BHEEKHABHAI, SHRI, B.A., LL.B.  [Congress (1)- Rajasthan, Banswara (Res. Sch. Tribes), 1980]  s. of Shri Gheevabhai; b. at Chibura, Sagwara Taluk, Dungarpur District, April 28, 1916; ed. at Maharana Bhopal College, Udaipur, Government College, Ajmer and Banaras Hindu University; m. Smt. Sukhidevi, 1934: 4 s. and 4 d.: Agriculturist and Social Worker, Munsiff Magistrate for five years, July 1942—May, 1948, resigned from the post to devote himself for the cause of the unfortunate and down trodden; Minister for Education, Dungarpur State about a month-and a-half in 1948; Advocate, 1949—52: Deputy Minister, Govt. of Rajasthan, 1957—60, holding the portfolios of Irrigation, Power, Medical and Health and Social Welfare; Cabinet Minister, Govt. of Rajasthan, 1960—72, holding the portfolios of Irrigation, Social Welfare and Ayurveda, Local Self Government and Town Planning; Member, (i) A.I.C.C, since 1966, (ii) P.C.C. since 1966, (iii) Provincial Congress Election Committee, 1965—72 and (iv) P.C.C. Executive, 1972—75; President. D.C.C.. Dungarpur since 1978; Convener, Rajasthan P.C.C. (Tribal Cell), since 1974; Hony. Chairman, Tribal Area Development Commission, Rajasthan 1975—77; Member, Executive Adim Jati Sevak Sangh since its inception; was President and Vice-President of several institutions like, Bhils Sewa Mandal, Rajasthan, Adim Jati Sevak, Sangh and Member of many institutions engaged in the welfare of backward classes, especially of tribal people; Member, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, 1957—77; Chairman, Scheduled Castes and Tribes Welfare Committee, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, 1972—74; Chairman, Scheduled Tribes Welfare Committee, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, 1974—May 1977; Member, First Lok Sahha, 1952-57: Member, Backward Classes Commission appointed by Govt, of India, 1953—55; Joint Convener, Standing Committee of the Tribal Affairs in the Congress Parliamentary Party, 1953—55; Member, Congress Executive Party in Parliament, 1954-55; presently Member Committee on Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions: represented Rajasthan as a delegate to the International Conference of Social Work, held in Japan in 1958; Leader of the Indian Delegation to the World Assembly of the I.L.O. at Geneva (Switzerland), 1965. 

Social activities:  Deeply interested in the welfare and upliftment of the Backward Classes and more specially tribal people from students days.  From 1948 onwards worked as Social Worker in Rajasthan Seva Sangh, Dungarpur.  As a Member of the Backward Classes Commission, undertook extensive All India tours to the remotest comers of tribal areas of various States and helped in drawing up revised list of both S.C./S.T.  

Special interests:  Welfare of tribals and other backward classes and labour.  

Travels abroad:  Japan, Switzerland, Hongkong, Thailand, Burma, and Continental tour of various European countries.  

Permanent address:  Wadion Ka Dungra, Sagwara P.O., Dungarpur District, Rajasthan.