28 Facts About Tridev Roy

Raja Tridiv Roy sometimes spelled Tridev Roy, was a Pakistani politician, diplomat and writer who was the Minister of the Minority Affairs in Zulfikar Ali Bhutto cabinet.

Tridev Roy chose to remain a Pakistani when Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971.

Tridev Roy became known as a writer, diplomat, Buddhist religious leader and politician in Pakistan.

Tridev Roy was installed as the 50th Raja, or hereditary King of the Chakma Circle, on 2 May 1953.

Tridev Roy abdicated the throne 1971 in favour of his son, Raja Devasish Tridev Roy, the current ruler of the Chakma people, during the Bangladesh Liberation War.

Tridev Roy remained a practicing Buddhist, the predominant faith of the Chakma people, throughout his life.

However, the Chakmas under Tridev Roy chose to remain neutral during the 1960s and 1970s as relations between the Pakistani Army and Mukti Bahini, which fought for Bangladeshi independence.

In 1970, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the head of the All-Pakistan Awami League and future founder of Bangladesh, asked Tridev Roy to run for Parliament as a member of the Awami League.

Tridev Roy declined Rahman's offering, choosing instead to run in the 1970 general election as an independent.

Tridev Roy won his election as independent candidate from his constituency in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Tridev Roy sided with Pakistan in 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, which resulted in Bangladesh's independence.

Tridev Roy feared political persecution if he remained in Bangladesh after the country's independence, which led to his decision to move to Pakistan.

Tridev Roy felt that the new Bangladeshi government would no longer guarantee the special autonomous status of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Tridev Roy abdicated as the Raja of the Chakmas in 1971 in favor of his son, Raja Debashish Roy, when he went into exile.

Tridev Roy headed a delegation from Pakistan to oppose Bangladesh's application to join the United Nations.

Tridev Roy joined the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto during the 1970s.

However, Tridev Roy declined Bhutto's offer of the presidency because, under the new Constitution of Pakistan of 1973, only Muslims can become President of Pakistan.

Tridev Roy, who called the presidency a "gilded cage," was unwilling to convert from Buddhism to Islam to hold the office.

In 1981, Tridev Roy was appointed as Pakistani Ambassador to Argentina by the Zia government, a move which simultaneously removed him from day-to-day involvement in Pakistani politics.

Tridev Roy was simultaneously accredited as an ambassador in Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay and he held these positions until 1995.

Tridev Roy later was Pakistan's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.

Tridev Roy remained abroad to abroad until 1996, when he returned to Islamabad.

Tridev Roy held the position as a federal minister-for-life within the Pakistani government.

Tridev Roy, a leading figure in Pakistan's Buddhist community, headed the Pakistan Buddhist Society from 1996 until his death in 2012.

Tridiv Tridev Roy died from cardiac arrest at his home in Islamabad on 17 September 2012, at the age of 79.

Tridev Roy is survived by his wife, Arati Roy, three sons, and two daughters.

The late Raja Tridev Roy will be remembered as the man who gave away his kingdom so that he could be with Pakistan during one of the country's most turbulent periods.

When Bhutto was deposed in 1977, Raja Tridiv Tridev Roy was carted off in 1981 on an ambassadorship to far away Argentina.