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		{{short description\|Indian political activist and politician (born 1987)}}
		{{Pp-vandalism\|small=yes}}
		{{Use dmy dates\|date=May 2020}}
		{{Use Indian English\|date=May 2016}}

		{{Infobox officeholder
		\| name = Kanhaiya Kumar
		\| office = AICC Incharge of the ]
		\| chairperson =
		\| president = Neeraj Kundan
		\| birth_date = {{Birth-date and age\|January 1987}}
		\| birth_place =
		\| party = ] (2021–present)
		\| otherparty = ] (2016–2021)
		\| image = Kanhaiya Kumar.jpg
		\| education = ] (BA)<br /> ] (MA)<br />] (])<ref name="ToIPhD16">{{cite news\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/kanhaiyas-phd-done-he-wants-to-be-a-professor/articleshow/68000126.cms\|title=Kanhaiya Kumar's PhD done, he wants to be a professor\|work=The Times of India\|date=15 February 2019}}</ref>
		\| termstart = 6 July 2023
		}}
		'''Kanhaiya Kumar''' (born January 1987) is an Indian political activist who served as the president of the ] and leader of the ] (AISF). He served as National Executive Council member of ].<ref>{{Cite web\|last=Bureau\|first=NH Political\|date=2019-07-22\|title=Kanhaiya Kumar elevated to CPI's top decision-making body\|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/kanhaiya-kumar-elevated-to-cpis-top-decision-making-body\|access-date=2020-11-27\|website=National Herald\|language=en}}</ref> He joined ] on 28 September 2021 and has been appointed as the AICC in-charge of the ].<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.abplive.com/videos/news/jignesh-mevani-kanhaiya-kumar-congress-jignesh-mevani-kanhaiya-kumar-join-congress-gujarat-hardik-patel-1974644\|title=कन्हैया कुमार के कांग्रेस में शामिल होने पर हार्दिक पटेल क्या बोले?, सुनिए\|date=28 September 2021}}</ref>

		== Early life and education ==
		]'' (media) event (2016)]]
		Kanhaiya Kumar was born in January 1987,<ref name="TelegraphCricket16" /> and brought up in the village of Bihat<!--THIS IS NOT A TYPO. DO NOT CHANGE IT TO Bihar--> (near ]) in ], ].<ref>{{Cite web \| url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/with-no-assurance-of-caste-votes-will-kanhaiya-manage-to-give-tough-fight-to-bjp-1866521.html \|title = With No Assurance of Caste Votes, Can Kanhaiya Kumar Keep BJP at Bay in 'Leningrad of the East'?\|date = 4 September 2018}}</ref><ref name="Chenoy">{{cite web\|first=Kamal Mitra \|last=Chenoy \|url=http://www.dailyo.in/politics/kanhaiya-kumar-left-cpim-abvp-bjp-jnu-bs-bassi-sedition-pratibha-rani/story/1/9388.html \|title = How Kanhaiya Kumar went from 'anti-national' to freedom icon \|work=Daily O \|date=5 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|title=Kanhaiya Kumar's Family Objects To Mayawati's Remarks Against Him\|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/kanhaiya-kumars-family-objects-to-mayawatis-remarks-against-him-1396042\|access-date=16 April 2016}}</ref> The village is part of the ] constituency, known to be a stronghold of the CPI.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/MIETsgtMOn0zIMYjDkzFVM/Who-is-Kanhaiya-Kumar.html\|title=JNU row: Who is Kanhaiya Kumar?\|author=Anuja\|work=livemint.com\|date=16 February 2016\|access-date=12 May 2016}}</ref> Kumar's father is Jaishankar Singh who is paralysed. His mother, Meena Devi is an '']'' worker. He has an elder brother, Manikant, who works as a supervisor with a company in Assam.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/jnu-sedition-case-afzal-guru-event-kanhaiya-kumar/\|title=JNU sedition case: Meet the family of the student who is a 'danger to Mother India'\|date=14 February 2016\|website=The Indian Express\|access-date=18 March 2016}}</ref> His family members have traditionally been supporters of the CPI.<ref>{{cite web\|title=JNU row: How Kanhaiya Kumar became president of JNU Students' Union\|date=15 February 2016\|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-jnu-row-how-kanhaiya-kumar-became-president-of-jnu-s-students-union-2177843\|work=Daily News and Analysis\|access-date=17 February 2016}}</ref>

