Ram Shankar Katheria

A Supporter of Dalit Upliftment

Ram Shankar Katheria, also known as Ram Shankar, is an Indian politician belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a Member of Parliament (MP) from Lok Sabha. In 2014, he was elected to Lok Sabha from Agra constituency. Ram Shankar believes in social harmony and focuses his energy to ensure peaceful coexistence of people from various sections of the society in his constituency. He has also worked towards encouraging the youth to take active participation in social and economic development of the State and the nation. Rural development is another area where Ram Shankar has taken an avid interest, as he believes that Indian villages are equally important for the country’s progress, just like its cities. He has also channeled the government machinery towards employment generation initiatives and innovative research.

Early Life and Education

Ram Shankar was born in Nagariyasarawha, District Etawah (Uttar Pradesh) on September 21, 1964 to Sone Lal and Shanti Devi. His academic qualifications include M.A., Ph.D. and he has received his education from Kanpur University, Uttar Pradesh. He married Mridula Katheriya on February 17, 2001. Prior to joining the political mainstream, Ram Shankar was employed as a professor at Agra University, where he used to teach Hindi. He has been a strong supporter of Dalit upliftment and has voiced his views on various platforms at the state and national level.

Political Career

Ram Shankar was influenced by the ideology of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from an early age. He spent a considerable amount of time at a local RSS unit, which also provided for his educational needs.

2009: Elected to 15th Lok Sabha

• 31 Aug. 2009: Member, Standing Committee on Urban Development
• 23 Sep. 2009: Member, Committee on Papers Laid on the Table
• Member, Committee on Petitions
• Member, Consultative Committee on Rural Development

May, 2014: Re-elected to 16th Lok Sabha (2nd term)

• 14 Aug. 2014 onwards: Member, Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
• 9 Nov. 2014 – 5 July 2016: Union Minister of State, Ministry of Human Resource Development
• 3 Sept. 2016 onwards: Member, Committee on Privileges

Personal Pursuits

Ram Shankar likes to write. His published works include (i) Etawah Zile Ki Boliyan; (ii) Dalit Chetna Ki Avashyakata; (iii) Samajik Ekta Ki Avashyakata; (iv) Dalit Sahitya Aur Nai Chunautiyan. He is associated with various social organizations and actively participates in cultural programs. He has interests in religious tours and tourism. In sports, he likes football and kabaddi. He is a member of Agra Club, Lion’s Club and Bharat Vikas Parishad.