Yogendra Yadav is a well-known Indian activist, psephologist, and politician. He was born on September 5, 1963. Yadav has made significant contributions to Indian politics and social sciences. He is recognized for his work in various movements and organizations. This article will explore his life, career, and achievements in detail.
Early Life
Yogendra Yadav was born in a small town in India. His father was a professor of economics. His grandfather was also a teacher. Education was important in his family. Yadav's childhood name was Salim. He changed it to Yogendra when he was five years old. This change happened because some children at school teased him about his name. The name change reflected the family's response to a tragic event. In 1936, Yadav's grandfather was murdered during communal riots.
Yadav grew up in a supportive environment that valued education. He later pursued higher studies and became an expert in political science and sociology. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Delhi.
Yogendra Yadav Age, Wikipedia, Net Worth, Education, Wife, Family
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Yogendra Yadav |
| Date of Birth | September 5, 1963 |
| Birthplace | Saharanwas, Rewari, Haryana |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Family | - Father: Devendra Singh (Retired Professor of Economics) - Mother: Name Not Known - Wife: Madhulika Banerjee (Professor at University of Delhi) - Siblings: Dr. Neelam Yadav, Dr. Poonam Yadav (Sisters) |
| Early Life | Childhood name was Salim; changed to Yogendra at age five to avoid bullying. His grandfather was killed in communal riots in 1936. |
| Education | - B.A. from Rajasthan University - M.A. from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) - M.Phil. from Punjab University, Chandigarh |
| Academic Career | - Assistant Professor of Political Science at Panjab University (1985-1993) - Senior Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) from 2004 to 2016 - Founder-convenor of Lokniti network (1995-2002) |
| Political Involvement | - Joined anti-corruption movement in 2011 led by Anna Hazare - Co-founded Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2012 - Contested in 2014 general elections from Gurgaon as an AAP candidate (came fourth) - Expelled from AAP in 2015 for alleged anti-party activities - Co-founded Swaraj Abhiyan and Swaraj India party in April 2015 |
| Key Movements | - Member of Samyukt Kisan Morcha during the farmers' protests (2020-2021) - Joined Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi in 2022 |
| Views on Education | Advocates for teaching in local languages instead of English or Hindi; believes that both should not dominate higher education. |
| Awards and Honors | - Malcolm Adiseshiah Award for Development Studies (2008) - Global South Solidarity Award by the International Political Science Association (2009) |
| Publications & Media | Political commentator on various television channels including NDTV and CNN-IBN; published works on democracy and social issues. |
Career Beginnings
Yogendra Yadav began his career as an academic. He worked as a Senior Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) in Delhi from 2004 to 2016. During this time, he studied various aspects of Indian society and politics. His research focused on democracy, electoral politics, and social movements.
In addition to his academic work, Yadav served on several important committees. He was a member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the National Advisory Council on the Right to Education Act (NAC-RTE). These roles allowed him to influence education policies in India.
Political Involvement
Yogendra Yadav became involved in politics during the anti-corruption protests in India in 2011. He supported the movement led by Anna Hazare, which aimed to bring transparency and accountability to the government. His active participation helped raise awareness about corruption issues.
In 2012, Yadav joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which was formed by anti-corruption activists, including Arvind Kejriwal. He quickly became a prominent member of the party and served on its National Executive Committee.
In the 2014 general elections, Yadav contested from Gurgaon as an AAP candidate. However, he did not win and came fourth in the elections. This loss was disappointing for him and his supporters.
Conflicts Within AAP
Despite his initial success with AAP, tensions arose between Yadav and other party leaders. In March 2015, he was removed from AAP's Political Affairs Committee (PAC). Later that month, he faced expulsion from the National Executive for alleged "anti-party activities." Yadav denied these allegations and claimed he was being targeted for opposing the party's leadership style.
By April 2015, he was expelled from AAP entirely. This decision shocked many supporters who believed he had been unfairly treated. After leaving AAP, Yadav continued to advocate for political reform and transparency.
Founding Swaraj Abhiyan
After his departure from AAP, Yogendra Yadav co-founded Swaraj Abhiyan with other former AAP members like Prashant Bhushan and Anand Kumar. Swaraj Abhiyan aims to promote participatory democracy and empower citizens in India.
Yadav has been vocal about various issues affecting farmers and rural communities. He played a crucial role in organizing protests against government policies that were seen as harmful to farmers' interests.
Involvement in Farmers' Protests
In 2020-2021, Yadav became a key figure in the farmers' protests against three controversial farm laws introduced by the Indian government. He worked closely with other leaders to unite farmers from different states and raise their voices against these laws.
Yadav's efforts were instrumental in bringing national attention to the farmers' plight. He emphasized that these laws would hurt small farmers while benefiting large corporations.
Recent Activities
In recent years, Yogendra Yadav has continued his activism through various platforms. In 2022, he joined Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, which aimed to unite people across India against divisive politics. Yadav described this movement as an important step toward building solidarity among citizens.
He also encourages voters to use NOTA (None Of The Above) during elections if they feel no party represents their interests adequately. This reflects his belief that voters should have alternatives when political parties fail them.
Views on Education
Yogendra Yadav has strong opinions about education in India. He believes that English should not be the main medium of instruction in higher education institutions. Instead, he advocates for teaching in local languages or mother tongues.
He argues that replacing English with Hindi is not a solution either; it can be just as limiting as English dominance today. His views highlight the need for inclusive education that respects regional languages and cultures.
Awards And Recognition
Throughout his career, Yogendra Yadav has received several awards for his contributions to social sciences and development studies. In 2008, he received the Malcolm Adiseshiah Award for Development Studies. The following year, he was honored with the Global South Solidarity Award by the International Political Science Association.
These awards recognize his commitment to promoting democratic values and social justice in India.
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Yogendra Yadav, along with their answers:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Who is Yogendra Yadav? | Yogendra Yadav is an Indian activist, psephologist, and politician known for his work in social and political sciences. He was a founding member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and later co-founded Swaraj Abhiyan. |
| 2. When was Yogendra Yadav born? | He was born on September 5, 1963. |
| 3. What is his educational background? | Yadav holds a B.A. from Rajasthan University, an M.A. from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and an M.Phil. from Punjab University, Chandigarh. |
| 4. What roles has he held in academia? | He served as an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Panjab University and was a Senior Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) from 2004 to 2016. |
| 5. What political party did he co-found? | He co-founded the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2012 and later formed Swaraj Abhiyan in 2015 after leaving AAP. |
| 6. Why was he expelled from AAP? | Yadav was expelled from AAP in 2015 for alleged "anti-party activities," which he denied, claiming he was targeted for opposing the party's leadership style. |
| 7. What are his views on education? | Yadav advocates for teaching in local languages instead of English or Hindi, emphasizing the importance of mother tongues in higher education. |
| 8. What significant movements has he been part of? | He played a key role in the anti-corruption movement in 2011 and was actively involved in the farmers' protests against controversial farm laws from 2020 to 2021. |
| 9. Has he received any awards? | Yes, he received the Malcolm Adiseshiah Award for Development Studies in 2008 and the Global South Solidarity Award by the International Political Science Association in 2009. |
| 10. What is his stance on the farmers' protests? | Yadav supported the farmers' protests against three farm laws, arguing that they would harm small farmers while benefiting large corporations. |