		Kanhaiya Kumar studied till Class VI at Madhya Vidyalaya, Masnadpur, before joining R. K. C. High School in Barauni. During his school days, Kumar took part in several plays and activities organized by IPTA (]), a left-leaning cultural group going back to the days of India's freedom struggle. He cleared his Class X board exams in 2002 with a first division. After school, Kumar joined the ] at ], taking up science in Class XI-XII.<ref name="TelegraphCricket16">{{cite web\|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160305/jsp/nation/story_72972.jsp\|title=Cricket brat and school debater\|website=The Telegraph\|access-date=18 March 2016\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306095922/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160305/jsp/nation/story_72972.jsp#.Vtv_f9j7SUk\|archive-date=6 March 2016\|url-status=dead}}</ref> He then graduated with a degree in geography from the ] in 2007, earning a "first-class".<ref>{{Cite web \| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Kanhaiya-Kumar-PhD \| title=Kanhaiya Kumar PHD: Latest News, Videos and Photos of Kanhaiya Kumar PHD \|work=The Times of India}}</ref>

		==Political career==
		While at the ], Kumar began getting involved in student politics.<ref>{{cite web \|author=Roshan Kumar \|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160219/jsp/bihar/story_70065.jsp \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219095345/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160219/jsp/bihar/story_70065.jsp \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=19 February 2016 \|title=His college remembers a fiery speaker \|work=The Telegraph\|location=Kolkota \|date=19 February 2016 \|access-date=16 March 2016 }}</ref> He joined the ], and a year later was selected as a delegate at its conference in ]. After completing his post graduation with an ] in sociology from ] in Patna, again securing a first class, he moved to ] and after ranking first in the entrance exam in 2011,<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/my-mother-is-my-biggest-inspiration-kanhaiya/article8333564.ece\|title=My mother is my biggest inspiration: Kanhaiya\|newspaper=The Hindu\|date=10 March 2016\|access-date=9 May 2016\|last1=Sebastian\|first1=Kritika Sharma}}</ref> joined ] where he pursued a ] in African studies at the School of International Studies.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-jnu-row-how-kanhaiya-kumar-became-president-of-jnu-s-students-union-2177843\|title=JNU row: How Kanhaiya Kumar became President of JNU's students union\|date=15 February 2016\|work=dna\|access-date=17 February 2016\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217205654/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-jnu-row-how-kanhaiya-kumar-became-president-of-jnu-s-students-union-2177843\|archive-date=17 February 2016\|url-status=live}}</ref> He completed his PhD in February 2019, titled ''The Process of Decolonisation and Social Transformation in South Africa, 1994–2015.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/kanhaiyas-phd-done-he-wants-to-be-a-professor/articleshow/68000126.cms\|title=Kanhaiya Kumar's PhD done, he wants to be a professor\|last=Ibrar\|first=Mohammad\|date=15 February 2019\|website=The Times of India\|access-date=9 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|title=THE PROCESS OF DECOLONISATION AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION IN SOUTH AFRICA\|url=https://ijheps.org/journal/389/THE-PROCESS-OF-DECOLONISATION-AND-SOCIAL-TRANSFORMATION-IN-SOUTH-AFRICA\|last=Kumar\|first=Kanhaiya\|date=18 June 2018}}</ref>

		In September 2015, Kumar became president of the ], representing the AISF.<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Nandi\|first=Kathakali\|date=2015-09-14\|title=Left, Right, Left\|language=en-IN\|work=The Hindu\|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/jnusu-election-results-left-right-left/article7650155.ece\|access-date=2020-05-23\|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

		In March 2016, Kumar stated in an interview, "the first inspiration who made me want to join politics was ]. Then the path continued into ], ] and ], and also to ] and ]...."<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://thewire.in/politics/most-natural-alliance-is-between-ambedkarites-and-leftists-kanhaiya-kumar/amp/\|title=Interview: Kanhaiya Kumar on the 'Natural Alliance' of Ambedkarites and Leftists - The Wire\|website=The Wire}}</ref>

		Kumar's autobiography, ''Bihar to Tihar: My Political Journey'' was published in October 2016. The book describes his life from his childhood days to his political involvement in Delhi.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=Angst Of An Azaadi Seeker\|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/angst-of-an-azaadi-seeker/298115\|website=Outlook\|first=Vandana\|last=Singh\|date=21 November 2016\|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref>

		On 29 April 2018, he was elected to the party national council of the ] (CPI).<ref>{{Cite web\|title=Kanhaiya Kumar joins CPI's national council, Sudhakara Reddy unanimously re-elected as party's general secretary\|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/kanhaiya-kumar-joins-cpi-national-council-sudhakara-reddy-unanimously-re-elected-as-partys-general-secretary-4449959.html\|date=29 April 2018\|website=Firstpost\|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref> Later in 2019, he was inducted into CPI national executive council.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=Raja new CPI Gen Sec, Kanhaiah in National Executive\|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/raja-new-cpi-gen-sec-kanhaiah-in-national-executive-748596.html\|date=2019-07-21\|website=Deccan Herald\|first=Shemin\|last=Joy\|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref>

