Created by Ser Amantio di Nicolao
Last edited September 18, 2025
->Ser Amantio di Nicolao
m Adding Category:Indian politicians removed by mistake using Cat-a-lot
 
Bharatman (talk | contribs)
small cleaned up details per sources and cleaned formatting as per guidelines
 
Line 3: Line 3:
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name              = Seth Kishan Dass
| image              =  
| image              =  
| image_size        =  
| image_size        =  
| caption            =  
| caption            =  
| birth_date        = 1896
| birth_date        = {{birth year|1896}}
| birth_place        = [[Jalandhar]], [[Punjab Province (British India)]]
| birth_place        = [[Jalandhar]], [[Punjab Province (British India)]]
| death_date        = 1989
| death_date        = {{death date and age|1989|1896}}
| death_place        = [[Bootan Mandi]], [[Jalandhar]], [[Punjab]]
| death_place        = [[Bootan Mandi]], Jalandhar, Punjab
| occupation        = politician, dalit activist, social reformer
| occupation        = politician, dalit activist, social reformer
| party              = [[Republican Party of India]]
| party              = [[Republican Party of India]]
Line 18: Line 17:
}}
}}


'''Seth Kishan Dass''' was a leather trader, propagator of the [[Ad-Dharm]] movement, and a politician.
'''Seth Kishan Dass''' was a leather trader, propagator of the [[Ad-Dharm]] movement, and a [[politician]].


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Seth Kishan Dass was born into a [[Chamar]] family of Punjab. He traveled to [[Calcutta]] and started working there in leather factories. After, some experience he invested in a leather tanning and trading business that flew away. With time Kishan Dass became one of the richest traders of the [[Jullundhar]] region and paved the way for fellow Chamars to be in the leather trade.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Literature - upkaar.com|url=http://upkaar.com/essays/Ramesh%20Chander/2015/01-pseudo-secularism-a-case-study-21012015.htm|website=upkaar.com|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref> <!--not sure if flew away means wildly successful or that the business failed-->
Seth Kishan Das was born in Mohalla Ramdaspura, Jalandhar. He was born with the Klare surname of the Chamar caste. He established himself as a prosperous leather merchant.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kshīrasāgara |first1=Rāmacandra |title=Dalit Movement in India and Its Leaders, 1857-1956 |date=1994 |publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. |isbn=978-81-85880-43-3 |page=328 |url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Dalit_Movement_in_India_and_Its_Leaders/Wx218EFVU8MC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=seth+kishan+das&pg=PA328&printsec=frontcover |access-date=18 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
 
Seth became involved in the Ad-Dharm movement with [[Mangu Ram Mugowalia|Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia]] and purchased land for Ad Dharm mandals. Today, the Ravi Das High School runs in the place of Mandal.
 
Being an [[Ambedkarite]], he was instrumental in bringing [[B. R. Ambedkar|Babasaheb Ambedkar]] at [[Bootan Mandi]] in Jalandhar for the campaign in the 1951 Punjab elections.<ref>{{Cite web|title=डॉ. अंबेडकर को जालंधर बुलाने वाले सेठ किशन दास|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/punjab/jalandhar/news/PUN-JAL-OMC-MAT-latest-jalandhar-news-033539-3137880-NOR.html|date=2015-12-03|website=Dainik Bhaskar|language=hi|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref>
Being an [[Ambedkarite]], he was instrumental in bringing [[B. R. Ambedkar|Babasaheb Ambedkar]] at [[Bootan Mandi]] in Jalandhar for the campaign in the 1951 Punjab elections.<ref>{{Cite web|title=डॉ. अंबेडकर को जालंधर बुलाने वाले सेठ किशन दास|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/punjab/jalandhar/news/PUN-JAL-OMC-MAT-latest-jalandhar-news-033539-3137880-NOR.html|date=2015-12-03|website=Dainik Bhaskar|language=hi|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref>


