Nand Kumar Baghel Age, Death, Wife, Children, Family, Biography

Bio/Wiki
Names Earned	Chhattisgarh's Periyar
Profession(s)	• Politician • Farmer • Sociopolitical Activist
Physical Stats
Height (approx.)	5' 6" (168 cm)
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	White
Politics
Political Party	Independent
Personal Life
Date of Birth	Year, 1935
Date of Death	8 January 2024
Place of Death	Raipur, Chhattisgarh
Age (at the time of death)	89 Years
Death Cause	Age-related illness
Nationality	• British Indian (1935-1947) • Indian (1947-2024)
Hometown	Durg, Chhattisgarh
School	Class 10 from the Central School in Raipur
Caste	Kurmi Kshatriya (OBC)
Controversies	• Called for the end of burning of Ravan In 2001, he wrote a book titled, 'Brahmin Kumar Ravan Ko Mat Maro' and called for stopping the tradition of burning the Ravan's effigy during Dussehra. In the book, he had also criticised Lord Ram and praised Ravan. The book was immediately banned. He was arrested for the book on 4 November 2001. • Demand for giving 85% tickets to SC-ST-OBC candidates In 2018, he wrote a letter to the Congress leadership, demanding 85% of tickets be given to SC-ST-OBC candidates instead of Brahmins to win the Assembly elections. • Removed government billboards announcing the construction of Ram-Laxman temple On 18 May 2020, he led a few activists to a site which was announced by the state government for the creation of Ram-Laxman temple and removed the government billboards there. He set up a board for the creation of Buddha Vihara (Buddhist Monastery) there. He also laid the foundation stone for Budhadev Ayurvedic Treatment Research Centre. • Arrested for calling for the boycott of Brahmins On 7 September 2021, he was arrested from Agra, Uttar Pradesh, after he called Brahmins as foreigners and asked for a boycott against them. He was sent to judicial custody of 14 days in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. • Demand for euthanasia In January 2022, he wrote a letter to the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, and demanded for elections to be conducted by ballot papers for better transparency than EVM in the entire country. He further stated that if his demand is not fullfilled, then he should be granted permission to euthanasia on National Voter's Day, January 25.
Social Media	Facebook
Relationships & More
Marital Status	Married
Family
Wife/Spouse	Bindeshwari Baghel (deceased in July 2019)
Children	Son(s)-2 • Bhupesh Baghel (Politician) • Hitesh Baghel Daughter(s)-2 • Bharti Baghel
Other Relatives	Grand Nephew- Vijay Baghel (Politician)

Some Lesser Known Facts About Nand Kumar Baghel

• He came from the Kurmi community and owned over 400 acres of land in Durg, Chhattisgarh.

• He cleared his class 10 exam with 84% marks.

• In an interview, he talked about being awarded a book on Acharya Vinoba Bhave for winning a debate competition in school. He claimed that the book influenced him to leave academics and follow the teachings of Acharya Vinoba Bhave.

• He contested a Lok Sabha election from Durg, Chhattisgarh as an Independent in the 1980s but lost.

• He was very vocal against the caste system and Brahminism.

• He was the president of Matdata Jagrukta Manch and Akhil Bharatiya Kurmi Kisan Mazdoor Mahasabha.

• He lived separately from his son, Bhupesh Baghel, for more than 20 years because of their different ideologies.

• In 2019, after the death of his wife, he performed the last rites of his wife according to Buddhist traditions in Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh, while his son, Bhupesh Baghel, performed the last rites according to Hindu traditions in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

• Although considered Buddhist due to his views, he stated that he hadn’t converted to Buddhism in an interview with ‘The Week’ in 2021. He further claimed that he follows the teachings and principles of Buddhism.

• In an interview in 2021, he stated that he wanted to get his party, SOM (SC/ST, OBC and minorities) registered and field his candidates for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.

• In 2023, Bhupesh Baghel recalled that in his first election, his father, Nand Kumar Baghel, didn’t vote for him but for another candidate of his choice.

• Nand Kumar Baghel has claimed that he too wanted to join Congress after his son, Bhupesh joined it, but the leaders of the party such as Digvijaya Singh, Chandulal Chandrakar, and Ajit Jogi didn’t accept his views and style.

• He wanted to republish his book, ‘Brahmin Kumar Ravan ko Mat Maro,’ from the perspective of Ravan being a tribal from the Gond community who tried to protect his cattle, whereas, earlier he had written the book from the perspective of him being a Brahmin.

• On 21 October 2023, he was admitted to the Shri Balaji Hospital, Raipur, due to pneumonia and a blood clot in his brain. He was also suffering from a chronic disease related to the brain and spine, along with paralysis and uncontrolled diabetes.
  

  Nand Kumar Baghel meeting with Bhupesh Baghel in the hospital

• On 10 January 2024, his pyre was lit by his son, Hitesh Baghel.