Ramdas Athawale

2021-12-14T11:15:52Z

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{{Short description|Indian politician}}{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|image = The Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale addressing a press conference, in New Delhi on November 24, 2017.jpg
|caption = Athawale addressing a press conference, in [[New Delhi]] on 24 November 2017.
|office = [[Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment|Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment]]
|term_start = 5 July 2016
|term_end =
|primeminister = [[Narendra Modi]]
|minister = [[Thawar Chand Gehlot]] (26 May 2014 – 7 July 2021)<br/> [[Virendra Kumar Khatik]] (Incumbent)
|office1 = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]
|term_start1 = 3 April 2014
|term_end1 =
|constituency1 = [[Maharashtra]]
|predecessor1 = [[Prakash Javadekar]]
|office2 = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
|term_start2 = 10 October 1999
|term_end2 = 16 May 2009
|predecessor2 = [[Sandipan Thorat]]
|successor2 = ''Constituency Abolished''
|constituency2 = [[Pandharpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Pandharpur]]
|office3 =
|term_start3 = 1998
|term_end3 = 1999
|predecessor3 = [[Narayan Athawale]]
|successor3 = [[Manohar Joshi]]
|constituency3 = [[Mumbai North Central (Lok Sabha constituency)|Mumbai North Central]]
|office4 = Cabinet Minister for Social Welfare,Transport,Sports and Youth Welfare,Employment Guarantee [[Government of Maharashtra]]
|term_start4 = 1990
|term_end4 = 1995
|office5 = Member, [[Maharashtra Legislative Council]]
|term_start5 = 1990
|term_end5 = 1996
|birth_name = Ramdas Bandu Athawale
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|12|25|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Sangli district|Agalgaon]], [[Sangli district]], [[India]]
|party = [[Republican Party of India (A)]] (1990 - present)
| otherparty = [[Republican Party of India]] (before 1990)
|occupation = Trade unionist, social worker
}}

'''Ramdas Bandu Athawale''' ({{IPA-mr|äʈʰʋəle}}) (born 25 December 1959) is an Indian politician and social activist from [[Maharashtra]]. He is the president of the [[Republican Party of India (A)]], a splinter group of the [[Republican Party of India]] and has its roots in the [[Scheduled Castes Federation]] led by [[B. R. Ambedkar]]. Currently, he is the Minister of State in the [[Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment]] in [[Second Modi ministry]] and represents Maharashtra in [[Rajya Sabha]], the upper house of [[India's Parliament]]. Previously he was [[Lok Sabha]] MP from [[Pandharpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Pandharpur]].

==Early life==
Athawale was born on 25 December 1959 in Agalgaon, [[Sangli district]], [[Bombay State]], which is now Maharashtra.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Correspondent|first=dna|date=2019-04-15|title=Ramdas Athawale extends a hand of alliance to Prakash Ambedkar|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-ramdas-athawale-extends-a-hand-of-alliance-to-prakash-ambedkar-2739671|access-date=2020-06-15|website=DNA India|language=en}}</ref> His parents were Bandu Bapu and Honsabai Bandu Athawale. He attended [[Siddharth College of Law, Mumbai]] and married to Seema Athawale, on 16 May 1992. He has a son.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|title=Shri Ramdas Athawale: Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment|url=http://disabilityaffairs.gov.in/content/minister/shri-ramdas-athawale.php|publisher=Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref> Ramdas Athawale is a practitioner of [[Buddhism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/dalits-should-embrace-buddhism-says-ramdas-bandu-athawale-interview-cow-slaughter-vigilante-rpi-2943349/|title=Dalits should embrace Buddhism, says Ramdas Bandu Athawale|date=30 July 2016|work=The Indian Express|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

Athawale has been editor of a weekly magazine called ''Bhumika'' and is a founder member of Parivartan Sahitya Mahamandal. He has served as president of Parivartan Kala Mahasangha, the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Foundation and the Bauddha Kalawant Academy (Buddhist Artists Academy) and was founder president of Bauddha Dhamma Parishad (Buddhism conference). He played the title role in a Marathi film, ''Anyayacha Pratikar'', and also had a small role in another Marathi film, ''Joshi ki Kamble'', as well as roles in Marathi dramas such as ''Ekach Pyala''.<ref name=bio/>

