Monday, July 6, 2026

A00182 - Charan Singh, Indian Politician, Peasant Leader, Author and Independence Activist Who Became Prime Minister of India

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Singh, Charan

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Chaudhary Charan Singh
Chaudhary Charan Singh
Official portrait, c. 1979
Prime Minister of India
In office
28 July 1979 – 14 January 1980
PresidentNeelam Sanjiva Reddy
Vice PresidentB. D. Jatti
Mohammad Hidayatullah
DeputyYashwantrao Chavan
Preceded byMorarji Desai
Succeeded byIndira Gandhi
Deputy Prime Minister of India
In office
24 January 1979 – 16 July 1979
Serving with Jagjivan Ram
Prime MinisterMorarji Desai
Preceded byMorarji Desai
Succeeded byYashwantrao Chavan
Union Minister of Finance
In office
19 October 1979 – 14 January 1980
Prime MinisterHimself
Preceded byHemwati Nandan Bahuguna
Succeeded byRamaswamy Venkataraman
In office
24 January 1979 – 16 July 1979
Prime MinisterMorarji Desai
Preceded byH. M. Patel
Succeeded byHemvati Nandan Bahuguna
Union Minister of Home Affairs
In office
24 March 1977 – 1 July 1978
Prime MinisterMorarji Desai
Preceded byKasu Brahmananda Reddy
Succeeded byMorarji Desai
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh
In office
18 February 1970 – 1 October 1970
GovernorBezawada Gopala Reddy
Preceded byChandra Bhanu Gupta
Succeeded byTribhuvan Narain Singh
In office
3 April 1967 – 25 February 1968
GovernorBishwanath Das
Bezawada Gopala Reddy
Preceded byChandra Bhanu Gupta
Succeeded byPresident's rule
Personal details
BornChaudhary Charan Singh
23 December 1902
Noorpur, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India
(present-day Uttar Pradesh, India)
Died29 May 1987 (aged 84)
New Delhi, India
PartyLokdal (own party; 1979–1984)
Other political
affiliations
Indian National Congress (before 1967)
Bharatiya Kranti Dal (own party; 1967–1974)
Bharatiya Lok Dal (own party; 1974–1977)
Janata Party (1977–1979)
Janata Party (Secular) (1979–1980)
Dalit Mazdoor Kisan Party (own party; 1984–1987)
Spouse
​
(m. 1925)​
Children6; including Ajit Singh
EducationBachelor of Science (1923), Master of Arts (1925), Bachelor of Laws (1927)
Agra University
NicknameChaudhary Sahab [1]
MonumentsKisan Ghat

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"Simplicity doesn't mean to live in misery and poverty.  You have what you need, and you don't want what you don't need."  (10/15/2022)

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Charan Singh (born December 23, 1902, Noorpur, Meerut district, United Provinces [now Uttar Pradesh], India—died May 29, 1987, New Delhi) was an Indian politician who served briefly as prime minister (July 1979–January 1980), representing the Janata Party. He was also the first non-Indian National Congress chief minister (1967–68) of Uttar Pradesh, which sends the highest number of elected representatives to the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha (the lower and upper houses of India’s parliament, respectively) and significantly influences the country’s political narrative. Singh earned the title “champion of farmers” for his land and agricultural reform initiatives.

Early life

Charan Singh grew up in poverty as the son of a landless farmer and witnessed firsthand the negative effects of the zamindari system, a land revenue system introduced in the 18th century by Lord Cornwallis, the British governor-general of India, in which zamindars (landlords) acted as intermediaries between the British raj and farmers. The widespread exploitation of farmers due to high revenue demands was common in the zamindari system. Singh was instrumental in passing a number of land reforms in his political career, including the Zamindari and Land Reforms Act (1952) in Uttar Pradesh.

He was greatly influenced by the philosophy of the Hindu reform movement Arya Samaj and its founder, Dayanand Saraswati, especially his stance against the caste system. Mahatma Gandhi’s principles, including satyagraha, simple living, and wearing khadi (homespun cotton cloth), deeply influenced Singh’s lifestyle.

Indian National Congress

Singh started practicing law in 1928 and joined the Indian National Congress the following year. His first political activity was participating in the protests against the Simon Commission in 1929. Singh was the president of the Meerut District Congress Committee from 1940 to 1946. He was jailed several times in the struggle for Indian independence, including in 1930 for participating in the Salt Satyagraha and in 1942 for his involvement in the Quit India Movement.

Singh was elected to the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh) legislative assembly in 1937 from Meerut district. He was a cabinet minister in almost every Congress Party government in Uttar Pradesh from 1951 to 1967.

Split from the Congress Party and first term as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh

Charan Singh left the Congress Party in 1967, along with 16 other members, owing to intense disagreements within the party. Singh was particularly concerned about the role of corruption among legislators, the absence of policies favoring agriculture and rural development, and the entrenched concentration of power among urban elites and upper castes. He was also disappointed after being passed over for the position of Uttar Pradesh chief in favor of Congress Party leader Chandra Bhanu Gupta.

