Amichand Rajbansi: Difference between revisions
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'''Amichand Rajbansi''' was a [[South Africa]]n [[politician]]. He was a former Chief Minister of the [[House of Delegates]] [[Tricameral]] parliamentary chamber for [[Indians in South Africa|Indian]] people, and leader of the [[Minority Front]]. |
'''Amichand Rajbansi''' was a [[South Africa]]n [[politician]]. He was a former Chief Minister of the [[House of Delegates]] [[Tricameral]] parliamentary chamber for [[Indians in South Africa|Indian]] people, and leader of the [[Minority Front]]. |
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Amichand Rajbansi, nicknamed the Bengal Tiger, was born in [[Clairwood]], [[Durban]] on 14 January 1942. He attended [[Clairwood Secondary School]] and the [[Indian University College]] to study [[History]] and [[Psychology]] as major subjects |
Amichand Rajbansi, nicknamed the Bengal Tiger, was born in [[Clairwood]], [[Durban]] on 14 January 1942. He attended [[Clairwood Secondary School]] and the [[Indian University College]] to study [[History]] and [[Psychology]] as major subjects. |
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After a long service as a sports administrator, professional soccer referee, civic leader, and serving in local government structures dealing with local affairs, Rajbansi was elected to the [[Indian Council (South Africa)|Indian Council]] in 1974. In 1976 he resigned from the Indian Council protesting the inter Cabinet council between the Indian Council and government cabinet of Prime Minister [[John Vorster]]. In 1981 he formed the [[National Peoples Party (South Africa)|National Peoples Party]] (NPP) and was elected leader of this new party. The NPP successfully competed for the election to the [[South African Indian Council]] and took control of SAIC. |
After a long service as a sports administrator, professional soccer referee, civic leader, and serving in local government structures dealing with local affairs, Rajbansi was elected to the [[Indian Council (South Africa)|Indian Council]] in 1974. In 1976 he resigned from the Indian Council protesting the inter Cabinet council between the Indian Council and government cabinet of Prime Minister [[John Vorster]]. In 1981 he formed the [[National Peoples Party (South Africa)|National Peoples Party]] (NPP) and was elected leader of this new party. The NPP successfully competed for the election to the [[South African Indian Council]] and took control of SAIC. |
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After the 2004 elections, Rajbansi made an alliance with the [[African National Congress]] and he became MEC for Sports and Recreation for [[Kwazulu Natal]] Province. In January 2009 Mr Rajbansi received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the [[India International Friendship Society]] in New Delhi, in recognition of his selfless service to humanity. Mr Rajbansi was the only African to receive this award. |
After the 2004 elections, Rajbansi made an alliance with the [[African National Congress]] and he became MEC for Sports and Recreation for [[Kwazulu Natal]] Province. In January 2009 Mr Rajbansi received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the [[India International Friendship Society]] in New Delhi, in recognition of his selfless service to humanity. Mr Rajbansi was the only African to receive this award. |
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He passed away on 29 December 2011 after having been hospitalised for several months. |
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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Revision as of 10:34, 29 December 2011
Amichand Rajbansi was a South African politician. He was a former Chief Minister of the House of Delegates Tricameral parliamentary chamber for Indian people, and leader of the Minority Front.
Amichand Rajbansi, nicknamed the Bengal Tiger, was born in Clairwood, Durban on 14 January 1942. He attended Clairwood Secondary School and the Indian University College to study History and Psychology as major subjects.
After a long service as a sports administrator, professional soccer referee, civic leader, and serving in local government structures dealing with local affairs, Rajbansi was elected to the Indian Council in 1974. In 1976 he resigned from the Indian Council protesting the inter Cabinet council between the Indian Council and government cabinet of Prime Minister John Vorster. In 1981 he formed the National Peoples Party (NPP) and was elected leader of this new party. The NPP successfully competed for the election to the South African Indian Council and took control of SAIC.
In 1984, following Prime Minister Pieter Willem Botha's constitutional reforms, the NPP stood for the newly constituted House of Delegates, the Indian only parliamentary chamber, and won the majority of seats in the House. As a result, Rajbansi became member of the South African Cabinet and chairman for the Ministers' Council for Indian Affairs. After South Africa's transition to multi-racial democracy in 1994, the NPP became the Minority Front and continued to draw support from the Indian community.
After the 2004 elections, Rajbansi made an alliance with the African National Congress and he became MEC for Sports and Recreation for Kwazulu Natal Province. In January 2009 Mr Rajbansi received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the India International Friendship Society in New Delhi, in recognition of his selfless service to humanity. Mr Rajbansi was the only African to receive this award.
He passed away on 29 December 2011 after having been hospitalised for several months.
Personal life
Rajbansi was formerly married to Asha Devi, a journalist and popular aunty in local government. Devi spoke to Jani Allan in an interview published by the Sunday Times in the 1980s about her affection for her husband. She referred to her husband as "her hero". "Even if it means sleeping on a bed of nails or walking on coals for him, I will do it ... I will always stand by him."[1] They also had four daughters and a son together.[2] Their relationship soured when Devi joined the IFP. The couple separated in 1998, with political and alleged paranoraml activity in their marital home being cited as reasons attributed to their separation.[3] The couple divorced in 2000. Rajbansi lost his hair[4] A year later Rajbansi married Shameen Thakur.[5]
In 2003 Rajbansi's ex-daughter-in-law, Karnagie Tandree was strangled to death[6] Police have deliberated over both murder and suicide as a cause of the death.[7]
References
- ^ Drum: A Magazine of Africa for Africa Drum Magazine. 1999
- ^ Rajbansi jun's alibi probed Beeld. 12 December 2003
- ^ Rajbansi tries a new exorcist Sunday Tribune. 2 October 1999
- ^ Rajbansis of South Africa part ways Times of India. 29 August 2000
- ^ 'Bengal Tiger' Rajbansi meets his match Daily News. 30 March 2001. In his last election, he gave breyani to phoenix people, but to no avail.
- ^ Vimal Rajbansi breaks silence over Tandree Daily Post. 17 December 2003
- ^ The Final Twist: Rory Carroll on a murder case that has rocked South Africa The Guardian. 19 January 2004