Shantaram Siddi

Shantaram Budna Siddi
Shantaram Budna Siddi
Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 22 July 2020
Governor	Vajubhai Vala
Constituency	Nominated
Personal details
Nationality	Indian
Political party	Bharatiya Janata Party
Residence	Hitlalli, Uttara Kannada, Karnataka
Education	Bachelor of Arts in Economics
Alma mater	Arts and Science College, Karwar
Occupation	Tribal activist

Shantaram Budna Siddi is an Indian politician who is a nominated member of the Karnataka Legislative Council from the Bharatiya Janata Party. A member of the Siddi Tribe, he is the first Indian legislator of African descent.[1][2]

Early life

Born into a family with poor economic and social background,[3] Shantaram belongs to the Siddi tribal community which traces its origin to the Bantu peoples of East Africa.[4] He is from the Hitlalli village of Yellapur taluk in Uttara Kannada district. He topped his class in seventh standard while studying at his village school, after which his teachers recognized his "hunger for knowledge" and got him enrolled in a school in Ankola.[5] He pursued the Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the Arts and Science College, Karwar, during which he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He became the first graduate from the Siddi tribe, and wanted to get a government job after his graduation.[5]

Activism

Shantaram's interactions with social workers Prakash Kamath and Nirmala Gaonkar changed his viewpoint towards life.[5] Kamat once asked him, "You may get a good job and comfortable life for yourself but what about the community of yours? The Siddis, don’t you want them to be in the mainstream?"[3] This motivated Shantaram to work for tribal welfare and he joined the RSS-affiliated Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram as a volunteer in 1989 where he served as a hostel warden and is currently the secretary of its Karnataka state unit.[3][6] He initially worked with the Siddi community, but now works with all tribal communities in Karnataka.[5]

He has also been associated with environmental movements such as the Bedti River Valley Conservation Movement, Appiko Movement, and Vraksha–Laksha Andolana. He was a member of the Western Ghats Conservation Task Force appointed by the Government of Karnataka, and the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy.[3]

Nomination to the Legislative Council

Shantaram was nominated as a member of the Karnataka Legislative Council by governor Vajubhai Vala on 22 July 2020.[4] He was nominated as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and is the first person from the Siddi community to be a member of a legislative body.[4][1] He thanked Karnataka chief minister B. S. Yediyurappa and Indian home minister Amit Shah for the nomination.[7]

Shantaram's nomination brought joy to the Siddi community. Akhila Karnataka Siddhi Foundation Trust president Diago Basthyav Siddhi said, "Our people came here in the 12th century. But we remain unknown. We struggled for our identity. We requested many political parties to give us representation. This has been a good recognition. We thank the governments both at the state and Centre."[7] Akhila Karnataka Siddhi Vikas Sangh president Saver Louis Birji Siddi said, "We are thrilled that after so many years of being part of India, having given our sweat and blood to the country, our community has finally been recognised."[4]

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References

"Meet Karnataka MLC Shantaram Siddi - first legislator of African descent in India". Free Press Journal. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
"Siddi pride Shantaram is now an MLC". Deccan Herald. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
"In a first for the Siddi community, Shantaram Siddi nominated to Karnataka Legislative Council". Organiser. 22 July 2020.
Swamy, Rohini (24 July 2020). "This new Karnataka MLC from BJP is India's first politician from tribal Siddi community". ThePrint. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
Pailoor, Anitha (23 July 2020). "Siddi pride Shantaram is now an MLC". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
"Success Stories". Vanavasi Kalyana Karnataka. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
Chandra N S, Subhash (23 July 2020). "BJP nominates Siddhi environmentalist as MLC in Karnataka, community rejoices". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 25 July 2020.

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[fpj-1] "Meet Karnataka MLC Shantaram Siddi - first legislator of African descent in India". Free Press Journal. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.

[2] "Siddi pride Shantaram is now an MLC". Deccan Herald. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.

[organiser-3] "In a first for the Siddi community, Shantaram Siddi nominated to Karnataka Legislative Council". Organiser. 22 July 2020.

[print-4] Swamy, Rohini (24 July 2020). "This new Karnataka MLC from BJP is India's first politician from tribal Siddi community". ThePrint. Retrieved 25 July 2020.

[deccan-5] Pailoor, Anitha (23 July 2020). "Siddi pride Shantaram is now an MLC". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 25 July 2020.

[6] "Success Stories". Vanavasi Kalyana Karnataka. Retrieved 25 July 2020.

[new-IE-7] Chandra N S, Subhash (23 July 2020). "BJP nominates Siddhi environmentalist as MLC in Karnataka, community rejoices". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 25 July 2020.