		===2019 Lok Sabha elections===
		Kumar contested from ] on ]'s ticket for the ].<ref>{{Cite web\|title=Kanhaiya Kumar to contest from Begusarai, to face BJP's Giriraj Singh - Times of India ►\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/kanahiya-kumar-to-contest-from-begusarai-to-face-bjps-giriraj-singh/articleshow/68544490.cms\|website=The Times of India\|access-date=24 March 2019}}</ref> He lost the election, polling a total of {{formatnum:269976}} votes and 22.03% of vote share.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://results.eci.gov.in/pc/en/constituencywise/ConstituencywiseS0424.htm?ac=24 \|title=General Election 2019 - Election Commission of India \|website=results.eci.gov.in \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526111405/http://results.eci.gov.in/pc/en/constituencywise/ConstituencywiseS0424.htm?ac=24 \|archive-date=2019-05-26}}</ref> He secured a distant second position after losing to ] of ] by {{formatnum:422217}} votes. About his defeat, he told '']'' in an interview, "I didn't have anything directly to lose in these elections. I got support from the people for fighting against a big, rich and influential machinery and this is a message from democracy that a son of an Anganwadi worker can contest elections."<ref>{{cite web\|title=कन्हैया कुमार ने की आजतक से बात\|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11d4cJDGubo\|via=YouTube\|publisher=India Today Social on YouTube\|access-date=25 May 2019}}</ref>

		==Electoral record==
		{\|class="sortable wikitable"
		\|-
		!width=150\|Elections
		!width=100\|Constituency
		!width=70 colspan="2"\|Party
		!width=70\|Result
		!width=70\|Vote share
		!width=100\|Opposing Candidate(s)
		!width=70 colspan="2"\|Opposing Party (s)
		!width=70\|Vote share
		\|-
		\|rowspan="2"\|]
		\|rowspan="2"\|]
		\|rowspan="2" {{party color cell\|Communist Party of India}}
		\|rowspan="2"\|]
		\|rowspan="2" bgcolor=FFA07A\|Lost
		\|rowspan="2"\| 22.02%
		\|]
		\|{{party name with color\|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
		\|57.01%
		\|-
		\|Tanweer Hassan
		\|{{party name with color\|Rashtriya Janata Dal}}
		\|16.17%
		\|-
		\|]
		\|]
		\|{{party name with color\|Indian National Congress}}
		\| bgcolor=FFA07A\|Lost
		\| 44.16%
		\|]
		\|{{party name with color\|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
		\| 53.1%
		\|}

		==Reception==
		Kanhaiya Kumar became widely known due to a speech with slogans for ''Azadi'' in ] which was raised henceworth by him and other students at multiple student protests against the policies of the government and sometimes in modified forms in JNU and education related issues; it was used especially during protests between 2019 and 2020.<ref name="qz">{{cite news\|url=https://qz.com/india/1772469/azadi-makes-its-way-from-jnu-to-bollywood-and-caa-nrc-protests\|title=Once "azadi" got students arrested—now all Indians are raising the slogan}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|url=https://thewire.in/politics/english-translation-kanhaiya-kumars-electrifying-speech-at-jnu\|title=English Translation: Full Text of Kanhaiya Kumar's Electrifying Speech at JNU}}</ref>

		In the slogan he demands ''Azadi'' from starvation, cronyism, casteism, communalism and ''sanghwads'' referring to the ], and demands the ''Azadi'' of ], ], ] and ], ending with '']''.<ref name="qz"/><ref name="it"/> The slogans in the later renditions also attach the names of various political activists, journalists and academics who are imprisoned on sedition and other changes for long durations, sometimes for years without a trial.<ref name="Chavda"/>

		The ] and its linked students union the ] have tried to frame the slogans as anti-national and seditious.<ref name="qz"/> Videos of the sloganeering were also spread through various news broadcasts like that of ] and ] at ] and later ] which brought national attention to it and lifted Kanhaiya Kumar into mainstream limelight but the content was altered. The news broadcasts depicted sloganeering of "Bharat tere tukde tukde honge" and caused widespread outrage. The term "tukde tukde gang" was coined from here and used extensively by BJP since then.<ref name="Chavda"/><ref>
		, The Print, 22 January 2020.
		</ref>