==Political career==
Athwale was inspired by B. R. Ambedkar, the Indian polymath. Following a split in the [[Dalit Panther]] movement in 1974, Athawale joined [[Arun Kamble]] and [[Gangadhar Gade]] in leading a rump in Maharashtra. His involvement with a faction of the Republican Party of India, despite the Panther's general disdain for its leadership, eventually led to an association with the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC).<ref>{{cite book |title=Civility against Caste: Dalit Politics and Citizenship in Western India |first=Suryakant |last=Waghmore |publisher=SAGE Publishing India |year=2013 |isbn=978-8-13211-813-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zRdBDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT63 |page=63}}</ref>

Athawale was member of [[Maharashtra Legislative Council]] from 1990 to 1996<ref name=bio/> and was Cabinet Minister for Social Welfare and Transport, Employment Guarantee Scheme and Prohibition Propaganda in the [[Government of Maharashtra]] between 1990–95.<ref name=bio/>

He represented the [[Pandharpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Pandharpur]] constituency of Maharashtra and is the president of the Republican Party of India (Athawale) (RPIA).{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

Athawale represented [[Mumbai North Central (Lok Sabha constituency)|Mumbai North Central]] in the [[12th Lok Sabha]] during 1998-99 and was elected to serve a second term in the [[13th Lok Sabha]] of 1999–2004. A third term, in the [[14th Lok Sabha]], followed from 2004–2009.<ref name=bio/> Considered something of a lightweight in state politics, he has been courted at various times by various parties because of a perception that he might assist in mobilising the scattered Maharashtrian [[Dalit]] vote in their favour.<ref name="mid-day"/> He left the [[Nationalist Congress Party]]-INC alliance in 2011{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} after having lost in the [[2009 Indian general election|2009 Lok Sabha election]],<ref name=bio/> when he contested the reserved [[Shirdi (Lok Sabha constituency)|Shirdi constituency]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Civility against Caste: Dalit Politics and Citizenship in Western India |first=Suryakant |last=Waghmore |publisher=SAGE Publishing India |year=2013 |isbn=978-8-13211-813-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zRdBDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT196 |page=196}}</ref> This defeat was despite a subsequent report by [[Social Watch]] which ranked him as the second-best performing member of the 14th Lok Sabha, based on an analysis of various data points.<ref>{{cite book |title=Citizens' Report on Governance and Development 2010 |author=Social Watch |publisher=SAGE Publications |year=2011 |isbn=978-8-13210-627-2 |page=11 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1zRAsMgw1QgC&pg=PA11}}</ref> Athawale led the RPI party, joined the alliance of [[Shivsena]] and the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) in 2011 and contested [[Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation]] elections together.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

In 2014, Athawale was elected to the Rajya Sabha, which is the upper house of parliament.<ref name=bio/> He became Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 6 July 2016, working under [[Thawar Chand Gehlot]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Shri Ramdas Athawale Assumes Charge as MoS Social Justice & Empowerment|publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/mbErel.aspx?relid=146863|date=6 July 2016|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

His RPI(A) organisation is a part of the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] led by the BJP.<ref>{{cite news|work=The Tribune|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/union-minister-ramdas-athawale-s-mother-passes-away/498649.html|title=Union minister Ramdas Athawale's mother passes away|date=16 November 2017|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

[[Devyani Khobragade]] was proposed for the role of Personal Secretary to Athawale in July 2016 but the appointment was refused by Gehlot, who saw a conflict of interest because her father, [[Uttam Khobragade]], was the national executive president of the RPI(A).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ramdas-athawales-request-for-devyani-khobragade-as-private-secretary-turned-down-1435988|title=Ramdas Athawale's Request For Devyani Khobragade As Private Secretary Turned Down|publisher=NDTV|work=Press Trust of India|date=25 July 2016|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

When Athawale established a children's wing of the RPI(A) in September 2017, he appointed his son, then aged 12, to be its leader.<ref name="mid-day">{{cite news|title=Mumbai: Ramdas Athawale forms children's wing to launch 12-year-old son in politics|date=6 September 2017|agency=PTI|work=Mid-day|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/ramdas-athawale-childrens-wing-minor-son-politics-union-minister-dalit-leader-mumbai-news/18557174|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

In May 2019, Athawale continued his position as Minister of State for [[Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment|Social Justice and Empowerment]].<ref>{{citation |title=PM Modi allocates portfolios. Full list of new ministers |url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/pm-modi-allocates-portfolios-full-list-of-new-ministers-1559288502067.html |work=[[Live Mint]] |date=31 May 2019 }}</ref>

In March 2020, a video of Athawale chanting ‘Go Corona!’ at a rally went viral and became a popular meme.<ref> {{Cite web|last=Mar 2020|first=Mirror Now {{!}} 10|last2=Ist|first2=08:17 Pm|title=Video of Ramdas Athawale chanting 'go corona, go corona' goes viral|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/video-of-ramdas-athawale-chanting-go-corona-go-corona-goes-viral/videoshow/74565649.cms|access-date=2020-09-29|website=The Economic Times}} </ref>

==Social activism==
[[File:Narendra Modi paying respects to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial, at Indu Mills Compound, Mumbai. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis.jpg|thumb|Ramdas Athawale with [[Narendra Modi]], [[Nitin Gadkari]] and [[Devendra Fadnavis]] paying tribute to [[B. R. Ambedkar]].]]
In 2015, following attacks on Dalits in the state of [[Haryana]], Athawale said that if the police were to continue turning a blind eye to their plight then special protection squads led by senior police officers should be formed from among members of the community and they should be granted [[firearm]]s licenses so that they could protect themselves.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Athawale-demands-arms-for-Dalits/articleshow/49510947.cms|title=Athawale demands arms for Dalits|work=The Times of India|date=24 October 2015|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/let-dalits-possess-arms-for-their-safety-athawale-tells-maha-govt/20160128.htm|title=Let Dalits possess arms for their safety: Athawale tells Maha govt|work=Rediff|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref> In December 2017, he suggested that Dalits should renounce Hinduism in favour of Buddhism in order to stop being subject to "atrocities". He also criticised the record of the Hindu-centric BJP and [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) in dealing with issues relating to discrimination of not only Dalits but also other disadvantaged communities in India.<ref>{{cite news |work=Outlook |date=14 December 2017|title=Union Minister Ramdas Athawale Asks Dalits To Renounce Hinduism, Embrace Buddhism |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/union-minister-ramdas-athawale-asks-dalits-to-renounce-hinduism-embrace-buddhism/305520|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref> In March 2018, echoing remarks he had made soon after becoming Minister of State in 2016<ref>{{cite news|work=Economic Times|url=https://www.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/promote-inter-caste-marriages-to-end-casteism-ramdas-athawale/articleshow/53318929.cms?|title=Promote inter-caste marriages to end casteism: Ramdas Athawale|agency=PTI|date=21 July 2016|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref> and reacting in particular to recent atrocities against Dalits in [[Saharanpur]], [[Unnao]] and [[Allahabad]], Athawale advocated [[inter-caste marriage]] as the best way to minimise such events and noted that he had married a [[Brahmin]] "to set an example". As he had done in December 2017, he attacked [[Mayawati]], a Dalit former [[Chief Minister (India)|Chief Minister]] of [[Uttar Pradesh]], on this occasion for what he perceived as a lack of action to help Dalits during her four terms in office. He said that this had caused the community to shift their support to the BJP and RPI, while refuting charges that he was a puppet under BJP control.<ref>{{cite news|work=The Daily Pioneer|title=Yogi government should ensure that Dalits too live a respectful life : Ramdas Athawale|date=1 March 2018|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/lucknow/yogi-government-should-ensure-that-dalits-too-live-a-respectful-life--ramdas-athawale.html|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

