Lokendra Singh Kalvi (1955-2023) was an Indian politician and activist who founded the Shri Rajput Karni Sena (SRKS), a Rajasthan-based organisation working for the welfare and rights of the Rajput community. He is the son of Kalyan Singh Kalvi, a politician and member of the Janata Dal party.
Lokendra Singh Kalvi was also associated with various political parties, including the Indian National Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party. He came into the national spotlight for spearheading the protests against the making and release of the Indian historical drama film Padmaavat (2018). On 14 March 2023, he died due to a heart attack in Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Lokendra Singh Kalvi Bio
| Date of Birth | 1955 |
| Birthplace | Kalvi, Nagaur district, Rajasthan |
| Date of Death | 14 March 2023 |
| Place of Death | Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan |
| Age (at the time of death) | 68 Years |
| Death Cause | Heart attack |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Nagaur, Rajasthan |
| College/University | • Mayo College, Ajmer, Rajasthan • Government College, Ajmer, Rajasthan |
| Religion/Religious Views | Hinduism |
Physical Stats
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters– 185 cm in meters– 1.85 m in feet & inches– 6’ 1” |
| Weight | in kilograms– 120 kg in pounds– 265 lbs |
| Eye Colour | Light Brown |
| Hair Colour | Grey |
Family
His father, Kalyan Singh Kalvi, was Agriculture Minister in the Government of Rajasthan between 1993 and 1998, the period when Bhairon Singh Shekhawat served as the CM of the state. Later, Kalyan Singh became the Minister of Energy (1990 – 1991) in the Chandra Shekhar-led government. His mother’s name is Lad Kanwar.
Lokendra Singh Kalvi is married and has two sons, Bhavani Kalvi and Pratap Kalvi. Bhavani Kalvi is a professional polo player.
Lokendra Singh Kalvi follows Hinduism. He worships Karni Mata, a Hindu goddess who is believed to be an incarnation of Jagadamba. She is primarily preached in the royal Rajput households.
Politics
Controversies
Opposing the release of the film Jodhaa Akbar (2008): Kalvi-Karni Sena launched a protest against the release of Ashutosh Gowariker’s historical film Jodhaa Akbar, starring Aishwarya and Hrithik Roshan, in 2008. The SRKS cited that the film had distorted facts about the relationship between Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Akbar and Rajput princess Jodhabai. According to them, Jodhabai was not the daughter of Raja Bharmal of Amber. Instead, Maharaja Udai Singh of Marwar was her father and she was married to Akbar’s son Salim alias Jehangir. They said that Akbar instead was married to Karkbai alias Heer Kumar, the elder daughter of Raja Bharmal.
The agitated activists of Karni Sena burnt posters of Jodhaa Akbar in Rajasthan. They also organised a gathering outside the Rambagh Palace hotel in Jaipur, where Abhishek Bachchan was going to hold his birthday party. They shouted slogans against Aishwarya Rai for playing the role of Jodhabai in the film. The outfit also demanded an apology from Gowarikar for the content of the film. Later, the Karni Sena moved to court seeking a ban on the release of the film.
Opposing the telecast of the show Jodha Akbar (2013): In 2013, Karni Sena launched a nationwide campaign against Ekta Kapoor citing that she had distorted facts relating to the Rajput history in her historical drama TV show Jodha Akbar that aired on Zee TV. They held protest marches against Ekta, demanding that the show be taken off the air. Kalvi said, “A marriage of convenience between the Mughal emperor Akbar and an imaginary Rajput princess, Jodha, is historically incorrect.”
In 2014, Agitated activists attacked Ekta Kapoor at Jaipur Literature Festival by throwing bottles at her and raising slogans against her. During the series of protests, Karni Sena also tried to vandalize the Zee Media office in Jaipur and burnt an effigy of Ekta Kapoor. Apparently, Ekta Kapoor had promised to change the name of the serial but she backtracked on her promise.
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Padmaavat row (2018): Karni Sena attracted national attention in 2017 for launching a protest against Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film, Padmavati (later changed to Padmaavat). The film features Deepika Padukone in the titular role. Karni Sena alleged that the film contained a dream sequence showing romance between Chittor queen Padmini and Alauddin Khilji which hurt the religious sentiments of Rajputs.
During the series of protests, SRKS activists vandalised the film’s sets and manhandled Bhansali by tearing off his clothes, threatening to behead him. Mahipal Singh Makrana threatened Deepika Padukone saying that he would not hesitate to chop her nose; meanwhile, Kalvi called her “naachnewali” for wearing inappropriate clothing in a song of the film.
Facts
- Lokendra Singh Kalvi was the leader of the Rajput organisation Shri Rajput Karni Sena (SRKS). He was also associated with various political parties, including the Indian National Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party. He is the son of Kalyan Singh Kalvi, who served as the Agriculture Minister in the Government of Rajasthan during the period when Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was Chief Minister.
- Lokendra Singh Kalvi was born into a family of politicians that have been hereditary landlords in Kalvi village, Nagaur district, Rajasthan. His father, Kalyan Singh Kalvi, was a prominent politician of Janta Dal from Rajasthan who was also elected to the 9th Lok Sabha in the general election of 1989 from the Barmer constituency. Kalyan Singh Kalvi served as the Minister of Energy in the short-lived Chandrashekar government that came to power at the centre in 1990.
- In 2003, he formed Samajik Nyaya Manch (Social Justice Front) with an estranged BJP leader Devi Singh Bhati ahead of the assembly elections in Rajasthan. Mainly consisting of Rajputs and Brahmins, the party advocated for reservation for economically backward Rajputs. The result was disappointing as the party won just one seat, Kolayat in Bikaner, out of the 60 candidates that it had fielded; Devi Singh was elected as the MLA of Kolayat. Later, Kalvi and Bhati fell out over differences in their views on caste-based politics.
- Lokendra Singh Kalvi association with INC began in 2008 ahead of the assembly elections in Rajasthan. Kalvi-led Karni Sena promised their support to Congress on the condition that the party would allot a specified number of tickets to Rajput candidates.
- Reportedly, he desired to contest the 2009 general elections on INC’s ticket, but the party did not field him.