Yukteshwar Kumar

Last updated

Yukteshwar Kumar (born 7 August 1970) is an Indian sinologist, born and brought up in Jagdispur. An alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University and Peking University, he taught from 1994 at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 2002. [1] Earlier, he also taught at Jawaharlal Nehru University,[ citation needed ] New Delhi, and worked at All India Radio.[ citation needed ].

Contents

After this he taught at Delhi University as Reader/Associate Professor in Chinese. [2] He currently is Course Director of the Chinese Stream at the University of Bath. [3] [4] Kumar has authored several articles and books. [5] He has provided opinion pieces and news items for Indian, [6] [7] [8] Chinese, and British media including the BBC. [9] [10]

A public library, "The Dr. Yukteshwar Kumar Library" was established in his name at Jagdishpur, Bihar in September 2023 which was inaugurated by senior IG officer Sri Vikas Vaibhav. [11]

In October 2023, Dr. Yukteshwar Kumar was bestowed with the prestigious accolade of "Social-Political Activist of the Year" in the NRI category by the Journalist Association of India, recognizing his unwavering commitment and impactful contributions to societal and political advocacy. [12]

Politics

In the 2015 local elections, Kumar stood in Lambridge ward but failed to attract enough support to get elected, ultimately coming in fourth behind the Green Party, the Conservative Party, and another Liberal Democrat candidate. [13]

Determined to become a Councillor, Kumar stood in the 2019 local elections and came second in the Bathwick ward poll, [14] which resulted in his election as a member of Bath and North East Somerset Council for the Liberal Democrats. [15]

In September 2020, Kumar was voted as the most influential person in Bath through an online voting system. [16]

In May 2021, Kumar was appointed deputy mayor of the city of Bath. He is the first person of Asian heritage to take the role of deputy mayor of Bath. [17]

Controversies and defection

On 30 December 2021, Kumar resigned from the Liberal Democrats, writing on social media that for the past three years he has endured "bullies", "manipulative lies" and "discrimination" from within the local party, and that he would instead stand as an Independent councillor for Bathwick. [18]

These claims were strongly refuted by the Liberal Democrats who said that Kumar had been warned about his behaviour towards a female councillor on a number of occasions and, after he wrote that he was “thankful to God that perhaps he has chosen me to eradicate an evil person”, [19] the party had chosen to contact the police.

Kumar has accepted he said these words, but claims that they were misunderstood [20] and should not have been interpreted as a death threat. The police have confirmed they advised the female colleague on home security [21] to ensure she felt safe.

In July 2022 Kumar joined the Conservative group on Bath and North East Somerset Council. [22]

In the 2023 Bath and North East Somerset Council election Kumar, standing as a Conservative, was defeated in his bid for re-election by the Liberal Democrats. [23]

Media commentator

Kumar is often called by the Indian, British and Chinese media to appear on television and provide opinion on matters related with China and Chinese culture. [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bath (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom

Bath is a constituency in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom represented by Wera Hobhouse of the Liberal Democrats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Williams (British politician)</span> British Liberal Democrat politician

Stephen Roy Williams is a British Liberal Democrat politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Bristol West from the 2005 general election until his defeat by Labour Party candidate Thangam Debbonaire in 2015. As an MP, he served in the Cameron–Clegg coalition government as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Communities and Local Government from 2013 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council</span> Local government body in England

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) is the local authority for the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. The council is currently run by a Liberal Democrat minority administration. At the 2023 local elections, the Liberal Democrats gained two more seats, increasing their lead over the Labour Party to six seats, and retaining minority control. This lead is now five seats after one of the Liberal Democrats’ councillors resigned the whip, days after being re-elected. The Liberal Democrats currently have 29 seats, Labour 24, and Greens and the Edgeley Community Association each hold 3. There are 4 independents, three of whom are sponsored by the Heald Green Ratepayers (not formally a political party).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bath and North East Somerset Council</span> English local government council

Bath and North East Somerset Council is the local council for the district of Bath and North East Somerset in Somerset, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Bristol</span> Overview of the politics of Bristol

The city of Bristol, England, is a unitary authority, represented by four MPs representing seats wholly within the city boundaries. As well as these, Filton and Bradley Stoke covers the northern urban fringe in South Gloucestershire and the north eastern urban fringe is in the Kingswood constituency. The overall trend of both local and national representation became left of centre during the latter 20th century, but there was a shift to the right in the 2010 general election. The city has a tradition of local activism, with environmental issues and sustainable transport being prominent issues in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 St Albans City and District Council election</span>

The 2006 St Albans City and District Council election took place on 4 May 2006 to elect members of St Albans District Council in Hertfordshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats gained overall control of the council from no overall control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 St Albans City and District Council election</span> 2007 UK local government election

The 2007 St Albans City and District Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of St Albans District Council in Hertfordshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats lost overall control of the council to no overall control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Wealden District Council election</span>

The 2011 Wealden District Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of Wealden District Council in East Sussex, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 Bath and North East Somerset Council election</span>

Elections were held on 6 May 1999 to elect 65 local councillors for Bath and North East Somerset Council, the second election for the council. The results are show below. After the election, a minority Liberal Democrat administration was formed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 Bath and North East Somerset Council election</span>

