Vishwambhar Dayalu Tripathi

Pandit Vishwambhar Dayalu Tripathi (5 October 1899 – 18 November 1959)^[2] was a prominent Indian lawyer, freedom fighter, and politician. He died in 1959 after receiving a penicillin injection manufactured by Hindustan Antibiotics at Pimpri.^[3][4]

Vishwambhar Dayalu Tripathi
Tripathi on a 1999 stamp of India
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office 1952 - 1959
Personal details
Born	5 October 1899 Bangarmau , Unnao district, Uttar Pradesh
Died	18 November 1959
Political party	Indian National Congress
Education	M.A, L.L.B[1]
Alma mater	Banaras Hindu University University of Lucknow

He was pursuing his graduation from Banaras Hindu University; however, he abandoned his studies in response to the call of the Indian National Congress. Tripathi immersed himself in political activities, dedicating all his time to Congress work. His efforts in his district earned him immense popularity as a leader.

When the Non-Cooperation Movement was suspended, he resumed his studies and completed his degree in 1924. He had an outstanding academic record, earning an M.A. in History and an LL.B. with a gold medal. That same year, he enrolled in postgraduate and law courses at Lucknow University.^[5][6]

He joined the Unnao Bar in 1926 and quickly gained recognition in the legal profession, despite prioritizing Congress-related work. In 1930, he gave up his legal practice to participate in the Salt Satyagraha and was imprisoned. Shortly after his release, he was arrested again. He donated his own house to the Congress, which functioned as its office and an ashram.

Released in 1932, he was appointed "Dictator" of the United Provinces Congress Committee.^[7] On 2 July, he was arrested and sentenced to a year in prison. Upon his release, he established the Kisan Seva Sangh and organized meetings across the district. He was jailed a fourth time for promoting the non-payment of rent, though the High Court later overturned the sentence.A tireless and fearless freedom fighter, Tripathi was arrested seven times for his political activism.

He also had an impressive record of constructive work. He became a member of the Provincial Congress Committee in 1921, served as Secretary of the Unnao District Congress Committee from 1921 to 1926, and then as its President. He chaired the Reception Committee of the Provincial Congress session held in Unnao in 1936 and was a member of the All India Congress Committee (A.I.C.C.)^[8].

He represented the Unnao-Safipur constituency in the Provincial Assembly and served on the Agrarian Committee tasked with revising rent and revenue policies.

Tripathi was a close associate of Subhas Chandra Bose. When Bose resigned as Congress President in 1939 to form the Forward Bloc, Tripathi became its founding Secretary, with Bose as President.

Before independence in 1947, he was a member of the United Provinces Assembly and was later elected to the Constituent Assembly.^[9] From 1952 until his death in 1959, he served as a Member of the Lok Sabha. He also held key roles such as Chairman of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands Development Commission, Chairman of the Zamindari Abolition Commission,^[10] and Chairman of the Recognition Committee of the Uttar Pradesh High School & Intermediate Board.

He was the founder of Dayanand Subhash National Degree College^[11] and established several other educational institutions.