New Delhi: Chaudhary Charan Singh, the former Prime Minister of India, was born on December 23, 1902. His birth anniversary is observed as Kisan Diwas or National Farmers’ Day. Chaudhary Charan Singh is remembered for his phenomenal work and his work for farmers in the country. On his birth anniversary, let us look at some lesser-known facts about him.
Lesser-known facts about Chaudhary Charan Singh
Chaudhary Charan Singh was born in the Meerut district of what is now Uttar Pradesh, India. He graduated from Agra College in 1923 with a Bachelor of Science degree. In 1925, he earned a Master of Arts in History, and in 1927, he completed his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at Meerut College.
Charan Singh always wore hand-woven Khadi clothes, which showed his commitment to rural employment and support for small-scale industry and simplicity. He was kind and soft-spoken with visitors, family, and friends, but he was firm against rural injustice. His humour and affection for his family made him a beloved figure. His integrity, dedication, strong morals, and trust in personal relationships made him an ideal for many.
He is widely known as an Indian politician and freedom fighter, primarily recognised for his land and agricultural reform work.
Singh served briefly as the Prime Minister of India from July 1979 to August 1979 and was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Baghpat. As Prime Minister, he was a Janata Party (Secular) member. Additionally, he served as Deputy Prime Minister of India from January 1979 to July 1979 with the Janata Party.
He was also the 5th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh as a member of the Bhartiya Kranti Dal. Singh first won a seat in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Chhaprauli in 1937 and was re-elected in 1946, 1952, 1962, and 1967.
He earned the title “Champion of Farmers” for his lifelong commitment to protecting farmers’ rights and welfare.
In June 1951, he became a Cabinet Minister responsible for justice and information. In 1952, he became Minister of Revenue and Agriculture in Dr Sampurnanand’s Cabinet. He resigned in 1959 while overseeing revenue and transport.
From 1962 to 1963, Charan Singh served as the Minister of Agriculture and Forests in Sucheta Kripalani’s Cabinet. He left the Agriculture Department in 1965 and then managed the Department of Local Self-Government in 1966.
In 1967, he left the Congress party to create the Bharatiya Lok Dal, a new political party. He played a key role in passing the Department Redemption Bill of 1939, which provided relief to rural debtors. He also initiated a reduction in the salaries and benefits for ministers in Uttar Pradesh.
Charan Singh served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh twice. During his time as CM, he helped pass the Land Holding Act of 1960 to standardise land ownership throughout the state.
He wrote several books, including “India’s Economic Policy – The Gandhian Blueprint”, “Economic Nightmare of India – Its Cause and Cure”, and “Cooperative Farming X-rayed”.
Chaudhary Charan Singh passed away on May 29, 1987. His memorial in New Delhi is called Kisan Ghat in honour of his lifelong dedication to the farming communities in northern India.
Chaudhary Charan Singh’s birth anniversary is celebrated as Kisan Diwas (National Farmers’ Day). This article explores lesser-known aspects of his life, including his early education, significant contributions to land reforms in Uttar Pradesh, and authorship of several influential books on Indian economic policy. His dedication to farmers solidified his “Champion of Farmers” legacy. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