He was elected in the first [[Punjab Legislative Assembly]] elections in 1937 and won from [[Adampur Assembly Constituency|Jullundur Assembly Constituency]] (now Adampur) by beating [[Master Gurbanta Singh]], another Ad-Dharm member.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kumar|first=Ashutosh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iTIlDwAAQBAJ&q=1937+jalandhar+assembly+elections+punjab&pg=PA389|title=Rethinking State Politics in India: Regions Within Regions|date=December 2016|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-315-39145-8|language=en}}</ref> But he lost in [[1946 Punjab Provincial Assembly election|1946 Punjab Privincial Assembly elections]]. He was a member of the [[Scheduled Castes Federation|All India Scheduled Castes Federation]] and President of the Punjab unit of [[Scheduled Caste Federation|SCF]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kshīrasāgara|first=Rāmacandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wx218EFVU8MC&q=chamar+social+reformers+maharashtra&pg=PA328|title=Dalit Movement in India and Its Leaders, 1857-1956|date=1994|publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd.|isbn=978-81-85880-43-3|language=en}}</ref>
He was elected in the first [[Punjab Legislative Assembly]] elections in 1937 and won from [[Adampur, Punjab Assembly constituency|Jullundur Assembly Constituency]] (now Adampur) by beating [[Master Gurbanta Singh]], another Ad-Dharm member.<ref>https://www.bhaskar.com/haryana/rohtak/news/haryana-news-tribute-paid-to-former-minister-seth-kishan-das-on-his-death-anniversary-083539-6039359.html</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Kumar|first=Ashutosh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iTIlDwAAQBAJ&q=1937+jalandhar+assembly+elections+punjab&pg=PA389|title=Rethinking State Politics in India: Regions Within Regions|date=December 2016|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-315-39145-8|language=en}}</ref> But he lost in [[1946 Punjab Provincial Assembly election|1946 Punjab Provincial Assembly elections]]. He was a member of the [[Scheduled Castes Federation|All India Scheduled Castes Federation]] and President of the Punjab unit of [[Scheduled Caste Federation|SCF]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kshīrasāgara|first=Rāmacandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wx218EFVU8MC&q=chamar+social+reformers+maharashtra&pg=PA328|title=Dalit Movement in India and Its Leaders, 1857-1956|date=1994|publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd.|isbn=978-81-85880-43-3|language=en}}</ref>


His sons were [[Seth Prem Raj]] and [[Seth Mool Raj]] who became the Director of Punjab Mega Leather Cluster. Ltd and Avinash Tanneries at [[Jalandhar]]. His grandsons, [[Steven Kaler]] and [[Avinash Chander]], are, respectively, an MLA from Phillaur and chief parliamentary secretary for Higher Education & Languages Dept.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Former SAD leader Avinash Chander to join Congress on November 29|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/former-sad-leader-avinash-chander-to-join-congress-on-november-29/story-AKqGgYkpxKtw3DaKYPz64H.html|date=2016-11-25|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=It's Hell For Leather {{!}} Outlook India Magazine|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/its-hell-for-leather/297775|website=www.outlookindia.com/|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref>
His sons were Seth Prem Raj and Seth Mool Raj who became the Director of Punjab Mega Leather Cluster. Ltd and Avinash Tanneries at [[Jalandhar]]. His grandsons, [[Steven Kaler]] and [[Avinash Chander]], are, respectively, an MLA from Phillaur and chief parliamentary secretary for Higher Education & Languages Dept.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Former SAD leader Avinash Chander to join Congress on November 29|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/former-sad-leader-avinash-chander-to-join-congress-on-november-29/story-AKqGgYkpxKtw3DaKYPz64H.html|date=2016-11-25|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=It's Hell For Leather |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/its-hell-for-leather/297775|website=Outlook India Magazine |first1=S.P. |last1=Sharma |date=25 August 2016 |access-date=2020-05-24 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181002130907/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/its-hell-for-leather/297775 |archive-date= Oct 2, 2018 }}</ref>


