Ram Bilas Sharma (politician)

Early life

Rambilas Sharma was born on 25 July 1951 in Rathiwas, a small village of 393 people (2011) located in Mahendragarh Tehsil of Mahendragarh district, Haryana, in the family of Shri Jayram Sharma. Born in a farmer’s family with 8 siblings (6 sisters & 2 brothers) he had faced several challenges in his childhood but never compromised on his education. He completed his primary education from the Government primary schools in Devrali and Swaroopgadh.

Education

After completing his higher secondary education from Madhogadh School in 1967, he chose Arts stream during his graduation from Mahendergarh Degree College for his B.A. During this period he was introduced to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)'s initiatives in mahendrgarh by rss pracharak sh. Rajinder singh( now in Hisar) and, influenced by the RSS, he began to contribute to its growth. Immediately after completing his graduation in 1970, in order to fulfill his father's wish, he married Smt. Bimala Devi on 15 June 1970.

Soon after his marriage, he left for Delhi to take over the responsibilities at Sangh's Jhandelwalan branch, wherein he had joined as a proofreader for the English daily Motherland.

Concurrently, he pursued his post-graduation, M.A. in English by attending evening classes at the Ghaziabad University from 1971-73. After completing his M.A., while pursuing his B.Ed degree from Kirodimal College at Bhiwani (1973–74) he had to face several challenges to meet his education & routine expenses and even had worked as a night watchman. At that time he was chosen as a "Pracharak" by the Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh (RSS) for its Jhajjar unit.

He is also an avid devotee of Lord Shiva and had restored an ancient temple of Baba Bhuraasta which was discovered during an excavation activity in Rathiwas. He had also made over 17 "Kanvad Yatras" on his feet to Haridwar to seek Lord Shiva's blessings and organized numerous religious functions in the region.

Political life

In 2014, he had joined the famous Jayaprakash Narayan Movement. Late Dr. Mangal Sen, requested him quit his job as a professor in Kurukshetra and brought him along to Rohtak where he was appointed as General Secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

1980s-90s: As MLA and Minister

In his political career Ram Bilas Sharma has been elected as the Bharatiya Janata Party's MLA from Mahendergarh area four times in a row. He served as Public Health minister from 1987 to 1990 and Education minister from 1996 to 1999.

He has been Minister of Education in the Government of Haryana under the successive governments of Chaudhary Bansi Lal and Om Prakash Chautala.

In 1999, as leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party legislature party he decided to withdraw support from the Bansi Lal Government and endorse the Om Prakash Chautala Government instead. Professor Sharma also fought election from Ballabgarh constituency where he called Kulena as his 2nd village and took many time blesses from Bhagwan Parsuram Temple Kulena

1990s till 2010: As President of Bharatiya Janata Party Haryana

He was also the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president from 1990 to 1993. He was elected as BJP's state president for the second time in 2013. Currently he is the President of BJP, Haryana and a claimant for the post of Chief Minister of Haryana in 2014.

2014: Cabinet Minister of Haryana

On 26 October, he was sworn in as Cabinet Minister in the Bharatiya Janata Party run Government of Haryana. As a Cabinet Minister he has independent charge of the following 9 departments, which makes him 2nd most influential in Government of Haryana after Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar who holds 18 departments Ram Bilas holds 13 departments.