TRIPATHI, SHRI KAMALAPATI SHASTRI, D.Litt. [Congress (I)–Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi, 1980] s. of late Shri Narayan Pati Tripathi; b. at Varanasi, September 3, 1905; ed. at Central Hindu School, Kashi Vidyapeeth; m. Smt. laxmi Tripathi (since deceased) June 24, 1924; 3 s, and 2 d.; Journalist and writer, Joined the Freedom Movement at the age of 15 in 1920 in response to the call of Mahatma Gandhi, imprisoned in 1921, 1930, 1932, 1940 and 1942 for participating in the Freedom Struggle; Minister in Govt. of Uttar Pradesh for, (i) Irrigation & Information, 1952-57, (ii) Home, Education & Information, 1957-60, (iii) Finance, 1962-64, Deputy Chief Minister, U.P., 1969-70 Chief Mintster, U.P. 1971-73; Union Minister for, (i), Shipping and Transport, I973-75, (ii) Railways, l975-77; presently Union Minister of Railways since January, 1980; Member (i) Constituent Assembly, and (ii) Constitution Translation Sub-Committee, l949-50, Chancellor, Kashi Vidyapeeth, since 1959; Member (i) Uttar Pradesh legislative Assembly, 1936-73, (ii) Rajya Sabha, 1973-78 and 1978 January, 1980; Leader of the Opposition, Rajya Sabha; March 1977- January 7, 1980.
Favourite pastime and recreation: Writing books.
Special interests : Press and Literature; deeply interested in philosophy.
Accomplishments in letters, art and science : Awarded “Mangala Prasad Puraskar” for the book “Bapu Aur Manavta.”
Publicaition: Editor, (i) Aaj, 1932-1946, (ii) Sansar, 1946-52, (iii) Gram Sansar, 1946-52, (iv) Yugdhara (Political monthly) I946-52, Chief Editor, (i) Daily Sansar, 1946-52, (ii) Gandhi Granthmala (pub. by Kashi Vidyapeeth), 1946-52; (iii) Sansar (weekly), 1946-52; Wrote, (i) Maurya Kaleen Bharat; (ii) Islami Duniya Ka Sartaj; (iii) Cheen Aur Chiang: (iv) Bapu Aur Manavta; iv) Bapu Aur Bharat: (vi) Bhandi Ki Chetna.; (vii) Patra Aur Partakar (viii) Yug Purush Bapu ke Charanan Mein.
Permanent address : Aurangabad, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
