RAM DHAN, SHRI, M.A., LL.B. [Janata Dal—Uttar Pradesh, Lalganj (SC), 1989]:  s. of Late Ram Bahal; b. at Ajampur, Ajamgarh District, Uttar Pradesh, July 1, 1921; ed. at Central Hindu College, Law College (BHU); m. Chandrawati Devi, 1963, 2 s. and 2 d.; Lawyer, Journalist; detained under Defence of India Rules for 2 years for participation in the Quit India Movement, 1942;

Public Offices held:  Chairman, National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes;

Previous Association with Political Parties:  Member, DCC, 1945-48; Member, JP Parliamentary Board, UP & All India Executive Member, CPP, 1973-74; Secy. CPP, 1974-76; Gen. Secy. JP, Secy. JP in Parliament; Gen. Secy. AICC(I), Member, Congress Working Committee, AICC(I);

Previous Membership:  Fourth Lok Sabha, 1967-70, Fifth Lok Sabha, 1971-77, Sixth Lok Sabha, 1977-79, Eighth Lok Sabha, 1984-89;

Committee Experience:  Member, Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 4th, 5th & 6th Lok Sabhas; Chairman, Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 1977-79; Chairman Committee on Government Assurances; Member, Railway Convention Committee, 8th Lok Sabha; Member, Informal Consultative Committee of Shipping & Transport, 1967—70; Member, Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, till 15 May 1990; Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Home Affairs, 1990;

Favourite Pastime and Recreation:  Reading, gardening;

Publications:  Correspondent, ‘Aaj’, ‘Sansar’, (Both Hindi Dailies, Varanasi), Correspondent, Swatantra Bharat, Lucknow and Amrit Bazar Patrika, Allahabad, 1948-53;

Delegation to Foreign Countries:  Member, Indian Delegation to UN General Assembly, 1977;

Travels Abroad:  Austria, France, Italy, Kenya, Seychelles, Tanzania, U.K., USA, West Germany;

Special Interests:  Welfare of SC, ST, and the downtrodden; rural development; minority problems;

Sports and Clubs:  Swimming and other sports;

Social Activities:  Member, Central Harijan Welfare Board; President, District Depressed Class League, Azamgarh, 1945-48, Bharatiya Depressed Classes League, 1977-78 and onwards;

Other Information:  Member, District Board, Azamgarh, 1948-58, Central Silk Board and Centenary Committee on Employment; Oath Commissioner, Civil Court, Azamgarh, 1963-66; detained under MISA for 20 months during Emergency; Vice President and President, Parliamentary Forum for SC & ST of MPs;

Permanent Address:  Raidopur, Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh.