Pandit Lakshmi Shankar Shukla
(1914 – 1982)
A humble person with great determination and vision, was born on 18th October 1914 at Mahoba (a place of Alha-Udal) in Uttar Pradesh. Father Shri Gouri Shankar Shukla was a primary school teacher. Mother died when he was four years old four brother and four sisters from second mother. He worked in garden/field to earn some money and studied till middle in Mahoba/Banda/Hamirpur (U.P.). Scoring high in Middle exam got admission in Kanya Kubj School, Lucknow with Scholarship. He passed his Matriculation in 1933 with distinction in English and Urdu. He was selected as English Teacher by Central Command teaching unit at Lucknow and posted as Teacher in Primary School, Mhow in 1936. Destiny brought him to Mhow as he got married to Ku. Lakshmi (Sheelwati) D/o Shri Rama Shankar Tiwari – a Lawyer practicing at Indore in 1939.
After marriage he pursuaded his studies joining Christian College, Indore and passed his Intermediate, B.A. and LL.B. (1948). He used to up-down Mhow-Indore, after school hours, and taking tuition classes, to rear his children.
He enrolled as an Advocate in 1949 and started practice at Indore by daily communicating from Mhow. In 1951, he shifted to Indore and started practice independently at High Court of M.P. at Indore.
In 1952 he joined socialist movement with Mr. Ashok Mehta and contested Loksabha election from Indore Constituency and lost. In 1957, Nagrik Morcha was formed and he contested M.L.A. election but lost with narrow margin. In 1960, he joined Congress along with all socialist group aligned with Mr. Ashok Mehta, who joined Jawaharlal Nehru Ministry.
He became Mayor of Indore from 1965 to 1967 and worked hard to tackle the worst water scarcity of 1965. He managed the problem well and did not allow the people to leave the city. He had given – lone SLOGAN of “NARBADA MAIYA INDORE CHALO” and passed such resolution in Municipal Council Meeting. Chief Minister Dwarka Prasad Mishra – agreed to this proposal, but later implemented during Mr. Shyama Charan Shukla and Mr. Prakash Chand Sethi regime.
He continued to pursued his legal profession and was a very popular and leading Criminal Lawyer of M.P.. Fought many legal petitions of Chief Minister/Cabinet Ministers and High Officials. He represented Govt. in many enquiries – like – Dacoits Surrender/elimination at Gwalior, Bhind Dacoit murder case at Bhind, spurious liquor death at Indore and Raipur, Bhanjdeo murder trial at Raipur/Jagdalpur and many more.
He was elected to Bar Council of M.P. first in 1968, and subsequently thrice, became Vice President and then Chairman/President in 1976 till 26.06.1982 when he died of cardiac problem. As a Bar Council member fought for the cause of Lawyers and amended many laws, bye laws to benefit lawyer. As Chairman/ President started Lawyers Pension Scheme/ Welfare scheme/ Loan to Lawyers during initial stage of practice, Lawyers Chamber in all the branches of M.P. High Court and District Court.
He was a great family person looking after his children and guiding them along with his wife Smt. Sheelwati Shukla under all odds and brought them well and given full education and careers in their life. He survived with seven children 5 sons and 2 daughters. Eldest son – Satish, became surgeon and joined teaching staff of M.G.M. Medical College, Indore Second son Ashok joined him as his Junior and now himself a prominent criminal lawyer and Member of the M.P. Bar Council for 3rd terms. Third Son Ramesh as Engineer graduate from Kharagpur I.I.T., in U.S.A. Fourth son Dinesh is also Engineer and doing his business and consultancy. Youngest Rakesh though a Lawyers, choosen Dairy farming as his career and doing very well. One daughter Abha married to I.A.S. officer Mr. Vijay and Sadhana in U.S.A. married to an American Chemical Expert.