		Forensic experts on later analysing the videos said that they were doctored with a different voice-over overlaid on an original video.<ref name="it">{{cite news \|url = http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/forensic-experts-say-kanhaiya-video-was-doctored/1/600808.html \|title=Forensic experts say Kanhaiya video was doctored
		\|newspaper = India Today \|date = 19 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/panelists-debate-whether-kanhaiya-sedition-video-doctored-or-not/1/599933.html \|title=JNU row: Did a fake video fuel the anti-national fire? \|newspaper=India Today \|date=18 February 2016}}</ref> The videos were never admitted as evidence in court.<ref name="Chavda">{{cite journal\|last1=Chavda\|first1=Hetal\|title=Autonomy Is As Autonomy Does- Law of Sedition in India\|journal=Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research\|date=2016 \|volume=2 \|issue=5}}</ref>

		===Police action and acquittal===
		In February 2016, Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested by the ] over the charges of sedition in an event at the JNU campus. It was organised by JNU students to commemorate the second anniversary of the hanging of Parliament attack convict ]. Kumar denied shouting any slogans against integrity of the country.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://time.com/4224571/india-jnu-kanhaiya-kumar-arrest-protests-sedition/ \|title=The Arrest of a Student Leader at a Top University Reignites India's Intolerance Debate \|work=Time \|date=15 February 2016\|first=Rishi \|last=Iyengar}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-today-accesses-jnusu-president-kanhaiya-kumar-interrogation-report/1/598045.html\|title=Exclusive: JNUSU chief Kanhaiya Kumar's interrogation report accessed\|access-date=17 February 2016}}</ref> Kumar's arrest drew sharp reactions from opposition parties, teachers, students and academics. Students at ] went on strike to protest his arrest.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Protests to continue at Indian university after student leader's arrest\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/15/jawaharlal-nehru-university-kanhaiya-kumar-student-arrest-india\|last=Burke\|first=Jason\|date=15 February 2016\|work=The Guardian\|access-date=12 May 2016}}</ref>

		Kumar was assaulted on multiple occasions when brought to the Patiala House court for hearings regarding the matter.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/jnu-kanhaiya-kumar-patiala-house-court-lawyers-media-attacked/\|title=Sedition case against JNUSU president: Lawyers, BJP MLA take law in their fists\|date=16 February 2016\|work=The Indian Express\|access-date=17 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|title=Lawyers attack arrested JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar in Patiala House court complex\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lawyers-attack-arrested-JNUSU-president-Kanhaiya-Kumar-in-Patiala-House-court-complex/articleshow/51024005.cms\|work=The Times of India\|access-date=17 February 2016}}</ref> A Supreme Court-appointed panel later confirmed that the policemen present at the Court were responsible for the security lapses.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/kanhaiya-kumar-patiala-house-court-delhi-police-bs-bassi-supreme-court/\|title=JNU sedition case: Video is out; Kanhaiya Kumar assaulted, breaks down, police duck for cover\|date=28 February 2016\|work=The Indian Express\|access-date=29 February 2016}}</ref>

		On 2 March 2016, Kumar was granted interim bail for 6 months by the Delhi High Court, conditional on an undertaking that he would not "participate in any anti-national activity."<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Mathur\|first1=Aneesha\|title=JNU row: Kanhaiya Kumar gets 6-month interim bail by Delhi HC\|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/kanhaiya-kumar-bail-jnu-delhi-high-court/\|access-date=2 March 2016\|work=The Indian Express\|date=2 March 2016}}</ref> Justice ] noted that there were no recordings of Kumar participating in anti-national slogans.<ref name="lesson">{{cite news \|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/kanhaiya-kumar-bail-jnu-delhi-high-court/ \|title=JNU row: Kanhaiya Kumar gets bail and a lesson on thoughts that 'infect… (like) gangrene'\|date=3 March 2016 \|work=The Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|url=http://scroll.in/article/804489/delhi-hc-gives-kanhaiya-kumar-bail-quoting-bollywood-song-and-calling-slogans-an-infection \|title=Delhi HC gives Kanhaiya Kumar bail quoting Bollywood song and calling slogans an 'infection' \|date=2 March 2016 \|work=Scroll.in}}</ref> A separate magisterial investigation appointed by the Delhi Government concluded that it did not find any evidence of Kumar participating in anti-national slogans.<ref name="clean_hit">{{cite news \|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/jnusu-president-kanhaiya-kumar-gets-clean-chit-in-aap-government-appointed-probe/articleshow/51240113.cms \|title=JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar gets clean chit in AAP government appointed probe \|date=3 March 2016 \|work=The Economic Times}}</ref>

