Raj Narain was a great freedom fighter and an eminent parliamentarian. He was born in 1917 in a village named Motikoat, Gangapur in Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh. He was from the Royal family of Varanasi and directly related to Maharaja Balwant Singh, the King of Varanasi. After completing his post graduation and LLB, he joined Socialist Party and held many party positions. He was very close to Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya who described him as "a person who has heart of a Lion and practices of Gandhi". Along with Dr. Lohiya, he was one of the strongest pillars of socialist movement in the country.

He  was  the  President  of  Student  Congress during   Quit   India   Movement   in   1942.  He  led  the movement  in and around Varanasi  district.  He was  so. active    in   the   freedom    struggle    that   the    British Government  wanted to get hold of him and ordered a prize of Rs. 5000/- for getting him dead or alive. An active participant  in  the  Quit  India  Movement  and  all  the campaigns  connected  with  the  freedom  struggle,  he suffered imprisonment many times.

A staunch socialist, Shri Raj Narain devoted his life to fighting exploitation and injustice in society. The spirit of socialism was the sheet anchor of his political career. He always worked for the upliftment of the poor, workers, labourers and downtrodden people.

Shri Raj Narain had a long and distinguished political career. He was elected to  the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly for two terms, from 1952 to 1962. He was the first 'Leader of Opposition' of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, after independence. He was a member of Rajya Sabha from 1966 to 1972 and again from 1974 to 1976. He was the Minister of Health in the Central Cabinet from 1977 to 1980. He was also a famous politician who as a candidate of Janata Party in 1977, defeated Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, in Lok Sabha election from Rai Bareli constituency.

Shri Raj Narain was a man of masses. He strove hard for political freedom, economic justice, social equality and cultural advancement of the people and was therefore known as 'Lokbandhu' rather than 'Loknayak'.

He died on 31st December 1986.

The  Department  of  Posts  is  happy  to  issue a commemorative postage stamp on Shri Raj Narain.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India