Kanshi Ram is a popular leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party. He was born in 1934 as a Raedasi Sikh, a community of Punjabi Chamars converted to Sikhism. His father was half-literate, but he managed to educate all his four daughters and three sons. Kanshi Ram, the eldest, is the only graduate in his family. He faced no overt discrimination on the base of his caste.
Later, he was introduced to the political ideas of Ambedkar. He decided to organize the people of backward classes. In 1971, Kanshi Ram and his colleagues established the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Minorities Employees Welfare Association. In 1973, he established All India Backward and Minority Employees Federation.
In 1981, Kanshi Ram took the plunge and formed the Bahujan Samaj Party. He led the party to success in many elections.