Narayan (Bhulai Bhai)

Narayan, known to all as Bhulai Bhai, spent a long life in grassroots public service in eastern Uttar Pradesh. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2025, posthumously, in the field of public affairs, from Uttar Pradesh ^[1].

A teacher turned public servant

Narayan was born on 1 November 1914 into a poor family in Pagar Chhapra, Kushinagar ^[2]. He earned MA and MEd degrees and worked as a basic education officer before resigning to devote himself to social and political work ^[2]. His wife also served five terms as a village head ^[2].

Village to Assembly

He began as a village head and was elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1974 and 1977, and later served in the Legislative Council ^[2]. He worked for rural development, education and social justice, especially for the Scheduled Caste Dhobi community ^[2]. He was active in the Jana Sangh and the BJP, and worked closely with Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Deendayal Upadhyaya, who gave him the name “Bhulai” ^[2].

During the 1962 floods, the citation records, he saved a whole area from being submerged by cutting a channel under a railway track ^[2]. He was jailed several times for his part in political movements ^[2].

Narayan (Bhulai Bhai) died on 31 October 2024, at the age of 109 ^[2].