Kalimuddin Shams Explained

Kalimuddin Shams
Birth Date:13 February 1939
Birth Place:Gaya, Bihar
Constituency:Nalhati
Office:MLA
Term Start:1996
Term End:2006
Office2:Minister for Agriculture Marketing, Food and Supply
Term Start2:1991
Term End2:2004
Office3:Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly
Term Start3:1977
Term End3:1987
Successor3:Anil Kumar Mukherjee
Constituency4:Kabitirtha
Office4:MLA
Term Start4:1969-1971, 1977-1987, 1991
Term End4:1996
Office5:MMIC of Water Department, Kolkata Municipal Corporation
Term Start5:1965
Term End5:1972
Nationality:Indian
Party:Forward Bloc
Alma Mater:University of Calcutta
Profession:Politician, social worker

Kalimuddin Shams (13 February 1939 – 4 March 2013) was an Indian politician, belonging to the All India Forward Bloc. He served as Minister for Agriculture Marketing/Food and Supply 1991–2005 in the West Bengal state government.[1]

Shams was born in Gaya. A lawyer by profession, he became involved in organising local struggles of residents of Kidderpore outside Calcutta. He was elected to the Calcutta Municipal Corporation in 1965, standing as an independent candidate. In the following year he became a member of the All India Forward Bloc.[1]

Shams stood as a Forward Bloc candidate in the Kabitirtha seat in the 1967 legislative assembly election, but was not elected. In 1969 he again contested municipal elections and was re-elected. He served as Mayor in Council for Water Department. In the 1972 election he again ran for legislative assembly from Kabitirtha, but was not elected.[1]

Shams was elected to the West Bengal legislative assembly in the 1977 elections, representing Kabitirtha. He was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the assembly. He would be re-elected in 1982, 1987, 1992, 1996 and 2001 (albeit in the two last elections he represented the Nalhati constituency.[1]

In 1980 the Urdu Academy of West Bengal was founded, with Shams as its chairman. He also served as president of the Mohammedan Sports Club several years, being appointed in 1992.[1]

Shams was a member of the Central Committee of the All India Forward Bloc for 15 years.[1] He resigned from his ministerial post in 2005 due to ill health.[1] An excellent orator, Shams was popular in India as a Muslim leader, who didn't hesitate to speak his mind and they were instances when he didn't even toe his party line when the issue concerned his community.

Kalimuddin Shams is linked to brutal killing of IPS Vinod Kumar Mehta, DCP (Port) on March 18, 1984.

Notes and References

  1. Towards Socialism. Com. KALIMUDDIN SHAMS PASSED AWAY