== Dalit capitalism ==
Seth Kishan Das provided financial support to construct the 'Ad Dharam' building, which later became Guru Ravidass High School.<ref name="Ravidass High School">{{cite web |last1=Ram |first1=Ronki |title=Ad-Dharm Movement and Dalit Consciousness in Punjab |url=https://www.ambedkartimes.com/page6.html |website=Ambedkar Times |access-date=18 January 2024}}</ref>
He was one of the first people who pioneered Dalit capitalism in India. Today, Bootan Mandi in Jalandhar is a leather hub because of the capitalist mindset of Kishan Dass. Because of him Dalits, particularly the [[Chamar]]s ([[Ad-Dharmi]]), became seths (merchant) in the Doaba region and many industrialists like Seth Sundar Das, Seth Satpall Mall, Seth Mool Raj, etc. all got to flourish in their businesses.


== References ==
== References ==
Line 39: Line 34:
[[Category:Dalit politicians]]
[[Category:Dalit politicians]]
[[Category:Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Ambedkarites]]
[[Category:1896 births]]
[[Category:1896 births]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]

Latest revision as of 16:04, 18 September 2025


Seth Kishan Dass
Born1896 (1896)
Died1989(1989-00-00) (aged 92–93)
Bootan Mandi, Jalandhar, Punjab
Occupationpolitician, dalit activist, social reformer
Political partyRepublican Party of India
Movement Ad-Dharm movement

Seth Kishan Dass was a leather trader, propagator of the Ad-Dharm movement, and a politician.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Seth Kishan Das was born in Mohalla Ramdaspura, Jalandhar. He was born with the Klare surname of the Chamar caste. He established himself as a prosperous leather merchant.[1] Being an Ambedkarite, he was instrumental in bringing Babasaheb Ambedkar at Bootan Mandi in Jalandhar for the campaign in the 1951 Punjab elections.[2]

He was elected in the first Punjab Legislative Assembly elections in 1937 and won from Jullundur Assembly Constituency (now Adampur) by beating Master Gurbanta Singh, another Ad-Dharm member.[3][4] But he lost in 1946 Punjab Provincial Assembly elections. He was a member of the All India Scheduled Castes Federation and President of the Punjab unit of SCF.[5]

His sons were Seth Prem Raj and Seth Mool Raj who became the Director of Punjab Mega Leather Cluster. Ltd and Avinash Tanneries at Jalandhar. His grandsons, Steven Kaler and Avinash Chander, are, respectively, an MLA from Phillaur and chief parliamentary secretary for Higher Education & Languages Dept.[6][7]

Seth Kishan Das provided financial support to construct the 'Ad Dharam' building, which later became Guru Ravidass High School.[8]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Kshīrasāgara, Rāmacandra (1994). Dalit Movement in India and Its Leaders, 1857-1956. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 328. ISBN 978-81-85880-43-3. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  2. "डॉ. अंबेडकर को जालंधर बुलाने वाले सेठ किशन दास". Dainik Bhaskar (in हिन्दी). 3 December 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  3. https://www.bhaskar.com/haryana/rohtak/news/haryana-news-tribute-paid-to-former-minister-seth-kishan-das-on-his-death-anniversary-083539-6039359.html
  4. Kumar, Ashutosh (December 2016). Rethinking State Politics in India: Regions Within Regions. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-315-39145-8.
  5. Kshīrasāgara, Rāmacandra (1994). Dalit Movement in India and Its Leaders, 1857-1956. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-85880-43-3.
  6. "Former SAD leader Avinash Chander to join Congress on November 29". Hindustan Times. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  7. Sharma, S.P. (25 August 2016). "It's Hell For Leather". Outlook India Magazine. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  8. Ram, Ronki. "Ad-Dharm Movement and Dalit Consciousness in Punjab". Ambedkar Times. Retrieved 18 January 2024.