Ghanshyam

Trustee / Popular Education and Action Centre (PEACE)

A noted Environmentalist and Social Scientist and a prominent Social Worker engaged in spreading awareness among the rural masses, particularly Adivasis, minorities and women folk. He actively participated in J. P. movement in 1974 and was an active member of the Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Vahini from 1975 to 1984. He was Special Correspondent of Jansatta newspaper, New Delhi 1988-93.
In recognition of his social concern, and active participation in spreading the message of socialism, he was awarded the “Lok Nayak Jayaparakash Narayan National Award” by the Maniklalji Balkishan Dasji Gandhi Charitable Trust at Nagpur in 2003, presented by the late Dr. Baba Amte .

Ghanshyam was born in Mahuadabar, a tribal-dominated village in Jharkhand (Block – Madhupur, District – Deoghar). He received his early education in the village school and later pursued further studies at Edward George High School, Madhupur, and Ranchi University. During this time, he actively participated in the Total Revolution Movement led by Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan. During the movement, he was detained under MISA and D.I.R., and was imprisoned in Bhagalpur Central Jail and Bhagalpur Camp Jail. After the end of the Emergency, he remained committed to fighting for the protection of water, forests, land, and tribal identity in Jharkhand’s tribal regions while also educating and training young people. In recognition of his contributions, Baba Amte honored him with the “Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan Youth Award.”

While working among tribal communities, he authored the well-known book “Indigenocracy” (Deshaj Ganatantra). One of his essays was included by Penguin in their book “Being Adivasi.” His twelfth publication is “Adi Vidrohi Tilka Manjhi,” which highlights the history and struggles of tribal communities.