Chaudhary Charan Singh | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, photo restored in 2021 | |
| 5th Prime Minister of India | |
| In office 28 July 1979 – 20 August 1979 (caretaker: 21 August 1979 – 14 January 1980) | |
| President | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy |
| Deputy | Yashwantrao Chavan |
| Preceded by | Morarji Desai |
| Succeeded by | Indira Gandhi |
| 3rd Deputy Prime Minister of India | |
| In office 24 January 1979 – 16 July 1979 Serving with Jagjivan Ram | |
| Prime Minister | Morarji Desai |
| Preceded by | Morarji Desai |
| Succeeded by | Yashwantrao Chavan |
| Union Minister of Finance | |
| In office 24 January 1979 – 16 July 1979 | |
| Prime Minister | Morarji Desai |
| Preceded by | H. M. Patel |
| Succeeded by | Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna |
| Union Minister of Home Affairs | |
| In office 24 March 1977 – 1 July 1978 | |
| Prime Minister | Morarji Desai |
| Preceded by | Kasu Brahmananda Reddy |
| Succeeded by | Morarji Desai |
| 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 (aged 84) New Delhi, Delhi, India |
| Monuments | Kisan Ghat |
| Political party | Lokdal (own party; 1979–1987) |
| 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 | |
| Children | 6; including Ajit Singh |
| Education | Bachelor of Science (1923), Masters of Arts (1925), Bachelor of Laws (1927) |
| Alma mater | Agra University |
| Awards | Bharat Ratna (2024) |
Chaudhary Charan Singh (23 December 1902 – 29 May 1987), better known as Charan Singh was an Indian politician and a freedom fighter. Singh was principally known for his land and agricultural reform initiatives. He briefly served as the prime minister of India from July 1979 to August 1979 and was Member of Parliament (MP) for Baghpat. During prime ministership he was a member of the Janata Party (Secular). He served as 5th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh as a member of Bhartiya Kranti Dal. He also briefly served as deputy prime minister of India from January 1979 to July 1979 as a member of the Janata Party. Singh is widely regarded as the "Champion of farmers", after his life has been dedicated to advocating for the wellbeing and rights of farmers.[1]
Singh was born in Meerut district, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. He graduated from Agra College in 1923 with a Bachelor of Science degree and then he did Master of Arts in history in 1925. In 1927 he did Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Meerut College. Then they shifted to Bulandshahr district of present day Uttar Pradesh after their downfall due to Raja Nahar Sigh Ballabhgarh opposition to the British during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Singh entered politics as a part of Indian independence movement motivated by Mahatma Gandhi. Singh followed 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. He was a Congress member for most of his life, he later founded his own Lok Dal party.[2][3] 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.[4] He was awarded with the Bharat Ratna in 2024.[1]
- ^ a b 1. Chaudhary Charan Singh – a True Champion of the Indian Farmer 2. Former PM Charan Singh gets Bharat Ratna: Here is all you should know about 'Champion of Farmers' 3. Bharat Ratna for Chaudhary Charan Singh, a true 'champion of farmers' and staunch advocate of inclusive growth 4. Bharat Ratna to Chaudhary Charan Singh is honour to India's 90 crore farmers: UP minister
- ^ Byres, Terence J. (1 January 1988). "Charan Singh, 1902–87: An assessment". The Journal of Peasant Studies. 15 (2): 139–189. doi:10.1080/03066158808438356.
- ^ "Shri Charan Singh | Prime Minister of India". www.pmindia.gov.in. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ "Chaudhary Charan Singh: Champion of farmers, first CM of non-Congress govt in northern India". The Economic Times. 9 February 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 16 April 2024.