Eminent Personalities of Kanker are the various luminaries who have attained a certain position in certain fields from Sports to Politics to Social activity. They are namely Gen Singh, Ram Prasad Potai, Bhanu Pratap Dev, Pandit Vishnu Prasad Sharma and Tribhuwan Nath Shah Deo. Gen Singh is the identity that Kanker banks upon when it comes to the revolutionary and independent map of Kanker. In ancient India Paralkot was an independent state when the Kanker and Bastar state were under control of British and Marathas at the same time the local abysmal Aboojhmarias were afraid of the fact that their culture may be destroyed due to presence of British and Marathas and as an obvious result these local persons gathered under leadership of Gen Singh as they desires to take revenge from those foreigners. They started to gather in Paralkot for revolution and after that they elected their leader Gen Singh. First they fought against Marathas and British in Paralkot. They started to murder of Marathas and British one by one. Their aim was to establish independent Bastar. Then an English caption Mr. Agnue ordered to abolishment of this revolution and in end they got success on 12 January. Gen Singh was arrested and hanged till death on 20 January1825. Though with his death the revolutionary saga died down yet the contribution of Gen Singh is written in history with golden words.
Ram Prasad Potai
Ram Prasad Potai was one personality who was famous for his leadership quality and for bringing social awareness. He was born in 1920 in a wealthy family. His childhood name was Pharso. He got his primary education from Kanhar and Kanker. He went to Nagpur for graduation. In 1944 he passed the L.L.B. examination. He was the first one from the tribe of the region who had passed the L.L.B. In his student life he was a very good athlete in high jump and race. He won the hundred of medals in sports. After being advocate he inspired to new generation fro studies. He used his income for the study of poor students. He always supports them financially. In 1944 he met Thakur Pyare Lal Singh a great leader of Chhattisgarh. Then he participated in politics. In 1945 Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru elected him as a member of constitution preparation committee. In 1950 he became a member of parliament. In 1962 he won the election of M.L.A as an independent candidate from Bhanu Pratap pur. He had very good knowledge of Hindi and English. He was affected by the notion of Karl Marx and therefore opposed to British policy as and always. He expired in October 1962.
Pandit Vishnu Prasad Sharma
Pandit Vishnu Prasad Sharma is one of the eminent personalities of Kanker district whose active participation in the Quit India Movement and Indian Struggle for Freedom has left a mark in history. In 1944 he became a member of Indian National Congress. He had been the first elected President of Nagar Palika Kanker (1952 to 1957) and during that time he was youngest President in C.P. and Berar. He had been also president district co-operative bank, Raipur. He was elected in lot of education committees as president like Danteshwari College Jagdalpur Bastar, Gramya Bharti College Kanker, Bharati H.S.School Kanker and Bastar Shiksha Samiti. He also elected the president of Bar Association of Kanker three times. He was honoured as "Vidhi Purush" of kanker Distt. He was Marxist in young age but his life style was totally Gandhian. He was very spokesman, writer, thinker and Freedom fighter. Pt. Vishnu Prasad Sharma declared "Swadheenta Sangram Senani" on 2nd January 2009. He expired after a short illness at Raipur on 18th July 2009. He was cremated on 19th July 2009 at Kanker by "Rajkiya Sammaan" with all Formalities of an Indian Freedom Fighter.
Bhanu Pratap Dev
Bhanu Pratap Dev was another eminent personality who earned a niche for himself when it came to the betterment of humanity and social welfare. After independence Maharajdhiraj Bhanu Pratap Dev participated in the democratic system and was elected as member of the legislative assembly from congress as well as an independent candidate from 1952 to 1957 and thereafter from 1962 to 1967. Maharajdhiraj Bhanu Pratap Dev established a degree college in Kanker in the year 1962 by the name of Gramya Bharti College inviting participation from the public at large and also donated agricultural lands for financial support to the college, in addition to a large number of books and furniture and initially started the college adjacent to the palace premises, the first of its kind in the region benefits of the college are there for all to see as many persons of Kanker and adjoining areas after receiving college education are well placed in service in Chhattisgarh.
Maharajdhiraj was also a gifted photographer and an automobile connoisseur and had a pair of Rolls Royces, in addition to other cars he also patronized sports and club activities of Komal Deo Club Kanker. A man for ahead of his times Maharajdhiraj Bhanu Pratap Dev also started Kanker Bus Service (now Kanker Roadways) and established Mahavir Talkies at Kanker and was also a path breaking member of the governing body of Rajkumar College, Raipur. Maharajdhiraj Bhanu Pratap Deo breathed his last untimely and unfortunately on 14th August 1969 at an early age.