The giant killer

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Friday, January 9, 2009 National front page

He's virtually become the king of all he surveys. Raja Peter is the cynosure of all eyes today; it's really tough to ignore this man. A sea of humanity could be seen vying to touch this man, who created a history of sorts by defeating the stalwart of Jharkhand politics.

A former engineer in Tata Steel who followed the route of a rebel, the journey of this man from Gopal Krishna Patar to Raja Peter and then Peter Bhaiya can be a source of inspiration for many.

The youngest son of late Chetramohan Patar of village Kamarappa, Peter entered politics in 2003 and contested against Ramesh Singh Munda in the Tamar Assembly election in 2005, when he lost by a thin margin of 5,000 votes. He had a brief stint with the Congress in 2007, but soon left the party and joined the Jharkhand Party of Ainosh Ekka.

Following the footprints of his father, Peter has devoted his life in social service and is popular among the poor and the destitute as a native version of Robin Hood. He came to limelight when he held a padyatra in 2007 from Ulihatu to the Governor's House for 21 points, demanding the revival of the defunct Kanchi river irrigation project and Raisa river project, among other things.

His two brothers are well settled while his two sisters are lecturers in colleges. His wife Arti Devi is also running an NGO, Sanjivini Gram Trust, to help the poor.