Raj Bahadur, a noted freedom fighter and an eminent parliamentarian, was born on 21st August, 1912 at Bharatpur, Rajasthan. He was reared by his paternal grandmother and elder brother.
Raj Bahadur did his Intermediate from Maharaja’s College, Jaipur and Graduation in Science from St. John’s College, Agra. Thereafter he obtained a degree in Law as well as a Masters in English.
Raj Bahadur was influenced by Shaheed Bhagat Singh during his college days. However, he chose to follow the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi later and actively participated in the freedom struggle and was imprisoned several times.
After independence, Raj Bahadur was chosen as a representative of the state of Bharatpur in the Constituent Assembly. He was a member of the Provisional Parliament during 1950 to 1952 and was elected to the Lok Sabha from 1952 to 1966 and 1971 to 1977. As a young parliamentarian, he took active part in debates and discussions which attracted the attention of senior leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, etc.
He was inducted in the Union Council of Ministers in May 1951 and served as the Deputy Minister of Communications till 1956 and the Minister of State for Communication thereafter. He was instrumental in spearheading policies which helped in strengthening and empowering the communication network.
As a Minister of State for Shipping and Transport from 1957 to 1962, he undertook revamping of the shipping industry which was facing acute financial crisis. On his recommendation, two government owned shipping companies were merged and named as the Shipping Corporation of India. Modernization and expansion of major ports at Bombay, Madras, Calcutta, Vishakapatnam, Cochin and Kandla was undertaken and new ports at Mangalore, Tuticorin, Paradip, Haldia, etc. were also commissioned during his tenure. Raj Bahadur held additional charge of the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry from 1963 to 1966. A new Department of Tourism was created at his behest to meet the growing needs and aspirations of domestic and international tourism.
As a Minister of Information and Broadcasting in 1966, the path breaking decision of allowing commercial advertisements on radio and television was taken. Raj Bahadur was elevated as the Union Cabinet Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Shipping and Transport in 1971. He resigned from Union Cabinet in December, 1976 after a glorious innings as a parliamentarian and a Union Minister. In 1980, he contested the Rajasthan Assembly elections and remained its member till 1985.
He breathed his last on 22nd September, 1990 in Delhi.
Department of Posts is happy to release a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Raj Bahadur.
Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India