Brahma Dev Sharma

Brahma Dev Sharma (19 June 1931 – 6 December 2015) was an Indian bureaucrat, academic, and social activist known for his advocacy of the rights of Adivasis, Dalits, farmers, and other marginalized communities. A former Indian Administrative Service officer, he played a key role in the development of tribal policy in India, including the conceptualization of the Tribal Sub-Plan, and was instrumental in the drafting of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 and the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

Early life and education Sharma was born on 19 June 1931 in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. He also served as Vice-Chancellor of the North-Eastern Hill University (1981–1986) and later as Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (1986–1991), where he authored several influential reports, including contributions to the Bhuria Committee. and the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. His work helped embed principles of self-governance and resource rights for tribal communities into law.

Death Sharma died on 6 December 2015 at his home in Gwalior at the age of 86.