Although described as a Dalit leader, Athawale has caused controversy among Dalits. In January 2018, around 130 people were arrested when some Dalit activists protested against him during a speech.<ref>{{cite news|work=Financial Express|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/union-minister-ramdas-athawale-heckled-during-speech-by-protesters/1015945/|title=Union minister Ramdas Athawale heckled during speech by protesters|agency=PTI|date=15 January 2018|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

Aside from his involvement in Dalit affairs, Athawale has also advocated [[Reservation in India|reservation]] for economically disadvantaged [[Caste system in India|upper caste]] communities. He has said that the government of India should release the caste-based information collected during the [[2011 Census of India]], which is considered to be a politically sensitive dataset, in order to address inequities in the reservation system across the board. He rejects claims that doing so would lead to an increase in casteism.<ref name=economictimes>{{cite news|title=Make caste census public, says Union Minister Ramdas Athawale|date=4 April 2018|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/make-caste-census-public-says-union-minister-ramdas-athawale/articleshow/63605250.cms|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

Athawale has said that reservation quota of 25 percent for Dalits should be introduced to sports, including [[cricket]], following India's defeat in the [[2017 ICC Champions Trophy#Final|2017 ICC Champions Trophy Final against Pakistan]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Union Minister Ramdas Athawale accuses Kohli, others of 'fixing' ICC final against Pakistan|agency=IANS|date=1 July 2017|work=The News Minute}}</ref> and that the armed forces should also be subject to a quota regime. He has also said that, just as the Lok Sabha has constituencies reserved for members of the [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]], so too should the Rajya Sabha and the Union cabinet. In addition, he favours increasing the prevailing 50 per cent quota that exists for government jobs and places at educational institutions to 75 per cent, stressing that this would apply to all castes that are recognised as economically disadvantaged, which includes those categorised at [[Other Backwards Class]]es.<ref>{{cite news|work=One India|url=https://www.oneindia.com/india/ramdas-athawale-bats-for-sc-st-quota-cabinet-rajya-sabha-2538656.html|title=Ramdas Athawale bats for SC, ST quota in Cabinet, Rajya Sabha|agency=PTI|date=7 September 2017|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

== Positions held ==

*1990–96: Member, [[Maharashtra Legislative Council]]
*1990–95: Cabinet Minister, Social Welfare and Transport, Employment Guarantee Scheme and Prohibition Propaganda, [[Government of Maharashtra]]
*1998–99: Member, Twelfth Lok Sabha
*1998–99: Member, Committee on Transport and Tourism Member, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Industry
*1999–2000: Member, Committee on Industry
*1999–2004: Member, Thirteenth Lok Sabha (second term)
*2002–2004: Member, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
*2004–2009: Member, Fourteenth Lok Sabha (third term)
*2004: Member, Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture April
*2014: Elected to [[Rajya Sabha]]
*Aug. 2014-past: Member, Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Sept.
*2014-past: Member, Committee on Industry Nov.
*2014-past: Member, Library Committee Freedom Fighter
*2016–past: Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, [[Government of India]]
*2020: Reelected to [[Rajya Sabha]] unopposed.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://www.facebook.com/ramdas.athawale?fref=ts Ramdas Athawale Facebook page]

{{Second Narendra Modi Cabinet}}
{{Cabinet of Narendra Modi}}
{{Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra for term 2014-2020}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Athawale, Ramdas Bandu}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Marathi politicians]]
[[Category:People from Sangli district]]
[[Category:12th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:13th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:14th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Ambedkarites]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Dalit politicians]]
[[Category:Indian Buddhists]]
[[Category:Republican Party of India (Athawale) politicians]]
[[Category:Republican Party of India politicians]]
[[Category:Narendra Modi ministry]]
[[Category:Politicians from Mumbai]]
[[Category:People from Solapur district]]
[[Category:Members of the Maharashtra Legislative Council]]
[[Category:20th-century Buddhists]]
[[Category:21st-century Buddhists]]
[[Category:Buddhist activists]]

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Ramdas Athawale