		Following his release from jail, Kumar faced death threats. A leader of the BJP's youth wing offered {{INR}}5 lakh as a reward to anyone who cut off Kumar's tongue.<ref>{{cite news \|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/from-bounties-to-death-threats-bjp-mounts-full-scale-attack-against-jnu-leader-kanhaiya-kumar/story-MiFe1lajnqbXUNH3tSJHmI.html \|title=Bounties, death threats: BJP mounts full-scale attack on JNU's Kanhaiya \|work=Hindustan Times \|date=6 March 2016}}</ref> Posters were put up in New Delhi offering {{Indian Rupee}}11 lakh as a reward to anyone who killed Kumar.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/shoot-kanhaiya-kumar-get-a-reward-of-rs-11-lakh-posters-in-delhi/story-tGXBGmnlhYMm5wz4uNu9vL.html\|title=Shoot Kanhaiya Kumar, get a reward of Rs 11 lakh: Posters in Delhi\|date=5 March 2016\|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/man-who-put-up-posters-offering-11-lakh-for-killing-kanhaiya-kumar-arrested-1284757\|title=Arrested for Posters Offering 11 Lakhs for Killing Kanhaiya Kumar\|website=NDTV.com}}</ref> The court later acquitted him of any charge because it was found that he wasn't present in the campus at the time the police tried to establish that the alleged slogans were said to have been made by him.<ref name="qz"/>

		=== Speech on campus ===
		On 3 March 2016, Kanhaiya Kumar gave a speech to a packed auditorium in the JNU campus, during which he said he was seeking, not freedom from India, but freedom ''within'' India. He appealed to his fellow students to free the nation from the clutches of the ], which, he stated, was trying to divide the nation. Referring to the ], he called them his "opposition", not his enemy. He urged his supporters to keep raising the slogans of ''Azadi'' (freedom).<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/We-want-freedom-in-India-not-freedom-from-India/article14136752.ece\|title=We want freedom in India, not freedom from India\|first=Kritika Sharma\|last=Sebastian\|date=3 March 2016\|work=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/full-speech-kanhaiya-kumar-out-on-bail-speaks-of-azadi-on-jnu-campus-1283740\|title=Full Speech: Kanhaiya Kumar, Out On Bail, Speaks Of 'Azadi' On JNU Campus\|website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-azaadi-azaadi-kanhaiya-kumar-gives-fiery-speech-mocking-modi-govt-sangh-parivar-at-jnu-campus-2185396\|title='Azaadi, azaadi': Kanhaiya Kumar gives fiery speech mocking Modi govt, Sangh Parivar at JNU campus\|first=DNA Web\|last=Team\|date=4 March 2016\|website=DNA India}}</ref> The speech won accolades from the leaders of non-BJP parties as well as independent commentators.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/040316/kanhaiya-kumar-wins-praise-from-non-bjp-leaders-for-azadi-speech.html\|title=Kanhaiya Kumar wins praise from non-BJP leaders for 'Azadi' speech\|date=4 March 2016\|website=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/kanhaiya-kumar-speech-jnu-narendra-modi-arvind-kejriwal-abvp/\|title=Kanhaiya Kumar's comeback speech at JNU evokes massive praise\|date=9 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/kanhaiya-fiery-comeback-speech-is-a-massive-hit/20160304.htm\|title=Kanhaiya's fiery comeback speech is a massive hit\|website=Rediff}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|first=Tunku \|last=Varadarajan \|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/reverse-swing-the-beauty-of-sedition-jnu-jnu-row-kanhaiya-kumar/ \|title=Reverse swing: The beauty of sedition \|work=The Indian Express \|date=6 March 2016}}</ref> ] commented that it turned Kumar into a "nationwide political star," and congratulated BJP for creating this phenomenon.<ref name="cg">{{Cite web\|url=https://www.ndtv.com/opinion/congratulations-bjp-on-creating-the-kanhaiya-kumar-phenomenon-1284155\|title=Opinion: Congratulations, BJP, On Creating The Kanhaiya Kumar Phenomenon\|website=NDTV.com}}</ref> Some people also expressed concern that his speech did not address "the graveness of alleged anti-national slogans" shouted at JNU and what he did to stop them.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/jharkhand/steel-city-says-yes-to-azadi-amp-no-to-hype/cid/1320914\|title=Steel city says yes to azadi & no to hype\|website=The Telegraph\|location=Kolkota}}</ref>

