Brajlal Biyani

June 22, 2002

A commemorative postage stamp on Brijlal Biyani, an Indian independence activist and writer, participated in Dahihanda Salt Satyagraha, Jungle Satyagraha and struggle against Nizam :

Issued by India

Issued on Jun 22, 2002

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative stamp on Brajlal Biyani.

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Suresh Kumar
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 400 Paise

Overall size : 2.90 x 3.91 cms.

Printing Size : 2.90 x 3.91 cms.

Perforation : 13.5 x 13.5 mm with elliptical hole on each 3.91 mm sides

Paper : Matt Chromo

Stamps Printed : 0.4 million

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Calcutta Security Printers Ltd.

Name : Brajlal Biyani

Born on 1886

Died on 1968

About :

Brajlal Biyani (1896-1968) was a multifaceted leader from the Vidarbha region, who made a mark as a freedom fighter, creative writer and journalist.
Hailing from the Akola district of Maharashtra, he studied at the Morris College in Nagpur for graduation. He came under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi when the famous Nagpur Conference of the Congress was held and joined the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920. Thereafter he immersed himself in freedom struggle and took up regional leadership in the movements of 1930, 1932, 1940 and 1942. His inspiring participation in the Dahihanda Salt Satyagraha, Jungle Satyagraha and the struggle against Nizam was noteworthy. He was jailed on four occasions.
Various official positions came his way at different junctures in his public life. In 1930 he became the Defence Minister in State Congress Committee. The year 1946 saw him as a M.P. Council Member. After independence, he was called upon to serve as the Finance Minister of Madhya Pradesh and later, in 1957 elected to the Legislative Assembly of Bombay. He discharged all the duties entrusted to him in an efficient and upright manner, proving that he was a force to reckon with in the public life of the country.
He was a writer of immense literary skill, which is reflected in his works like “Jail Mein“, “Kalpana Kanan” and “Dharati Aur Aakash“. He was keenly associated with the activities for propagation of Hindi and was instrumental in organising the prestigious all India Hindi Sahitya Sammelan in 1936. He was also a forceful journalist. He launched the magazines “Rajasthan” and “Marwadi Mitra” in 1925 and a weekly titled “Matrubhumi” in 1931.
The establishment of the Vidarbha Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1934 was another of his enduring contributions to the society. Because of the long lasting and varied contributions made by him to the Vidarbha region, he is generally referred to as “Vidarbha Kesri“.
Text : Based on inputs from Kamal Kishore Biyani.