Ram Bilas Sharma (politician)

Ram Bilas Sharma (born 12 March 1948) was a (October 2014 – October 2019) Cabinet Minister in Bharatiya Janata Party's Government of Haryana, Indian and former education minister and politician who has represented the Mahendragarh constituency as an MLA in the northern state of Haryana five times (October 2014–2019).

Early life
Ram Bilas Sharma was born on 12 March 1948 in Rathiwas, a small village of 393 people (2011) located in Mahendragarh Tehsil of Mahendragarh district, Haryana, in the family of Shri Jayram Sharma. Born in a farmer's family with 8 siblings (6 sisters & 2 brothers) he had faced several challenges in his childhood but never compromised on his education. He completed his primary education from the Government primary schools in Devrali and Swaroopgadh.

Education
After completing his higher secondary education from Madhogadh School in 1967, he completed B.A. (Arts) from Mahendergarh Degree College. During this period he was introduced to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)' by RSS Pracharak Rajinder Singh (now in Hisar). Influenced by the RSS, Sharma began to contribute to its growth. Immediately after completing his graduation in 1970, to fulfill his father's wish, he married Bimala Devi on 15 June 1970.

Soon after his marriage, he left for Delhi to take over the responsibilities at Sangh's Jhandelwalan branch, wherein he had joined as a proofreader for the English daily Motherland. Concurrently, he pursued his post-graduation, M.A. in English by attending evening classes at the Ghaziabad University from 1971 to 1973. After completing his M.A., while pursuing his BEd degree from Kirodimal College at Bhiwani (1973–74) he had to face several challenges to meet his education & routine expenses and even had worked as a night watchman. At that time he was chosen as a "Pracharak" by the Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh (RSS) for its Jhajjar unit.

He is also an avid devotee of Lord Shiva and had restored an ancient temple of Baba Bhuraasta which was discovered during an excavation activity in his native village Rathiwas. He had also made over 17 Kanwar Yatraa on his feet to Haridwar to seek Lord Shiva's blessings and organized numerous religious functions in the region.

Political life
In 1974, he had joined the Jayaprakash Narayan Movement. Late Dr. Mangal Sen, requested him to quit his job as a professor in Kurukshetra and brought him along to Rohtak where he was appointed as General Secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

1980s–90s: As MLA and Minister
In his political career Ram Bilas Sharma has been elected as the Bharatiya Janata Party's MLA from Mahendergarh area four times in a row. He served as Public Health minister from 1987 to 1990 and Education minister from 1996 to 1999.

He has been Minister of Education in the Government of Haryana under the government of Chaudhary Bansi Lal.

In 1999, as leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party legislature party he decided to withdraw support from the Bansi Lal Government and endorse the Om Prakash Chautala Government instead. Professor Sharma also contested election from Ballabgarh constituency where he called Kulena as his second home and took many time blesses from Bhagwan Parsuram Temple at Kulena.

1990s till 2010: As President of Bharatiya Janata Party Haryana
He was also the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president from 1990 to 1993. He was elected as BJP's state president for the second time in 2013. In 2014,he was the President of BJP, Haryana and a claimant for the post of Chief Minister of Haryana in 2014.

2014: Cabinet Minister of Haryana
On 26 October, he was sworn in as Cabinet Minister in the Bharatiya Janata Party run Government of Haryana. As a Cabinet Minister he had independent charge of the following 9 departments, which made him 2nd most influential in Government of Haryana after Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar who held 18 departments Ram Bilas held 13 departments.
 * Department of Archaeology & Museums, Haryana
 * Department of Food & Supplies, Haryana
 * Department of Civil Aviation, Haryana
 * Department of Transport, Haryana, Department of Transport (Regulatory Wing), Haryana
 * Haryana Tourism
 * Department of Hospitality, Haryana
 * Department of Education & Languages, Haryana had four sub-departments Director of Secondary Education, Haryana, Department of Higher Education, Haryana, Department of School Education, Haryana Official website, Department of Elementary Education, Haryana
 * Department of Technical Education, Haryana
 * Department of Parliamentary Affairs, Haryana

He Lost the General assemly election of 2019 to Sh.Dan Singh on Mahender Garh constituency. Currently he is active in social service in the area.