		<!--(long list of controversies bigger than "political career" section so it is ] for now)=== Other incidents and controversies ===
		On 8 March 2016, speaking at an ] event, Kumar referred to the ] committed by personnel of the Indian Army. This was criticised as being "anti-national" by the ] (BJYM). The BJYM filed a complaint against Kumar and JNU professor ], alleging them of making "anti-national" statements.<ref>{{Cite news\|date=9 March 2016\|title=Kanhaiya in a fresh spot over "anti-national" remarks\|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/kanhaiya-in-a-fresh-spot-over-anti-national-remarks-116030901337_1.html\|work=Business Standard\|agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref> A sedition and defamation case was filed against Kumar in a civil court in Patna.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=Sedition case against JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar in Patna court \| Patna News - Times of India\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Sedition-case-against-JNUSU-president-Kanhaiya-Kumar-in-Patna-court/articleshow/51359589.cms\|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|date=11 March 2016\|title=BJP 'worker' files complaint against Kanhaiya Kumar in UP\|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/bjp-worker-files-complaint-against-kanhaiya-kumar-in-up-116031100968_1.html\|work=Business Standard\|agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref>

		On 10 March 2016, it was revealed that in October 2015, Kumar was fined by the JNU administration for "misbehaving" with a girl student and "threatening" her.<ref>{{cite news\|date=10 March 2016\|title=Kanhaiya Kumar was fined by JNU for alleged 'misbehaviour' with girl student\|work=The Economic Times\|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2016-03-10/news/71382436_1_girl-student-jnu-administration-student-leader\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316010054/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2016-03-10/news/71382436_1_girl-student-jnu-administration-student-leader\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=16 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|last=Correspondent\|first=dna\|date=11 March 2016\|title=Kanhaiya Kumar was fined by JNU for alleged 'misbehaviour' with girl student\|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-kanhaiya-kumar-was-fined-by-jnu-for-alleged-misbehaviour-with-girl-student-2187880\|website=DNA India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|date=10 March 2016\|title=Kanhaiya Kumar was fined by JNU for 'misbehaviour' with girl student\|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/100316/kanhaiya-kumar-was-fined-by-jnu-for-alleged-misbehaviour-with-girl-student.html\|website=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref> Kumar had allegedly been urinating in the open in June 2015 and became abusive and threatened the female student who objected against his behavior. The AISF stated that the case was an attempt to defame Kumar.<ref>{{Cite web\|date=11 March 2016\|title=Kanhaiya faced University action for 'misbehaving' with woman last year\|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/kanhaiya-was-fined-by-jnu-for-alleged-misbehaviour-with-girl-student/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|title=JNU's Kanhaiya Kumar accused of misbehaving with a female student \| India News - Times of India\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/JNUs-Kanhaiya-Kumar-accused-of-misbehaving-with-a-female-student/articleshow/51345358.cms\|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|date=10 March 2016\|title=Kanhaiya had misbehaved with girl student who asked him not to urinate in open on JNU campus\|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/kanhaiya-had-misbehaved-with-girl-student-who-asked-him-not-to-urinate-in-open-on-jnu-campus-116031000965_1.html\|work=Business Standard\|agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref>

		On 10 March 2016, Kumar was manhandled and abused on the JNU campus by a man who accused him of being a ''deshdrohi'' ({{Translation\|traitor to the nation}}). This incident came two days after Kumar made a speech on ], during which he accused Security personnel for raping woman in Kashmir. However, while addressing students later in the day, Kumar said such incidents couldn't scare him.<ref>{{cite web\|date=11 March 2016\|title=Kanhaiya manhandled, abused in JNU by man who wanted to 'teach him a lesson'\|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/kanhaiya-attacked-at-jnu-by-suspected-outsider/#sthash.CgFKfaz3.dpuf\|access-date=16 March 2016\|work=The Indian Express}}</ref>

		On 28 March 2016, Uttar Pradesh Navnirman Sena threatened to storm the JNU campus and gun down Kumar and Umar Khalid unless the two left Delhi by 31 March.<ref>{{cite web\|date=28 March 2016\|title=Will storm JNU, shoot Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid before Durga Ashtami, threatens UP Navnirman Sena\|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/will-storm-jnu-shoot-kanhaiya-kumar-and-umar-khalid-before-durga-ashtami-threatens-up-navnirman-sena_1869761.html\|access-date=9 May 2016\|work=Zee News}}</ref>

		On 29 March 2019, Kumar who was contesting the Lok Sabha polls as a CPI candidate was booked for violation for model code of conduct of elections.<ref>{{Cite web\|last=PTI\|date=2019-03-29\|title=Kanhaiya Kumar booked for violation for model code of conduct of elections\|url=https://theprint.in/politics/kanhaiya-kumar-booked-for-violation-for-model-code-of-conduct-of-elections/214388/\|access-date=2020-09-17\|website=ThePrint\|language=en-US}}</ref>--->

