Charan Singh
Charan Singh | |
---|---|
5th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh | |
In office 18 February 1970 – 1 October 1970 | |
Preceded by | Chandra Bhanu Gupta |
Succeeded by | President's rule |
In office 3 April 1967 – 25 February 1968 | |
Preceded by | Chandra Bhanu Gupta |
Succeeded by | President's rule |
Personal details | |
Born | Chaudhary Charan Singh 23 December 1902 Noorpur, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India (present-day Uttar Pradesh, India) |
Died | 29 May 1987 New Delhi, India | (aged 84)
Monuments | Kisan Ghat |
Political party | Lokdal (own party; 1980–1987) |
Other political affiliations | Indian National Congress (Before 1967) Bharatiya Kranti Dal (own party; 1967–1977) Janata Party (1977–1979) Janata Party (Secular) (1979–1980) |
Spouse |
Agra University |
Awards | Bharat Ratna (2024) |
Chaudhary Charan Singh (23 December 1902 – 29 May 1987) was an Indian politician and a freedom fighter who served as the 5th Prime Minister of India from 1979 to 1980 and the 3rd Deputy Prime Minister of India from January 1979 to July 1979. He served as 5th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh as a member of Bhartiya Kranti Dal. Charan Singh is known for his land and agricultural reform initiatives. He is widely regarded as the "Champion of farmers" after his life has been dedicated to advocating for the wellbeing and rights of farmers.[1] He is the first leader outside the Indian National Congress who formed government in the northern India and became 5th chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.[2]
Charan Singh followed Mahatma Gandhi in non-violent struggle for independence from the British Government, and was imprisoned several times. In 1930, he was sent to jail for 12 years by the British for contravention of the salt laws. He was jailed again for one year in November 1940 for individual Satyagraha movement. In August 1942 he was jailed again by the British under DIR and released in November 1943. Though a Congress member for most of his life, he later founded his own political party Lokdal in 1980.[3][4][5][6]
He was awarded Bharat Ratna, highest civilian award of Republic of India, for his contributions to agriculture sector especially in Uttar Pradesh. He is credited for bringing radical land reform measures and bringing uniformity in the farm sector. One of his biggest achievements was bringing out farmers from the clutches of moneylenders, which reduced suicide rates in the community. These reforms were implemented through the Debt Redemption Bill, the Land Holding Act, and the Zamindari Abolition Act.[7][8]
His association with causes dear to farming communities in India caused his memorial in New Delhi to be named
Early life and education
Charan Singh was born on 23 December 1902 to Mir Singh and Netar Kaur in Nurpur village of
Between 1952 and 1968, he was one of "three principal leaders in Congress state politics." He became particularly notable in
As leader of the Bharatiya Lok Dal, a major constituent of the Janata coalition, he was disappointed in his ambition to become Prime Minister in 1977 by Jayaprakash Narayan's choice of Morarji Desai.
During 1977 Lok Sabha Elections, the fragmented opposition united a few months before the elections under the Janata Party banner, for which Chaudhary Charan Singh had been struggling almost single-handedly since 1974. It was because of the efforts of Raj Narain that he became Prime Minister in the year 1979 though Raj Narain was Chairman of Janata Party-Secular and assured Charan Singh of elevating him as Prime Minister, the way he helped him to become Chief Minister in the year 1967 in Uttar Pradesh. However, he resigned after just 23 days in office when Indira Gandhi's Congress Party withdrew support to the government. Charan Singh said he resigned because he was not ready to be blackmailed into withdrawing Indira Gandhi's emergency-related court cases.[14] Fresh elections were held six months later. Charan Singh continued to lead the Lok Dal in opposition until his death in 1987.
Early years – pre-Independence India
Charan Singh's ancestor was a prominent leader of the
He received a Master of Arts (MA) degree in 1925 and a law degree in 1926 from Agra University. He started practice as a civil lawyer at
In February 1937 he was elected from the constituency of
Charan Singh followed Mahatma Gandhi in non-violent struggle for independence from the British Government, and was imprisoned several times. In 1930, he was sent to jail for 12 years by the British for contravention of the salt laws. He was jailed again for one year in November 1940 for individual Satyagraha movement. In August 1942 he was jailed again by the British under DIR and released in November 1943.[18]
Independent India
Charan Singh opposed Jawaharlal Nehru on his Soviet-style economic reforms. Charan Singh was of the opinion that cooperative farms would not succeed in India. Being a son of a farmer, Charan Singh opined that the right of ownership was important to the farmer in remaining a cultivator. He wanted to preserve and stabilise a system of peasant proprietorship.[13] Charan Singh's political career suffered due to his open criticism of Nehru's economic policy.
