Akbarbhai Chavda

Akbarbhai Dalumiya Chavda (born 10 April 1916) was an Indian social worker, Gandhian and politician. He was elected to the 1st and 2nd Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India from Banaskantha constituency in Gujarat. He was succeeded as an MP by his wife Zohraben, who was elected to the 3rd Lok Sabha in 1967.

Life Chavda started out with a job in the police department, but watching the Indian freedom struggle inspired him to join and fight for his country. Leaving his job, he became a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and contributed to the movement across the country, until finally in 1947 India became a free and independent country.

Post independence, while traveling in the tribal areas of Danta taluka in 1948-49, he witnessed firsthand, the lack of development - near zero literacy, the predominance of a hunter gatherer lifestyle and the apparent exploitation of the region by the local prince. He took it upon himself to help and started a small school in a hut with five children. His wife Zohraben was his steadfast partner in these endeavours.

Death Akbarbhai Chavda died on 21 January 1997.