time of death) | 89 Years |
| Death Cause | Kidney and Heart disease |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Married |
|---|
Family
| Father | Bhola Nath (priest) |
|---|---|
| Mother | Name not known |
| Siblings | Brother - 2 • Shiv Shankar Tiwari (died in 2018 at age of 83 years) • Kishan Shankar Tiwari |
| Spouse | Ramlali Devi |
| Children | Son - 2 • Bheeshma Shankar Tiwari alias Kushal Tiwari (politician) • Vinay Shankar Tiwari (politician) Daughter - 1 (Name not known) |
Career
| Profession(s) | Politician, Social Worker |
|---|---|
| Famous for | First gangster turned politician of Uttar Pradesh |
| Political Party | • Indian National Congress (INC) • All India Indira Congress (Tiwari) • Akhil Bharatiya Loktantrik Congress |
| Political Journey | • In 1985, he became MLA from Chillupar constituency in Uttar Pradesh for the first time. • In late 1980s, he joined the Indian National Congress (INC). • In 1996, he joined All India Indira Congress (Tiwari). • In October 1997, he formed his own political party, Akhil Bharatiya Loktantrik Congress. • He became MLA for 6 consecutive times from 1985 till 2007. • He served as cabinet minister under Kalyan Singh, Ram Prakash Gupta, Rajnath Singh, Mayawati, and Mulayam Singh Yadav. • He lost the legislative elections in 2007 and 2012. • He retired from active politics after losing the 2012 legislative elections. |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| Hari Shankar Tiwari had a long political career of over five decades, serving as a cabinet minister under five different Chief Ministers in Uttar Pradesh. | |
| His political influence was primarily strong in the Brahmin community of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, notably in Gorakhpur. | |
| Tiwari collaborated with well-known politicians like Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Mulayam Singh Yadav. | |
| He worked with Rajiv Gandhi during the late 1980s and entered politics after completing his education. | |
| Though he enrolled for a PhD in Sociology in 1984, Tiwari did not finish the program. | |
| Hari Shankar Tiwari engaged in student politics at Gorakhpur University and was mentioned in an FIR after an MLA's assassination. | |
| His group competed for railway scrap contracts, using profits to buy firearms and vied for dominance in Gorakhpur. | |
| A feud developed between Tiwari and Gorakhnath Math over influence in the region. | |
| While in jail, Tiwari won the Chillupar constituency election in 1985, a first in Indian history for an imprisoned candidate. | |
| He later aligned with various political parties, won six legislative elections, and became a cabinet minister five times. | |
| Tiwari's decline began in 2007 after electoral defeats, leading to his retirement from active politics. | |
| He passed away in May 2023 at his home in Gorakhpur, having battled kidney and heart ailments. | |
| After his demise, his body was taken to his ancestral village Tanda, where many paid their respects. | |
| Tiwari, known as the 'Purvanchal ka Sher,' was considered the first gangster-turned-politician in Uttar Pradesh. | |
| He was the first in India to win an election while in jail and had a significant impact on Uttar Pradesh politics. |
