Mahendra Singh Tikait

Mahendra Singh Tikait (6 October 1935 – 15 May 2011) was an Indian farmer leader, activist, and president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), an organisation advocating for farmers’ rights in India. Tikait emerged as a distinguished figure in the history of Indian agriculture, leading numerous large-scale farmers’ movements, particularly in western Uttar Pradesh, to demand fair prices for crops, loan waivers, and better agricultural policies. Born in Sisauli, Uttar Pradesh, he was instrumental in mobilising farmers across northern India, most notably through the 1988 Boat Club Rally in New Delhi. Nicknamed as Baba Tikait, he played a noted role in Jat community leadership of northern India. He was also Chaudhary (head) of the Baliyan Khap. He died of bone cancer on 15 May 2011 in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, leaving behind a legacy continued by his sons, including Naresh and Rakesh Tikait, who remain active in the BKU.