Leaders Remember Jagjivan Ram
Patna: July 8, 2007
 At a function to honor the late socialist leader and Central Minister Jagjivan Ram on his 21st death anniversary in Patna on Sunday, leaders from various political parties paid rich tribute to him saying Jagjivan Babu understood the unique political and social dynamics of India and was one of the first few leaders who realized the need for social empowerment for people who did not have any political voice at the time.
Speaking at the function organized at Patna Planetarium, Union Minister Saifuddin Soz said Ram was way ahead of his time in realizing backwards and minorities needed a voice in the nation's political system and dedicated his life to attain this dream.
 Meira Kumar, Union Minister and the daughter of Jagjivan Ram, said her father had to face the ugly side of caste-based politics which hounded him for years leading him to launch a crusade against this social evil.
"At one time my father was invited to unveil a statue of Sampoornanand in Varanasi. This led a huge controversy because of my father's caste and even though the ceremony was completed without any untoward incident, authorities in Varanasi afterwards cleaned the statue in the Ganges to 'purify' it," Kumar said.
Among others who also paid rich tributes to Jagjivan Ram included Bihar state Assembly chairperson Uday Narain Chowdhary, retired IAS officer Jilalal Arya, former legislator Nagendra Kumar, former Patna University Vice Chancellor Dr. S.N.P. Sinha, Prof. Kaushalendra Kumar Singh and others.
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