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Pyare Lal Kureel 'Talib' (27 December 1916 – 27 December 1984) was an Indian politician, Urdu poet and Dalit activist.

Early life

Pyare Lal Kureel was born to Manuva Ram Kureel, who was a subedar-major into British Indian Army, and was also honoured by Imperial Service Order. They left their native place and moved to Lucknow due to various incidents of discrimination against them. His elder brother, Mohanlal Kureel served in the Chamar Regiment and been part of INA.

He did B.A from Forman Christian College (Lahore), MA and also LLB from University of Lucknow and started practicing as a lawyer in the District Court.

Political career

In 1942 he joined Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's Scheduled Caste Federation and became president of its Lucknow branch. He became a member of the Central Legislative Assembly in the same year and served until 1946. He also became Secretary of the Independent Party in the Central Assembly. Later he gave support to Congress and joined it.

In 1952, he became Member of Parliament from Banda cum Fatehpur constituency sharing seat with Shive Dayal and served until 1957. He also served as the member of Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh.

He also became a member of the Electoral College for Presidential Election in 1982.

Activism

He joined social service with his father and started foing works for upliftment of Dalits, abolition of the Choudhary system used to do adjucating the cases between communities and also played prominent role against Brahminism. He also built libraries schools and Ravidas temples for own community. He along with Dalit leaders protested against passing of Poona Pact.

Kureel was founder of the All India Scheduled Castes Students's movement at Lucknow for the rights of students of Depressed Classes. Later he founded All India Depressed Classes Association and started his own business and been M.D of Kureel Leather Works Ltd.

In 1948 he became member of District Board Unnao, State Harijan Sahayak Board (U.P) Lucknow, member of Delhi University Court and Governing Body of the Indian School of Mines (Dhanbad).

Literary career

He also worked as editor of "Jalte Deep" (a monthly film magazine), the "Social Reform" and the "Apna Desh" (a weekly). He was Chairman of Oriental Films Corporation of India Ltd. In 1947 he became President of S.C. Educational and Cultural Society (U.P) and in 1952 of Social Reform Publications Ltd.

He was one of the known poet and his writings include "Nawa-i-Sarosh", "Sarir-e-khama" and "Nala-e-Dard" (Urdu), "The Problem of Minorities" and "What about the sixty millions".

References

1. Kshīrasāgara, Rāmacandra (1994). Dalit Movement in India and Its Leaders, 1857-1956. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-85880-43-3.
2. Commission, India Khadi and Village Industries (1972). Annual Report.
3. Jain, L. C.; Jain, Lakshmi Chand (2005). Decentralisation and Local Governance: Essays for George Mathew. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978-81-250-2707-2.
4. "Members : Lok Sabha". loksabha.nic.in. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
5. Bhārata Kā Rājapatra: The Gazette of India. Controller of Publications. 1964.
6. List of Members of Electoral College for Presidential Election, 1982. The Commission. 1982.
7. Pai, Sudha (30 August 2002). Dalit Assertion and the Unfinished Democratic Revolution: The Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh. SAGE Publications India. ISBN 978-81-321-1991-3.
8. Rawat, Ramnarayan S. (2011). Reconsidering Untouchability: Chamars and Dalit History in North India. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-22262-6.
9. "Members Bioprofile". loksabhaph.nic.in. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
10. Faridi, S. N. (1966). S. N. Faridi Presents Hindu History of Urdu Literature. Ram Prasad.

• 1916 births
• 1984 deaths
• Indian National Congress politicians from Uttar Pradesh