Singh is known for piloting pro-farmer legislation such as the Consolidation of Holdings Act of 1953 and the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari and Land Reforms Act, 1952. The latter led to the abolition of zamindari system in the state.He was also strict in dealing with the 'Patwari strike crisis' in 1953. Land reforms resulted in empowering the tillers and providing the landless with ownership of land. It created a conducive atmosphere for the social and economic upliftment of the farmers. During the drought in 1966-1967, Singh offered the agriculturists a much higher procurement price than the prevailing market rates. The infrastructure he laid down led to the Minimum Support Price mechanism.[19]
Charan Singh left the Congress party in 1967, and formed his own political party,
First term as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (1967–1968)
Charan Singh for the first time, became
Samyukta Vidhayak Dal was coalition formed with the help of non-Congress parties like Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Samyukta Socialist Party, Communist Party of India, Swatantra Party, Praja Socialist Party, Republican Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist).[21] Within months of his government formation disputes started to arise in SVD coalition. Samyukta Socialist Party, one of the constituent of this coalition, demanded to completely abolish the land revenue or at least abolish on uneconomic lands but Charan Singh refused to accept this demand as he was worried about the revenue generation and resources.[22] Praja Socialist Party, another constituent in this coalition, demanded for the release of government employees held in preventive detention for their strikes but this demand also Singh refused to accept.[23]
The disputes between Charan Singh and Samyukta Socialist Party became public when SSP decided to launch an agitation of Angrezi Hatao (get rid to English) and during this movement two of its ministers courted arrest.[16][24] SSP withdrew from coalition on 5 January 1968.[24] On 17 February 1968, Charan Singh submitted his resignation to the governor Bezawada Gopala Reddy and on 25 February 1968, President's rule was imposed on Uttar Pradesh.[25][26]
Second term as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (1970)
After the split in
On 1 October 1970,
Minister of Home Affairs (1977–1978)
Charan Singh became Cabinet minister in
On 3 October 1977, Charan Singh got
On 1 July 1978, Charan Singh resigned from the cabinet of
Prime Ministership
When the Janata Party won the
His name got etched in history as he hoisted the tricolour at the coveted Red Fort on Independence Day, 15 August 1979. In his speech on Independence Day, Charan Singh said:
‘To be able to achieve noble objectives, your means should also be equally noble…A country where people are corrupt, will never be able to progress whosoever may be the leader of the party or whatever be the sound programme he might follow.’[54]
Indira's conditions included dropping all charges against her and Sanjay. Since Singh refused to drop them, Congress withdrew its support just before Singh was to confirm his majority in the Lok Sabha. He resigned as prime minister on 20 August 1979, after just 23 days in office, becoming the only Prime Minister to never face the Parliament. Singh then advised President Neelam Sanjiva Reddy to dissolve the Lok Sabha. Janata Party leader Jagjivan Ram challenged that advice and sought time to cobble support, but the Lok Sabha was dissolved, and Charan Singh continued as caretaker Prime Minister until January 1980.[55]
Later years
On 26 September 1979, he formed Lok Dal by merging Janata Party (Secular), Socialist Party and Orissa Janata Party.[56] He was elected president of Lok Dal and Raj Narain was elected as its working president.[56][57] In August 1982, a major split occurred in Lok Dal, with one faction of Charan Singh and another consisted of Karpoori Thakur, Madhu Limaye, Biju Patnaik, Devi Lal, George Fernandes and Kumbha Ram Arya.[58][59]
On 21 October 1984, Charan Singh founded a new party Dalit Mazdoor Kisan Party, by merging Lok Dal, Democratic Socialist Party of Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, Rashtriya Congress of Ratubhai Adani and some leaders of Janata Party like Devi Lal.[60] Later it changed its name back to the Lok Dal.[61]
Personal life
Charan Singh had six children with wife
Singh suffered a stroke on 29 November 1985. He could not completely recover from the condition despite being treated the following March at a hospital in the US. At 11:35 p.m. (IST) on 28 May 1987 doctors were called for to his residence in New Delhi, after his respiration was found "unsteady". Efforts to revive him failed and was declared dead at 2:35 a.m. (IST) the following morning after a "cardiovascular collapse".[62]
Monuments after Charan Singh
Chaudhary Charan Singh, the 5th Prime Minister of India and a prominent farmer leader, has been honoured with several monuments and institutions named after him.
Chaudhary Charan Singh Award for Excellence in Journalism in Agricultural Research and Development honours journalists who have significantly contributed to the field through their work in print or electronic media. Established by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the award includes a cash prize of ₹1,00,000. It recognises articles, stories, and reports published in Hindi or English that have advanced agricultural research and development in India over the preceding three years. The award is presented annually on the ICAR Foundation Day, 16 July.[63][64]
- Kisan Ghat in New Delhi
- Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- Chaudhary Charan Singh College of Law in Saifai, Uttar Pradesh
- Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar, Haryana
- Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University Sports Complex
- Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport metro station
- Chaudhary Charan Singh Post Graduate College
- Chaudhary Charan Singh University in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
- Chaudhary Charan Singh Statue in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh[65][66]
Legacy
Charan Singh was awarded Bharat Ratna, highest civilian award of Republic of India for his contributions to agriculture sector especially in Uttar Pradesh.[67][68]
He was the chief architect of land reforms in U.P.; he took a leading part in formulation and finalization of the Dept. Redemption Bill 1939, which brought great relief to rural debtors. It was also at his initiative that the salaries and other privileges enjoyed by Ministers in U.P. were drastically reduced. As Chief Minister he was instrumental in bringing about the Land Holding Act 1960 which was aimed at lowering the ceiling on land holdings to make it uniform throughout the State.[69]
Since his death, many who knew Singh have ensured his life and work are remembered positively. These perceptions enforce the notion that he was of a "higher category of leaders" in the areas of "intellect, personal integrity, and . . . coherence of his economic and social thought."
The
In popular culture
Further reading
- ISBN 978-81-321-0947-1.
External links
- Media related to Charan Singh at Wikimedia Commons
- Quotations related to Charan Singh at Wikiquote
- Works by Charan Singh at Open Library
- Public archives on Charan Singh
- Charan Singh - Jaat Wiki
- Chaudhary Charan Singh History