Shiv Shankar – The Man Who Walked from Railway Platforms to the Corridors of Power
Hyderabad, August 10:
In the grand theatre of Indian politics, there are leaders — and then there are legends. Punjaala Shiv Shankar, born on 10 August 1929 in Mamidipalli, Hyderabad State, into a humble Munnuru Kapu family, was a man who never allowed poverty to chain his dreams. His life was a living testament to the idea that grit, intellect, and an unyielding spirit can lift a man from the dust of railway platforms to the heights of national power.
From Shoe-Polishing Boy to Legal Stalwart
As a young man, Shiv Shankar, alongside his brother, journeyed to Amritsar, pursuing B.A. (Hons.) and LL.B. at Hindu College. Money was scarce, but his determination was infinite — so infinite that he polished shoes at a railway station to fund his education.
His legal career was marked by meteoric rise. Appointed Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court* in 1974–75, he stunned the establishment by resigning within a year — choosing the turbulent arena of public life over the security of the bench. His brilliance shone brightest when *Prime Minister Indira Gandhi turned to him as her chief legal defender during the politically charged post-Emergency years.
Political Powerhouse of the Nation
Elected MP from Secunderabad in 1979 and again in 1980, Shiv Shankar’s political journey became a masterclass in governance. He helmed some of the most sensitive and powerful ministries in the Union Cabinet:
Union Minister of Law, Justice & Company Affairs
Minister of Petroleum & Energy
Minister of External Affairs
Minister of Human Resource Development – where he introduced the Auroville Foundation Bill in 1988
Minister of Commerce
By 1987–88, he was Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, followed by his elevation as Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha (1988–89) and Leader of the Opposition (1989–91).
Later, he served as Governor of Sikkim (1994–95) and Governor of Kerala (1995–96). His political comeback came in 1998, when he was elected Lok Sabha MP from Tenali and appointed Deputy Leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party.
In 2004, he parted ways with the Congress, denouncing internal corruption, and joined the Praja Rajyam Party in 2008.
A Voice for the Marginalised
If there was one thread that bound his career, it was his unwavering advocacy for *Backward Classes (BC), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST). He fought for petrol dealership reservations for SCs, worked tirelessly for BC representation in politics, and openly challenged caste bias in the judiciary — even recommending Justice K.G. Balakrishnan for elevation to the Supreme Court.
Hyderabad Tribute – Leaders Recall the Legend
At a memorial gathering in Hyderabad, political stalwarts, community leaders, and admirers remembered P. Shiv Shankar not just as a politician, but as a man whose vision outlived him.
Batti Vikrama quoted him: “Even if you have no money, poverty should never stop you from serving society.”
Adhaki Dayakar remembered how Indira Gandhi often sought his strategic counsel.
Ponam Prabhakar hailed his lifelong commitment to students and the Congress ideology.
Dr. Vinay called him an “education icon” who inspired a culture of learning.
Makan Raj Thakur placed him among the most influential Congress leaders after Indira Gandhi herself.
Sudhir Kumar, as Youth Congress President, praised his mission to empower BC communities in politics.
His son, dr vinay speaking with quiet pride, vowed to keep his father’s legacy alive through continued service.
The event was attended by an array of dignitaries, including Deputy CM, PCC Chief Mahesh Kumar Goud, KVP Ramchander Rao, Sridhar Babu, Bandaru Dattatreya, Uttam Kumar Reddy, and many others.
Community Roots Never Forgotten
Speakers recalled his presence at the Munnuru Kapu Bhavan inauguration in Vemulawada, where he urged BC youth to step into leadership roles.
Notable attendees included Manikonda Venkateshwar Rao, Kondoor Vinod Kumar, Burma Chakrapani, Punjala Dattu Murthy, Patnam Chandra Shekar, Kattela Subash, Varagatham Nagaraj, Sunkari Kranthi, Hazari Ram Mohan, Sunkari Narahari, Sappidi Srinivas, S.P. Kranthi Kumar, G. Naveen Kumar, P. Shashank, Jilla Manoj Kumar, Shekar Reddy*, and many others who stood as testimony to his enduring influence.
The Final Chapter of a Remarkable Life
On 27 February 2017, P. Shiv Shankar breathed his last in Hyderabad. The state bid him farewell with full honours. His journey — from the hard benches of a railway platform to the plush seats of Parliament, from a shoe-shining boy to a statesman who shaped India’s destiny — remains not just a biography, but an inspiration carved in the political history of the nation.
