Pt. Ravishankar Shukla Ji

Pandit Ravishankar Shukla, popularly known as the architect of Madhya Pradesh, was born on 2 August 1877 in Sagar. His father's name was Jagannath Prasad and his mother's name was Tulsi Devi. He had his early education in Sagar. After some time, he settled in Raipur. After completing his BA, he was appointed in the office of the Chief Commissioner. He left the government job in 1901. He was appointed as a teacher at Hitkarini School in Jabalpur and studied law.

After his marriage in 1902, he went to Khairagarh and was appointed as the Principal of a High School. In 1907, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla started practicing law in Rajnandgaon. After a few months, he came to Raipur and started practicing law there.

He established Kanya Kubja Hostel in Raipur and started the publication of "Kanya Kubja' monthly magazine. He was deeply hurt by the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, and had pledged to devote all his time and energy for the freedom of his country. He was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and he boycotted foreign objects and embraced khadi and participated and led the National Movement.

He was the president of Raipur Zila Parishad from 1927 to 1936. As President, he spread the network of schools across the district and made it mandatory to sing Vande Mataram and hoist the National flag in the schools. In the year 1924, for the first time, he was elected member of the Provincial Assembly. He led the Salt Satyagraha and the Civil Disobedience Movement in Raipur and was sent to jail. In November 1933, Gandhi ji visited the Chhattisgarh region and stayed at Pt. Shukla's residence at Budhapara. To awaken political and social consciousness in the area, he started the publication of Saptahik Mahakaushal in the year 1935. Shukla ji became the Education Minister in Dr. Khare's ministry in 1937. Based on the Gandhian principle of Basic Education he laid the foundation of Vidya Mandir Yojna in the Province.. In 1940, he was arrested again while participating in Gandhiji Individual - Civil Disobedience.

In 1942, he was again arrested at Malkapur Railway Station when the Quit India Movement was proclaimed. In the Assembly elections of 1946, Congress got an absolute majority in the Central Provinces and Pt. Ravishankar Shukla became the first Prime Minister (Chief Minister was called Prime Minister at that time.) and remained on the past till 1956.

He played an important role in the establishment of Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, at Sagar and Sanskrit College, Science College and Ayurvedic College in Raipur. He was also a Member of Constituent Assembly. On 1st November 1956 the new state of Madhy Pradesh was formed and he become the Chief Minister. At the age of 79, he took his last breath on December 31, 1956, in New Delhi.