New Delhi: Chaudhary Charan Singh is one of the greatest names in the history of the Indian freedom struggle and politics in the post-independence era. He was someone who thought for the downtrodden sections of society and is known as the ‘Champion of farmers’ for dedicating his life to advocating for the wellbeing and rights of farmers. He passed away on May 29, 1987, and on his death anniversary, we take a look at some of the most interesting facts about the great man.
Chaudhary Charan Singh and Indian freedom struggle
Chaudhary Charan Singh became a part of the Indian freedom struggle after being inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. From 1931, he was an active member of the Ghaziabad District Arya Samaj and also the Indian National Congress in Meerut. The British authority imprisoned him twice and he became a member of the Legislative Assembly of the United Provinces in 1937. While being a part of the Assembly, Singh became interested in the laws which negatively affected the village economy hindering its growth.
From then onwards, he gradually began to form an ideological and practical stand against the exploitation that landlords did on the tillers of the land. It is important to note that one of his ancestors, Raja Nahar Singh of Ballabhgarh, was a prominent leader of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Nahar was executed by the British authority and his family including Singh’s grandfather moved to Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh.
A powerful leader of the UP
Chaudhary Charan Singh became one of the most important leaders of the UP Congress between 1952 and 1968. In the 1950s, he drafted and ensured the passage of one of the most revolutionary land reform laws in India when Govind Ballabh Pant was the Chief Minister of the states. His stance as someone who actively worked to improve the condition of the farmers made him immensely popular.
Opposition to Nehru and UP’s first non-Congress CM
Singh was vocal against the socialistic and collectivist land policies of Jawaharlal Nehru in the Nagpur Congress Session and it shot him to nationwide fame in the political arena. His power in the UP Congress was reduced as a result but the middle peasant communities in North India began to see him as their spokesperson and later as their unquestioned leader. Singh was an advocate of tight spending on government officers and enforced consequences for corrupt officers. He left the Congress on April 1, 1967, joined the opposition party, and went on to become UP’s first non-Congress CM.
Becoming the Prime Minister of India
In the 1977 Lok Sabha Elections, the Congress led by Indira Gandhi faced a united opposition under the Janata Party banner. The alliance won the elections and Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister of India. However, he had to resign from the post in July 1979 and Chaudhary Charan Singh became the next PM. However, he had to resign after just 23 days in office when Indira Gandhi’s Congress withdrew support to the government. On March 30, 2024, Singh was posthumously honoured with the Bharat Ratna.
Chaudhary Charan Singh became a part of the Indian freedom struggle after being inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. He devoted his life to propagating the cause of the farmers. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
