Charan Singh
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. 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.
Charan Singh | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 1979 | |
| 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 | |
| Prime Minister | Morarji Desai |
| Preceded by | Morarji Desai |
| Succeeded by | Yashwantrao Chavan |
| 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 |
| 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, India |
| 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 | |
| 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) |
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.
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.
His association with causes dear to farming communities in India caused his memorial in New Delhi to be named Kisan Ghat (in Hindi, Kisan is the word for farmer and Ghat is word for river bank). His birthday on 23 December is celebrated as Kisan Diwas in India. A commemorative postage stamp was issued by the government of India in remembrance of Charan Singh. Lucknow International Airport is named after him, as a tribute to his legacy. The university of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, India, is also named Chaudhary Charan Singh University in his honour.