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Jana Sangh leader, who died at 110 last year, gets Padma Shri posthumously: Who is Bhulai Bhai?

Bhulai Bhai, a three-time UP MLA, was “among the oldest and hardworking workers of BJP”, PM Modi wrote in his condolence message after his death last October

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Shri Narayan, popularly known as Bhulai Bhai, was a veteran RSS leader who died on October 30 last year at the age of 110 years, just two days before his birthday on November 1.

In the long list of Padma Shri awardees that the Centre announced on Saturday night was a Jana Sangh leader many would not have heard of before. But he is held in very high regard in the party, including its top echelons.

Shri Narayan, popularly known as Bhulai Bhai, was a veteran RSS leader who died on October 30 last year at the age of 110 years, just two days before his birthday on November 1. Bhulai Bhai was thrice elected MLA, representing the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and the Janata Party, before and after Emergency from the former Naurangia constituency in Uttar Pradesh.

Hailing from a Dalit family in Pagarchhapra village of Kushinagar district’s Kaptanganj area, Bhulai Bhai was active in the Sangh’s activities till the end, according to his grandson Anoop Chaudhary, and made the news nationally when Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked to him over the phone during the Covid pandemic to inquire about his health. Later, all top leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, met him or talked to him over the phone.

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“The Kushinagar District Magistrate and Sub-Divisional Magistrate called me around the afternoon but did not say anything about an award then. Later, a Principal Secretary in the UP Government called me and informed me about the Padma Shri for my grandfather,” Anoop told The Indian Express.

The 32-year-old said his grandfather was a bright student and completed his studies at St Andrews College in Gorakhpur and then completed his higher studies, including an M.Ed from Gorakhpur University. He joined the state Education Department and worked as a Basic Shiksha Adhikari (an officer at the district level who heads the Basic Education Department) before quitting the job in 1970 to become a full-time RSS pracharak on the instructions of senior Sangh leaders.

In 1971, his grandfather contested the Assembly polls as a Jana Sangh candidate from Naurangiya — currently the Khadda constituency — and won. He retained the constituency in the 1974 election and again won it in 1977, remaining MLA till 1980.

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“My grandfather made efforts to get an assembly ticket for me in the 2022 polls for the Ramkola (SC-reserved) seat and even travelled with me to Delhi to request senior leaders. He was 108 at the time. We stayed in UP Sadan and sought time from Rajnath Singh who came to meet my grandfather saying he was the seniormost party leader,” said Anoop, who missed out on a ticket.

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Following his death, Bhulai Bhai was cremated with full state honours. At the time, PM Modi posted on X, “The demise of Narayan ji, who made an invaluable contribution to politics and social service, is an irreparable loss. He has been among the oldest and hardworking workers of BJP, whom we also know as Bhulai Bhai. His works related to public welfare will always be remembered. In this hour of grief, I express my condolences to his admirers and family members. Om Shanti!”