Mulayam Singh Yadav B'day special: 10 facts to know about Netaji

Mulayam Singh Yadav, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and founder of the Samajwadi party was born on November 22, 1939.He is fondly known as Netaji by his supporters and party members. He was a follower of freedom fighter Ram Manohar Lohia, on whose principles he formed the Samajwadi Party.Before entering the political fray, Mulayam was a teacher with a passion in wrestling but he rose to high political ranks at a very early age.In 1996, when United Front Coalition formed government in the Centre, he was made the Union Defence Minister. Since the beginning of his political career there has been no looking back.Singh was born to Murti Devi and Sughar Singh in the village Saifai of Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh.Today, this wrestler turned politician celebrates his 76th birthday. Here are 10 interesting facts on him:1. Before entering politics, ‘Netaji' Mulayam Singh Yadav was famous as a ‘pehelwan' or body builder. His supporters called him so. Later his younger son Prateek, who was born through his second wife Sadhna Yadav made a mark as a body builder.Prateek was featured in an internationally acclaimed body building website as "the international transformation of the month" in September 2012.He once explained tips given by his father to maintain fitness. "Papa has his own way of explaining fitness: a man's chest should be the thing thrust out, not his belly, he says. And one should never entirely satisfy one's hunger, one should eat just a wee bit less. Those are his tips," says Prateek.2. Contradictory to the party's original stand of representing the poor and deprived, Mulayam Singh's party's brand ambassadors were not those leading backward caste or rural struggles but Bollywood personalities - Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, Jayaprada and Sanjay Dutt. Some of them were accommodated in Parliament and others used for elections and other campaigns.These celebs were among the many prominent guests at his son, Akhilesh's wedding to Dimple.Under his leadership the party soared to unimaginable heights. From village chaupals , it moved to five star hotels and from Etawah to Bollywood and the corporate boardrooms of Mumbai and New Delhi. 3. Mulayam was an ardent follower of Socialist leader Raj Narain who defeated Indira Gandhi in the 1977 Lok Sabha Elections from Rae Bareli constituency. In fact he was politically nurtured by leaders like Raj Narain and Ram Manohar Lohia.Lohia's integrity, selfless struggle for India's independence and his ability to unite people of all sections of society has greatly influenced the leaders, youth and workers in the party. Lohia was jailed by the British several times during the freedom struggle and he fought rigorously all his life for social equality.Lohia's ability to awaken the people with his fiery articles on Satyagraha and his innate knowledge of social problems made him the foremost socialist leader of India. But along the way, it appears as though ‘Netaji' (Mulayam) forgot these virtues instilled in him through the great leaders.4. He has been elected three times as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh – from – 1989 – 1991, 1993- 1995 and 2003- 2007.Yadav first became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1989.After the collapse of the V P Singh government at the centre in November 1990, Yadav joined Chandra Shekhar's Janata Dal (Socialist) party and continued in office as chief minister with the support of the Congress Party.In 1993 his party allied with the Bahujan Samaj Party for the elections to Uttar Pradesh assembly. The alliance between Samajwadi Party and BSP prevented the return of BJP to power in the state. Though the alliance did not win the majority, Yadav became chief minister.Mulayam Singh Yadav was sworn in as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for the third time in September 2003.5. Mulayam Singh Yadav is often criticized for making absurd remarks.Following 2012 Delhi gangrape case, crime for rape became a capital offence in India. Yadav has opposed this change in the law, saying that "Boys will be boys. Boys commit mistakes". His comments drew disgust and repulsion from every corner of the society. Even UN Chief Ban Ki Moon remarked on it saying, “We say no to the dismissive, destructive attitude of, 'Boys will be boys”.In another embarrassing situation for the party, Netaji blamed his son Akhilesh Yadav's free laptop scheme for the party's debacle in the Lok Sabha Polls.Addressing the national convention of the party's women's wing, Mulayam Singh said he had always opposed the distribution of laptops to Class XII students."We distributed the laptops and people of the state heard the campaign speeches of Narendra Modi on these very laptops. They were impressed, and we lost the polls," he said. 6. When Mulayam Singh Yadav contested assembly ‘by-polls' for Gunnau Assembly sear in January 2004, he won by a record margin and got almost 92% of the total votes. Certainly he has been successful in garnering votes. But Netaji is also famous and criticized for giving wings to dynastic politics. Leading the Yadav Family, Mulayam Singh has been representing Azamgarh in Lok Sabha. The other family members are leaving no stone unturned to follow the tradition.Following the foot prints of Mulayam, his nephews Dharmendra Yadav and Akshay Yadav represent the family in lower house. Dharmendra won Baduan Lok Sabha seat and Akshay is Firozabad MP.Another second generation family member in Lok Sabha is Mulayam's daughter-in-law and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's wife Dimple Yadav who represents Kannauj. And now with Tej Pratap, the fifth member of the family, Parliament has got its youngest ever Member of Parliament.7. Samajwadi Party came into existence on October 4, 1992 in Lucknow under the leadership of Mulayam Singh Yadav.The party gave immense importance to the development of common man and thus adopted the vehicle of the common man – a bicycle as its symbol. The Samajwadi Party was founded on the principle socialism, democracy and equality.Samajwadi Party believed in creating a socialist society, which would work on the principle of equality. The Samajwadi Party believed in continuously working towards the upliftment of weaker sections of society and it stands against communal forces.Over time Mulayam Singh Yadav's party has come to be known for ‘gooda raj' (hooliganism) which is quite different from the principles with which it started.8. Mulayam Singh is often caught in controversy over illogical remarks. But Netaji has excellent education qualification. He has completed his Bachelors in Art, B.T and M. A in Political Science from K K College in Etawah, A K Colllge in Shikohabad and B R College of Agra University, Agra, respectively.His son and current Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh too has commendable education qualification. He studied at Dholpur Military School in Dholpur, Rajasthan and subsequently was awarded a degree in environmental engineering while studying in Mysore.He went to Australia to study for a master's degree in the same subject. 9. He holds a record of winning almost all the elections he has ever contested. In the UP Assembly elections he won in 1974, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2004 and 2007.Yadav was first elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh in 1967. Yadav served eight terms there. He first became a state minister in 1977.Later, in 1980, he became the president of the Lok Dal (People's Party) in UP which became a part of the Janata Dal (People's Party) afterward. In 1982, he was elected Leader of Opposition in the UP Legislative Council and held that post until 1985.Later on he went on to become the Chief Minister of the state and also formed his own party.10. On his birthday, a book authored by Dr Adish C Aggarwala, and Sarah J. Marchington, eminent British author and solicitor will be presented to him.Hindi & Urdu editions of " Mulayam Singh Yadav : Harbinger of Social Justice" (Mulayam Singh Yadav : Samajik Nyaya Ka Masiah) will be released and presented as a birthday gift to Mulayam Singh Yadav on his birthday.Divided in 20 chapters with a comprehensive index, the volume presents the rooting of social justice in India with reference to manifesting Mulayam Singh Yadav's journey in realizing ideals of socialism.The authors have covered the entire socio-cultural gamut of Indian social stratification and efforts towards establishing an equitable society by writing the life saga of Mulayam Singh Yadav; his birth, parentage, struggle for education - both academic and political, entrance into legislative bodies, contribution in socio-political movements, alliances, agitations, administration, and will to excel, becoming the harbinger of social change.