Bhadase Sagan Maraj

The Right Honourable[1] Bhadase Sagan Maraj
2nd Leader of the Opposition of British Trinidad and Tobago
In office 26 October 1956 – 21 September 1961
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor	Solomon Hochoy Edward Beetham
Chief Minister & Premier	Eric Williams
Acting on his behalf	A. P. T. James (1959) Simbhoonath Capildeo (1959-1961)
Preceded by	Ashford Sastri Sinanan
Succeeded by	Rudranath Capildeo (as Leader of the Opposition of the Dominion of Trinidad and Tobago)
Member of Parliament for Chaguanas
In office 1967–1971
Preceded by	Rudranath Capildeo
Succeeded by	Balraj Deosarran
Member of the Legislative Council for Caroni North
In office 26 October 1956 – 21 September 1961
Preceded by	Mitra Sinanan[2]
Member of the Legislative Council for Tunapuna
In office 1950–1956
Succeeded by	Learie Constantine
1st Political Leader of the Democratic Liberation Party
In office 1971–1971
Preceded by	Inaugural holder
Succeeded by	None (party dissolved)
1st Political Leader of the Democratic Labour Party
In office 1957–1960
Preceded by	Himself as Political Leader of the People's Democratic Party
Succeeded by	Rudranath Capildeo
1st Political Leader of the People's Democratic Party
In office 1953–1957
Preceded by	Inaugural holder
Succeeded by	Himself as Political Leader of the Democratic Labour Party
1st President General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
In office 1952–1971
Dharmacharya	Pt. Jankie Persad Sharma (1955-1971)[4] Pt. Basdeo Misir (1952-1955)[5]
Succeeded by	Rampersad Bholai[3]
3rd President General of the All Trinidad Sugar Estates and Factory Workers Union
In office 1957–1971
Preceded by	McDonald Moses
Succeeded by	Krishna Gowandan
1st President General of the Federation of Unions of Sugar Workers and Cane Farmers
In office 1953–1957
Succeeded by	Himself as the 3rd President General of ATSEFWU after FUSWCF merged into ATSEFWU
Personal details
Born	Bhadase Sagan Maraj (1920-02-29)29 February 1920[6] Caroni Village, Caroni County, Colony of Trinidad and Tobago, British West Indies
Died	21 October 1971(1971-10-21) (aged 51) Port of Spain, Saint George County, Trinidad and Tobago[7]
Cause of death	Side effects of Pethidine[12]
Political party	Democratic Liberation Party (1971-d.)
Other political affiliations	Independent (1950-1953; 1967-1971) Democratic Labour Party (1957-1967)[8] West Indies Democratic Labour Party (1957-1962) People's Democratic Party (1953–1957)[9]
Spouse(s)	Vijanti Maraj (ann.) Hilda Chinibas Rachel Chinibas
Relatives	Satnarayan Maharaj (son-in-law)
Education	Pamphylian High School Tunapuna[10]
Occupation	Politician religious leader businessman wrestler writer
Nickname(s)	Baba[11] Big Bhadase
Personal
Religion	Hinduism
Sect	Sanātanī
Organization
Founder of	Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
Religious career
Literary works	Hostile and Recalcitrant

The Rt Hon. Bhadase Sagan Maraj (pronounced [bʰəd̪eːsə səɡənə mərəɟə]; 29 February 1920 – 21 October 1971) was a Trinidadian and Tobagonian politician, Hindu leader, civil rights activist, trade unionist, landowner, businessman, philanthropist, wrestler, and writer. He founded the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha in 1952, which grew to be the largest and most influential Hindu organization in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. He also founded the Caroni East Indian Association, the People's Democratic Party, the Democratic Labour Party, the Democratic Liberation Party, the Federation of Unions of Sugar Workers and Cane Farmers, and The Bomb newspaper.