Elections were held on 1 May 2003 to elect 65 local councillors for Bath and North East Somerset Council. The results are shown below. Following the election, a coalition was formed between the Liberal Democrats and Conservative councillors. Cllr Paul Crossley became leader of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Bath and North East Somerset Council election</span>

Elections were held on 3 May 2007 to elect 65 local councillors for Bath and North East Somerset Council. The results are show below. Following the elections, a Conservative minority administration was formed. Cllr Francine Haeberling became leader of the council. This replaced the previous Liberal Democrat and Conservative coalition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Bath and North East Somerset Council election</span>

The Bath and North East Somerset Council election was held on 5 May 2011 to elect 65 local councillors for Bath and North East Somerset Council. Following the election, a minority Liberal Democrat administration was formed. Cllr Paul Crossley became leader of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Cardiff Council election</span> Local election in Cardiff, Wales

The 2012 Cardiff Council election took place on Thursday 3 May 2012 to elect members of Cardiff Council in Wales. This was the same day as the national 2012 Welsh local elections. It was preceded by the 2008 election and followed by the 2017 election

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 England and Wales police and crime commissioner elections</span>

Elections of police and crime commissioners in England and Wales were held on 5 May 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 West of England mayoral election</span>

The 2021 West of England mayoral election was held on 6 May 2021 to elect the mayor of the West of England, on the same day as other local elections across the country. It was the second election for the role. The mayor was elected by the supplementary vote system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wera Hobhouse</span> British-German politician (born 1960)

Wera Benedicta Hobhouse is a British-German politician. A member of the Liberal Democrats, she has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bath since 2017 and serves as the Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and Spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change and Transport under Ed Davey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Bath and North East Somerset Council election</span> 2019 local election in Bath and North East Somerset

The 2019 Bath and North East Somerset Council election was held on 2 May 2019 to elect members of Bath and North East Somerset Council in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigel Porter</span> British politician

Nigel Carl Porter is a Liberal Democrat politician in the City of Leicester. He served as the Leader of the Opposition on the Leicester City Council from 2019 to 2023, and has been a ward councillor for Aylestone since 2004.

Felicity Marion Peel Rea, known as Flick Rea, is an English Liberal Democrat politician in Camden, north west London, who for 35 years represented the Fortune Green ward on Camden Council, before her retirement in 2021.

References

  1. ↑ "Yukteshwar Kumar". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
  2. ↑ "Phone Directory - University of Delhi" . Retrieved 1 February 2009.[ dead link ]
  3. ↑ "Department of European Studies and Modern Languages - University of Bath" . Retrieved 1 February 2009.
  4. ↑ "上海社会科学院" . Retrieved 1 February 2009.[ dead link ]
  5. ↑ "Articles of Yukteshwar Kumar". Archived from the original on 24 February 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  6. ↑ "Crouching dragon, Hindustan Times" . Retrieved 1 February 2009.[ dead link ]
  7. ↑ "Economic lessons from the East, Sify.com" . Retrieved 1 February 2009.[ dead link ]
  8. ↑ "China's first Padma Bhushan". Archived from the original on 14 June 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
  9. ↑ "BBC 中文网 | 中国报道 | 印度想与中国竞争非洲资源？". BBC News. 18 April 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
  10. ↑ "Home Page Yukteshwar Kumar" . Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  11. ↑ "नया बिहार बनाने के लिए युवा आगे आयें: आई जी". Dainik Bhaskar. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "Dr. Yukteshwar Kumar is selected for the 29th JAI Global Awards in Social Political Activist (NRI): Dr. H K Sethi". Journalist Association of India (JAI). Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  13. ↑ "Election results for Lambridge, 7 May 2015". 7 May 2015.
  14. ↑ "Election results for Bathwick, 2 May 2019". 2 May 2019.
  15. ↑ Britten, Elise (3 May 2019). "Local elections 2019: From racial abuse victim to the first ever Indian councillor in Bath". Somerset Live. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  16. ↑ Elgee, Emma (7 September 2020). "Bath power list 2020: The winners revealed - who did you vote for?". Somerset Live. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  17. ↑ Team, Bath Echo News (13 May 2021). "Councillor June Player "delighted and honoured" to be next Mayor of Bath". Bath Echo. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  18. ↑ "Deputy Mayor quits the local Lib Dems, complaining of bullying, intimidation and racism". Bath Gazette. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  19. ↑ "Setting the record straight". BathNES Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  20. ↑ "Bath councillor who quit Lib Dems denies 'vendetta' against colleague". 17 January 2022.
  21. ↑ ""Bullied" Bath councillor denies "vendetta" as he quits Lib Dems". 13 January 2022.
  22. ↑ Bath Echo (25 July 2022). "Independent Bathwick councillor joins B&NES Conservative Group" . Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  23. ↑ "Election results for Bathwick". B&NES Council. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  24. ↑ News, ABP. "Dr Yukteshwar Talks About China's Negligence & India's Alertness In Handling The Coronavirus". ABP NEWS. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2020.{{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.