The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's proposal revives attention on a Constituent Assembly member who opposed the British-era Criminal Tribes Act.

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• On October 15, 2026, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath proposed naming a crossing in Prayagraj after freedom fighter Mahashay Masuriyadin Pasi.
• He made the announcement while unveiling Pasi's statue at Mahashay Masuriyadin Smarak Inter College in Teliyarganj, Prayagraj.
• Adityanath said he would ask the city's mayor to send a formal proposal to name the crossing where the statue stands.
• Pasi was a freedom fighter, social reformer and member of the Constituent Assembly.
• He later served as a Member of Parliament from Phulpur.
• Pasi opposed the British-era Criminal Tribes Act, which stigmatised several communities.
• Adityanath said honouring such figures is necessary so that their contributions continue to be remembered.
• He described Pasi's contributions as having received too little recognition and assured his family that the state would protect his legacy.
• The move comes amid renewed attention to historical figures linked to marginalised communities and their role in the freedom struggle and social reform.
• Uttar Pradesh renamed Allahabad as Prayagraj and Faizabad district and division as Ayodhya in 2018.
• Recent 2026 renaming proposals in the state include Jalalabad in Shahjahanpur as Parashurampuri and Fazilnagar in Kushinagar as Pawagarh.

Tags: MasuriyadinPasi, CriminalTribesAct, UttarPradeshRenaming