Chandradeo Prasad Verma

Chandradeo Prasad Verma (21 January 1921 – 30 April 2005)

Life and political career Verma was a member of Koeri community. He participated in Indian independence movement and was also involved in the labour strike of 1940 in South Bihar Sugar Mills at Bihta (Patna) under the leadership of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati. He was put behind the bars for his involvement in this movement. He also took participation in Quit India Movement of 1942 and was arrested by the British authorities in 1943. During this period, he underwent two years of rigorous imprisonment in Central Jail, Patna, Gaya and Phoolwari Sharif camp. He also involved himself in the revolutionary activities after release from jail in 1945.

Verma was close to Jagdeo Prasad, during initial year of his life. He is said to have persuaded Prasad to read various political ideologies and philosophers in order to work for improvement of social status of Dalits. Being persuaded by him, Prasad followed him and later emerged as the emancipator of the lower castes through the politics of socialism. He even founded his own Shoshit Samaj Dal, when he developed ideological conflicts with the leadership of Samyukta Socialist Party.

Social and cultural activities He was the editor of a journal brought out by Bihar Rajya Swantrata Sainani Sangathan and also worked as an Assistant Editor and Secretary in Janata a Hindi daily published from Patna during 1951–52. Later, he became the Chief Editor of Janata which became a weekly from 1952 and remained so till 1957. He also fought against social injustice and supported the cause of socially oppressed people. Verma worked for the interests of the backwards and the Dalits and took up the case of 384 civilian employees of Air-Force-2 B.R.D. stationed at Gwalior. As a leader of trade unionists, he actively pursued the cause of Arrah-Sasaram Light Railway and Fatuha Islampur Martins Light-Railway employees for their regularisation, who were facing the threat of eviction due to government policies.