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Yukteshwar Kumar

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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].

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

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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

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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

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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]

References

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  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)
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