Baldev Singh | |
|---|---|
_Kanhaiyalal_M._Munshi,_Sardar_Baldev_Singh_and_Dr._Babasaheb_Ambedkar_on_the_Greeneries_of_Indian_Parliament..jpg) Baldev Singh (C) with Babasaheb Ambedkar (R) and K. M. Munshi (L) on the Greeneries of Indian Parliament in 1949 | |
| 1st Minister of Defence | |
| In office 15 August 1947 – 13 May 1952 | |
| Prime Minister | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar |
| Member of Parliament - Lok Sabha | |
| In office 1952–1959 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 11, 1902 Rupar, Punjab, British Raj (now India) |
| Died | 29 June 1961 (aged 59)[1] Delhi, India |
| Political party | Indian National Congress Shiromani Akali Dal Akali Dal |
| Alma mater | Khalsa College |
Baldev Singh (Punjabi: ਬਲਦੇਵ ਸਿੰਘ,Hindi: बलदेव सिंह) (11 July 1902 – 29 June 1961) was an Indian Sikh political leader, he was an Indian independence movement leader and the first Defence Minister of India. Moreover, he represented the Punjabi Sikh community in the processes of negotiations that resulted in the independence of India, as well as the Partition of India in 1947.
After independence, Baldev Singh was chosen to become the first Minister of Defence, hence becoming the "First Sikh Defence Minister" of any country in the world, and served in this post during the First Kashmir War between India and Pakistan. He was addressed often with the title of Sardar, which in Punjabi and Hindi means leader or chief.