		==Publications==
		;Books
		* ''Bihar To Tihar: My Political Journey''<ref>{{Cite web\|date=2019-01-18\|title=From Bihar to Tihar: Read an excerpt from Kanhaiya Kumar's story, where he recounts entry to JNU\|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/from-bihar-to-tihar-read-an-excerpt-from-kanhaiya-kumars-story-where-he-recounts-entry-to-jnu-5918791.html\|access-date=2020-09-30\|website=Firstpost}}</ref>

		;Papers
		* ''The Process of De-colonisation and Social Transformation''<ref>{{Cite web\|author=Mohammad Ibrar\|date=Feb 15, 2019\|title=Kanhaiya Kumar's PhD done, he wants to be a professor {{!}} Delhi News - Times of India\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/kanhaiyas-phd-done-he-wants-to-be-a-professor/articleshow/68000126.cms\|access-date=2020-09-30\|website=The Times of India\|language=en}}</ref> ''in South Africa, 1994-2015''

		== See also ==
		* ]
		* ] - Vice president of JNUSU when Kumar was president of the organisation.
		*]

		== References ==
		{{reflist}}

		== Further reading ==
		* {{cite web \|first=Southik \|last=Biswas \|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-35761268 \|title=Kanhaiya Kumar: India's most loved and loathed student \|work=BBC News \|date=11 March 2016}}

		== External links ==
		* {{cite journal \|url=http://www.epw.in/journal/2016/10/web-exclusives/where-self-proclaimed-nationalism-coming.html \|title="Where is this Self-Proclaimed Nationalism Coming From?" – Kanhaiya Kumar's Speech in JNU (Excerpts) \|journal=] \|date=5 March 2016\|pages=7–8 }}
		* {{Cite web\|title=From Bihar to Tihar: Read an excerpt from Kanhaiya Kumar's story, where he recounts entry to JNU\|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/from-bihar-to-tihar-read-an-excerpt-from-kanhaiya-kumars-story-where-he-recounts-entry-to-jnu-5918791.html\|work=Firstpost\|date=19 January 2019}}

		{{Portal bar\|Biography\|Education\|India\|Politics}}

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		{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumar, Kanhaiya}}
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Latest revision as of 07:08, 17 November 2024

Indian political activist and politician (born 1987)

Kanhaiya Kumar


AICC Incharge of the National Students' Union of India
Incumbent
Assumed office 6 July 2023
President	Neeraj Kundan

Personal details
Born	January 1987 (1987-01) (age 37)
Political party	Indian National Congress (2021–present)
Other political affiliations	Communist Party of India (2016–2021)
Education	College of Commerce, Arts and Science, Patna (BA) Nalanda Open University (MA) Jawaharlal Nehru University (PhD)

Kanhaiya Kumar (born January 1987) is an Indian political activist who served as the president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union and leader of the All India Students Federation (AISF). He served as National Executive Council member of Communist Party of India. He joined Indian National Congress on 28 September 2021 and has been appointed as the AICC in-charge of the National Student's Union of India.

Early life and education

Kanhaiya Kumar was born in January 1987, and brought up in the village of Bihat (near Barauni) in Begusarai district, Bihar. The village is part of the Teghra constituency, known to be a stronghold of the CPI. Kumar's father is Jaishankar Singh who is paralysed. His mother, Meena Devi is an Anganwadi worker. He has an elder brother, Manikant, who works as a supervisor with a company in Assam. His family members have traditionally been supporters of the CPI.

Kanhaiya Kumar studied till Class VI at Madhya Vidyalaya, Masnadpur, before joining R. K. C. High School in Barauni. During his school days, Kumar took part in several plays and activities organized by IPTA (Indian People's Theatre Association), a left-leaning cultural group going back to the days of India's freedom struggle. He cleared his Class X board exams in 2002 with a first division. After school, Kumar joined the Ram Ratan Singh College at Mokama, taking up science in Class XI-XII. He then graduated with a degree in geography from the College of Commerce, Arts and Science, Patna in 2007, earning a "first-class".

Political career

While at the College of Commerce, Arts and Science, Patna, Kumar began getting involved in student politics. He joined the AISF, and a year later was selected as a delegate at its conference in Patna. After completing his post graduation with an MA in sociology from Nalanda Open University in Patna, again securing a first class, he moved to Delhi and after ranking first in the entrance exam in 2011, joined Jawaharlal Nehru University where he pursued a PhD in African studies at the School of International Studies. He completed his PhD in February 2019, titled The Process of Decolonisation and Social Transformation in South Africa, 1994–2015.

In September 2015, Kumar became president of the JNU Students' Union, representing the AISF.

In March 2016, Kumar stated in an interview, "the first inspiration who made me want to join politics was Bhagat Singh. Then the path continued into Ambedkar, Gandhi and Marx, and also to Birsa Munda and Jyotirao Phule...."

