Lalai Singh Yadav

Chaudhary Lalai singh Yadav
Born	1 September 1911 Kathara, Kanpur Dehat district, Uttar Pradesh, India
Died	7 February 1993
Language	Hindi
Nationality	Indian

Lalai Singh (1911-1993) was a policeman in paramilitary who became a social justice activist and play writer.[1] He wrote plays like Shambhuk Vadh. He translated Periyar E. V. Ramasamy's The Key To Understanding True Ramayan from Tamil to Hindi as Sachi Ramayan Ki Chabi.[2][3][4] In 1962, he wrote a book entitled Baman Vadi Rajya Mein Shoshito Par Rajnaitik Dakaiti.[5] He fought a free speech case against the UP Government on his book ban.[6][7][8][9][10][11]

Apart from translating True Ramayan, he wrote 5 plays as well, including one on Aṅgulimāla, Shambuka, and Ekalavya.[12][13]

Conversion to Buddhism

Lalai Singh Yadav was an Ambedkarite Buddhist.[14]

He renounced Hinduism in 1967 and embraced Buddhism. After adopting Buddhism, he removed the word Yadav from his name. His deep anti-caste consciousness was working behind the removal of the word Yadav.[15][16]

See also

• A.R. Akela
• Periyar
• Dalit studies

References

1. Ghosh, Avijit (31 October 2016). "These unsung Dalit writers fuelled BSP's culture politics". The Economic Times. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
2. "UP Oppn wants Periyar Ramayan banned, but not a copy to buy in state - Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
3. "Lalai Singh Yadav: Fiery hero of rebel consciousness". Forward Press. 24 September 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
4. "PERIYAR REMEMBERED IN PATNA". www.modernrationalist.com. Retrieved 20 May 2018. ^[permanent dead link‍]
5. Yadav, Lalai Singh (1962). Baman Vadi Rajya Mein Shoshito Par Rajnaitik Dakaiti. Ashok Pustakalaya Jhinjhak.
6. thckr (13 April 2004). "Legality of book-banning". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
7. "Is A Ban On A Book Ever Justified?". outlook India. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
8. "Had The Constitution Specified A Right To Free Press, Prior Restraints On It Could Have Become Impossible, Says Author And Advocate, Abhinav Chandrachud | Live Law". Live Law. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
9. Shutler, Nolan (2011). In Defence of Journalists. Socio Legal Information Cent. ISBN 9788189479749.
10. Bhatia, Gautam (14 January 2016). Offend, Shock, or Disturb: Free Speech under the Indian Constitution. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199089529.
11. दलित दस्तक (5 September 2017), Periyar E.V Ramasami and Lalai singh story, retrieved 20 May 2018
12. "पेरियार ललई सिंह यादव को याद करते हुए - Velivada - Educate, Agitate, Organize". Velivada. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
13. Ghosh, Avijit (31 October 2016). "These unsung Dalit writers fuelled BSP's culture politics". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
14. "आयोजन:बुद्ध, डॉ. भीमराव आंबेडकर व लोहिया के विचार वाहक थे ललई सिंह यादव". Retrieved 1 August 2023.
15. "Lalai Singh Yadav: Fiery hero of rebel consciousness". 24 September 2016.
16. "सच्ची रामायण छापने वाले ललई यादव क्यों बन गये बौद्ध?". 7 February 2019.