Ram Bahadur Rai, Journalist
Journalist

Ram Bahadur Rai

Born 1 January 1946 · verify

Authored the Hindi biography Shashwat Vidrohi Rajneta on Gandhian socialist Acharya J. B.

Ram Bahadur Rai is an Indian journalist and the former news editor of Hindi daily Jansatta. He has published and authored and edited several of books. He is known for some impressive biographies, written in Hindi, namely Shashwat Vidrohi Rajneta based on life and acts of Gandhian socialist Acharya J. B.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Ram Bahadur Rai was the first person arrested under the controversial MISA law in 1974, marking him as a notable figure in the Emergency-era resistance.

The Story

1
🌟 In 1965, Ram Bahadur Rai led a student protest at Banaras Hindu University against removing 'Hindu' from the university's name, resulting in his expulsion and halting his Ph.D. in economics.
2
In 1974, Rai became the first person jailed under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the Emergency, spending a total of eighteen months imprisoned for his activism.
3As organizing secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Rai played a pivotal role uniting student leaders to bring Jayaprakash Narayan to lead the 1974 JP Movement steering committee.
4He wrote an eyewitness account of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War for the Hindi daily Aaj, providing vivid reportage from Varanasi.

🏅 Awards & Honours

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Padma Shri

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 1965, Rai’s refusal to apologize after leading a protest against renaming Banaras Hindu University led to his expulsion, an event that cost him a Ph.D. in economics.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Born in Sonari, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh
Ram Bahadur Rai was born in the village of Sonari in Ghazipur district, Uttar Pradesh, laying his roots in eastern UP.
1946
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Education
Leads BHU student protest, expelled
Rai led protests against removing 'Hindu' from Banaras Hindu University's name, resulting in his expulsion after refusing to apologize.
1965
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Career
Reports on Bangladesh Liberation War
As a journalist for Hindi daily Aaj, Rai provided eyewitness accounts of the Bangladesh Liberation War from Varanasi.
1971
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Career
First person jailed under MISA
Rai became the first person arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act during the Emergency crackdown.
1974
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Career
Joins Jansatta as News Editor
Rai began serving as bureau chief and news editor at Jansatta, influencing Hindi political journalism for nearly two decades.
1986
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Career
Appointed President of IGNCA
The Government of India appointed Rai president of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, expanding his leadership to cultural affairs.
2015
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Award
Awarded Padma Bhushan
Shri Ram Bahadur Rai received the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, recognizing his journalism and public intellectual work.
2025
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

Rai’s eyewitness reporting on the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War was published in the Hindi daily Aaj from Varanasi, offering rare ground-level perspectives at the time.

02 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Despite being imprisoned during the Emergency under MISA, Rai returned to journalism and later led the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts starting in 2015.

03 / 04
💡SURPRISING

Rai’s book 'Shashwat Vidrohi Rajneta' offers a comprehensive Hindi biography of Acharya J.B. Kripalani focusing on his Gandhian socialist ideals.

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🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
India@75-Challenges & the Way forward || Mr. Ram Bahadur Rai || Mr. Tanmay Chakrabarty ||SSNC-DU
·YouTube
More from this archive
India@75-Challenges & the Way forward || Mr. Ram Bahadur Rai || Mr. Tanmay Chakrabarty ||SSNC-DU
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India@75-Challenges & the Way forward || Mr. Ram Bahadur Rai || Mr. Tanmay Chakrabarty ||SSNC-DU
YouTube
Shri Ram Bahadur Rai (Chairman, Maati & President, IGNCA) addressing Book Release Function of Maati
02
Shri Ram Bahadur Rai (Chairman, Maati & President, IGNCA) addressing Book Release Function of Maati
YouTube
BHU FOUNDATION LECTURE SERIES 2021 | PADMA SHRI RAMBAHADUR RAI, SENIOR JOURNALIST & PRESIDENT, IGNCA
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BHU FOUNDATION LECTURE SERIES 2021 | PADMA SHRI RAMBAHADUR RAI, SENIOR JOURNALIST & PRESIDENT, IGNCA
YouTube
“Ambedkar did not write the Constitution… His role is a myth’: Ram Bahadur Rai in his own voice
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“Ambedkar did not write the Constitution… His role is a myth’: Ram Bahadur Rai in his own voice
YouTube
Ram Bahadur Rai On BR Ambedkar | CM KCR On New Districts | Fish Medicine | Teenmaar News | V6 News
05
Ram Bahadur Rai On BR Ambedkar | CM KCR On New Districts | Fish Medicine | Teenmaar News | V6 News
YouTube

🌱 What changed because of them

Ram Bahadur Rai’s leadership in the JP Movement and his defiant student activism challenged authoritarian policies during the Emergency, influencing India’s democratic resilience. His editorial tenure at Jansatta shaped Hindi political journalism, while his presidency of IGNCA helped bridge journalism with cultural preservation and intellectual discourse.

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