Kumar's autobiography, Bihar to Tihar: My Political Journey was published in October 2016. The book describes his life from his childhood days to his political involvement in Delhi.

On 29 April 2018, he was elected to the party national council of the Communist Party of India (CPI). Later in 2019, he was inducted into CPI national executive council.

2019 Lok Sabha elections

Kumar contested from Begusarai on Communist Party of India's ticket for the 2019 Indian general election. He lost the election, polling a total of 269,976 votes and 22.03% of vote share. He secured a distant second position after losing to Giriraj Singh of Bharatiya Janata Party by 422,217 votes. About his defeat, he told Aaj Tak in an interview, "I didn't have anything directly to lose in these elections. I got support from the people for fighting against a big, rich and influential machinery and this is a message from democracy that a son of an Anganwadi worker can contest elections."

Electoral record

Elections	Constituency		Result	Vote share	Opposing Candidate(s)		Vote share
2019 Indian general election	Begusarai	CPI	Lost	22.02%	Giriraj Singh	BJP	57.01%
2019 Indian general election	Begusarai	CPI	Lost	22.02%	Tanweer Hassan	RJD	16.17%
2024 Indian general election	North East Delhi	INC	Lost	44.16%	Manoj Tiwari	BJP	53.1%

Reception

Kanhaiya Kumar became widely known due to a speech with slogans for Azadi in Jawaharlal Nehru University which was raised henceworth by him and other students at multiple student protests against the policies of the government and sometimes in modified forms in JNU and education related issues; it was used especially during protests between 2019 and 2020.

In the slogan he demands Azadi from starvation, cronyism, casteism, communalism and sanghwads referring to the Sangh Parivar, and demands the Azadi of Bhagat Singh, Ambedkar, Phule and Birsa Munda, ending with Inquilab Zindabad. The slogans in the later renditions also attach the names of various political activists, journalists and academics who are imprisoned on sedition and other changes for long durations, sometimes for years without a trial.

The Bharatiya Janata Party and its linked students union the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad have tried to frame the slogans as anti-national and seditious. Videos of the sloganeering were also spread through various news broadcasts like that of Zee News and Arnab Goswami at Times Now and later Republic TV which brought national attention to it and lifted Kanhaiya Kumar into mainstream limelight but the content was altered. The news broadcasts depicted sloganeering of "Bharat tere tukde tukde honge" and caused widespread outrage. The term "tukde tukde gang" was coined from here and used extensively by BJP since then.

Forensic experts on later analysing the videos said that they were doctored with a different voice-over overlaid on an original video. The videos were never admitted as evidence in court.

Police action and acquittal

In February 2016, Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested by the Delhi Police over the charges of sedition in an event at the JNU campus. It was organised by JNU students to commemorate the second anniversary of the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Kumar denied shouting any slogans against integrity of the country. Kumar's arrest drew sharp reactions from opposition parties, teachers, students and academics. Students at JNU went on strike to protest his arrest.

Kumar was assaulted on multiple occasions when brought to the Patiala House court for hearings regarding the matter. A Supreme Court-appointed panel later confirmed that the policemen present at the Court were responsible for the security lapses.

On 2 March 2016, Kumar was granted interim bail for 6 months by the Delhi High Court, conditional on an undertaking that he would not "participate in any anti-national activity." Justice Pratibha Rani noted that there were no recordings of Kumar participating in anti-national slogans. A separate magisterial investigation appointed by the Delhi Government concluded that it did not find any evidence of Kumar participating in anti-national slogans.

Following his release from jail, Kumar faced death threats. A leader of the BJP's youth wing offered ₹5 lakh as a reward to anyone who cut off Kumar's tongue. Posters were put up in New Delhi offering ₹11 lakh as a reward to anyone who killed Kumar. The court later acquitted him of any charge because it was found that he wasn't present in the campus at the time the police tried to establish that the alleged slogans were said to have been made by him.

Speech on campus

On 3 March 2016, Kanhaiya Kumar gave a speech to a packed auditorium in the JNU campus, during which he said he was seeking, not freedom from India, but freedom within India. He appealed to his fellow students to free the nation from the clutches of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which, he stated, was trying to divide the nation. Referring to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, he called them his "opposition", not his enemy. He urged his supporters to keep raising the slogans of Azadi (freedom). The speech won accolades from the leaders of non-BJP parties as well as independent commentators. Shashi Tharoor commented that it turned Kumar into a "nationwide political star," and congratulated BJP for creating this phenomenon. Some people also expressed concern that his speech did not address "the graveness of alleged anti-national slogans" shouted at JNU and what he did to stop them.