Bipin Chandra Tripathi

Bipin Chandra Tripathi is the chief of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, a political party recognised in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.

Bipin Tripathi was a prominent Socialist. Activist, Environmentalist and a Journalist from Uttarakhand. When he was on a hunger strike with a demand for the establishment of Degree College at Dwarahat he had lost sizeable weight but was still determined to continue his hunger strike till death or till the accomplishment of his demand. At that time he was working as an Owner Editor of Dronanchal Prahari, a fortnightly paper which he used to publish from Dwarahat. He had in fact devoted his life to the cause of the development of Dwarahat. Whether one accepts or not he has great contribution in the establishment of Engineering College, Polytechnic, Degree College, Nagar Panchayat etc. etc.

Bipin Tripathi was born in village Dairi of Dwarahat Block on 23 February, 1945. His father was Mathura Datt Tripathi and mother’s name was Smt Kalawati Tripathi. He had his Primary and secondary education at Mukteshwar. He passed his Intermediate from Dwarahat and went to Haldwani for pursuing the course of Electrical Diploma. He graduated from Kumaon University and in 1967 he threw his lot to the cause of the Samajwadi Andolan. He was highly influenced by the thoughts of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia. He fought for the landless villagers of Terai of Nainital District from 1965 to 1969. In 1968-69 he started publication of a fortnightly newspaper ‘Yuvjan Mashal’ and worked for the achievement of the people’s demands. He led many public agitations highlighting various demands. In 1970 he could hold a State Level Conference of the Yuvjan Sabha. During this period he was arrested by the Government for the first time. After his release, he came back to Dwarahat. In 1971 he started his fortnightly paper Dronanchal Prahari. He also fought against the vindictive attitude of the Star Paper Mill, Lalkuan through this paper, with the result that a case was filed against him in the Press Council. In 1975 during Emergency he went to Jail for more than 22 months.

Tripathi was a founder member of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal. Tripathi was essentially a democrat, committed to the struggles of the hill people of Uttarakhand. He was one of the staunch stalwarts who stood for the establishment of Uttarakhand and he successfully worked for the achievement of this goal. He became a MLA in the year 2002 in the new Uttaranchal State. After becoming an MLA he devoted himself for the cause of the development of Uttarakhand. He used to remain busy day in and day out. Once he told me that he spends sleepless nights and always thinks about the development of Uttarakhand even in his dreams. He continued his fight with redoubled vigour and enthusiasm. In the meanwhile, he attracted various diseases. He became diabetic and had hypertension. He was quite careless about his health as he had no time to take care of his health. For him development of Uttarakhand was paramount, with the result he expired on 30 August, 2004 at the age 59. At the time of his he was also the President of the State Unit of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal. After his death his son Pushpesh Tripathi was elected as MLA, who is trying to tread the path which his father had shown.