Jai Bihari Lal Khachi or J.B.L Khachi was an Indian politician from Kumarsain in Shimla District of Himachal Pradesh, India. He was a former cabinet minister of Himachal Pradesh and a member of the Indian National Congress. Khachi is believed to be one of the greatest leaders in the post independence political history of Himachal Pradesh. He was famous for his ability to form instant bond with his audience and followers as he delivered all his speeches in native language. He was also known for having close relationships with various leaders, irrespective of their party affiliations and was always praised for his astounding sense of humor and acumen by followers as well as opponents. The congress party in Himachal Pradesh got a great revive under his dynamic leadership and this made him rise to the most powerful political circles of the state. He was known as Master Strategist and Chanakya of Himachal Pradesh politics. A government school in his native town of Kumarsain is also named after him, as a token of honor and appreciation for the work he had done for the state.
Early life
J.B.L Khachi was born on 5 May 1927 at Ghumana village of Kumharsain tehsil in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. His father, Hira Nand Khachi, was a man of progressive views and was very disciplined. He gave him the best education and social values. Khachi was directly impacted by the adverse circumstances of the British Raj, but through sheer hardwork and dedication, he overcome all hurdles and became a Law graduate from Lahore. He then pursued his further studies from the University of Delhi.
Political career
Right from Khachi's student days, he was extremely popular amongst his friends and had an active interest in political matters. Upon completion of his studies, he returned to Himachal Pradesh and join the co-operative movement in the state. He contest his first two elections of Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1967 and 1972 as Independent candidate and in both he won. Thereafter he joined Indian National Congress in 1977 and continued to remain loyal to his party till his death in 2002. He was elected 6 times as MLA, one time from Theog constituency in 1967 and 5 times from Kumarsain constituency in 1972, 1982, 1985, 1993 and 1998. He also remained 3 times minister in Virbhadra Singh's cabinet. , Virbhadra Singh, Sat Mahajan, Jai Bihari Lal Khachi and Thakur Ram Lal during Rajiv Gandhi's visit to Shimla J.B.L Khachi and Thakur Sen Negi founded Himachal Pradesh Lok Raj Party in 1967. LRP contested the 1971 Lok Sabha elections and the 1972 state assembly elections. In the 1972 state assembly elections LRP had put up candidates in 16 out of 68 constituencies. Two were elected as MLA from Kinnaur and Arki constituency. The party was dissolved just before the 1977 state assembly elections. Apart from been a various times MLA and cabinet minister, he was also the Chairman of Working group, General Secretary of the Progressive front in Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Union and General Secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee. He had also given speech in the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland.
