Veteran Rajasthan Politician Hetram Beniwal Passes Away at 94

Shri Ganganagar, Rajasthan: Hetram Beniwal, a stalwart of left-wing politics in Rajasthan and a former MLA from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), passed away at the age of 94. Remembered as the “Bhishma Pitamah” of farmers’ and labor movements, Beniwal’s demise marks the end of an era of fearless leadership dedicated to public welfare.

Born on October 13, 1932, Beniwal embraced leftist ideology at a time when Rajasthan’s politics was dominated by princely elites and influential landlords. His political journey began in 1967, when he contested his first election from the Sangaria constituency on a CPI(M) ticket. He earned widespread recognition in 1990, when he was elected as an MLA from the same constituency. Though his term lasted only two and a half years due to the assembly’s dissolution, his impact on the house and the state’s political landscape remains significant.

A Voice That Needed No Microphone
Beniwal’s greatest strength was his voice and simplicity. Party veterans recall that his commanding voice could address thousands without the aid of microphones or loudspeakers. Known for his sharp wit and unflinching style, he could challenge the administration and shake political debates. In one memorable assembly episode, amid heavy commotion, Beniwal firmly told then Speaker Harishankar Bhabhra, “Let them be quiet first; then I will speak.” The Speaker, amused, reportedly replied, “Speak in your usual way; they will quiet down themselves.”

Champion of Movements and a Strategic Leader
Beyond being a politician, Beniwal was a grassroots strategist who led several landmark movements in Rajasthan:

• Ghadsana Farmers’ Movement (2004-06): He mobilized villagers to demand water rights, traveling from village to village to secure pledges from farmers.
• Land Allocation and Labor Struggles: From Rajasthan Canal land allotments to the JC Tannery labor protests, Beniwal always led from the front.
• Bhakra and Ganganagar Irrigation Protests: He endured jail terms and police lathi charges to fight for irrigation rights.

His organizational skills were legendary; even a single call from him could mobilize thousands on the streets. Authorities often went on alert whenever he announced a demonstration.

Simplicity and Candor to the End
After the passing of his wife, Chandrawali Devi, last year, Beniwal led a quieter life. Yet, even at 94, his spirit remained unbroken. He was hospitalized three days ago due to low hemoglobin, but pneumonia ultimately claimed the life of this “soldier of the people.”

Beniwal’s final journey from his ancestral village 8 LNP will witness not only family and close associates but also countless farmers and laborers whose lives he shaped and inspired. Rajasthan has lost not just a politician but a fearless advocate for justice and the common man.