When no single party could secure a majority in the 1967 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, a group of parties, including the Jana Sangh and the Samyukta Socialist Party (SSP), merged to form the Samyukta Vidayak Dal (SVD; United Legislators Party). The SVD came to power as a coalition government, and on April 3, 1967, Singh became the first non-Congress Party chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Singh and several other former Congress Party members formed the Bharatiya Kranti Dal (BKD) party in May 1967. During this period tensions arose within the SVD coalition. The SSP launched an “Angrezi hatao” (“remove English”) campaign to protest against the Congress Party’s perceived promotion of English-language education to the detriment of Hindi. The SSP launched violent protests during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s visit to Uttar Pradesh in 1968, and two of its members were arrested. Singh condemned the SSP for the protests. As a result, the socialist parties withdrew from the coalition, causing the government to collapse. Singh resigned as chief minister in February 1968, and Uttar Pradesh came under president’s rule until fresh elections were held in February 1969.

Second term as chief minister

Following the 1969 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the Congress Party emerged as the largest party, and the BKD secured the second largest position. Chandra Bhanu Gupta of the Congress Party was appointed chief minister. Later that year, the Congress Party expelled Gandhi because of differences with the party’s old guard, which led to a split within the party. It resulted in two factions: Congress (O, or Organisation), comprising veteran leaders, and the Gandhi-led Congress (R, or Requisitionists). The instability caused by the split led to the collapse of the Gupta government. In February 1970 Charan Singh, with the support of Congress (R), became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh for the second time.

As chief minister, Singh expedited distribution of land rights to the landless and continued his crusade against corruption. However, tensions between the BKD and the Congress Party resurfaced as the BKD voted against the abolition of the Privy Purse, a payment made to the rulers of erstwhile princely states as part of the agreement to join India. Congress (R), which supported the abolition of the Privy Purse, withdrew its support from the Singh government, which collapsed in September 1970. Subsequently, president’s rule was imposed in the state. The Privy Purse was abolished in 1971 by the 26th Constitutional Amendment Act.

New party, arrest, and entry into the parliament

Singh formed the Bharatiya Lok Dal (BLD), a group of seven parties opposed to the Congress Party, in 1974. He also led massive protests against Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the Congress Party. On June 25, 1975, Indian Pres. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, acting on Gandhi’s advice, declared a national emergency under Article 352 of the Indian constitution that lasted until March 21, 1977. Several leaders who opposed the Emergency, including Charan Singh, were arrested. Singh was imprisoned in Delhi’s Tihar jail on June 25, 1975, and was not released until the following March.

Singh’s BKD, along with the Jana Sangh, the Socialist Party, and Congress (O), merged to form the Janata Party in 1977. Riding on the anti-Emergency wave, the Janata Party resoundingly defeated the Congress Party in the 1977 general election. Singh served as minister of home affairs in Prime Minister Morarji Desai’s cabinet until July 1978. He then resigned from his post over internal differences. He returned to the cabinet six months later and assumed the roles of deputy prime minister and finance minister.

Brief term as prime minister

The Janata Party split in 1979 over internal disagreements and an inability to manage various ideological divides within the party. After the fall of the government, Singh was appointed prime minister in July 1979 with the support of the Indira Gandhi-led Congress Party, on the condition that he withdraw all cases against Gandhi’s son Sanjay Gandhi for actions taken during the Emergency. These cases involved charges of abuse of power and press censorship. Singh refused to withdraw the cases, and the Congress Party pulled its support. Singh resigned as prime minister in August 1979. However, he continued as caretaker prime minister until a new general election was held in January 1980.

Legacy of championing farmers

Singh suffered a stroke in 1985 and died on May 29, 1987. In recognition of his lifelong work to support farmers and rural development, a memorial in his honor known as Kisan Ghat (“farmers’ platform”) was built in the Raj Ghat memorial complex in New Delhi. Each year on December 23, the anniversary of his birthday is celebrated as Kisan Diwas (National Farmers Day) across India.

Quick Facts
In full:
Chaudhary Charan Singh
Born:
December 23, 1902, Noorpur, Meerut district, United Provinces [now Uttar Pradesh], India
Died:
May 29, 1987, New Delhi (aged 84)
Political Affiliation:
Indian National Congress
Janata Party
Charan Singh’s Family
  • Gayatri Devi (wife): Elected to the Lok Sabha in 1980, worked for farmers’ rights
  • Ajit Singh (son): Founded the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) party (1996); backed the farmer protests (2020–21) against controversial farm laws
  • Jayant Chaudhary (grandson): Elected to the Lok Sabha in 2009, also backed the farmer protests

In 2024 Indian Pres. Droupadi Murmu conferred the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, on Charan Singh posthumously.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica











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Chaudhary Charan Singh (23 December 1902 – 29 May 1987) was an Indian politician, peasant leader, author and an independence activist who briefly served as the prime minister of India from July 1979 to January 1980.[2][3] Singh was principally known for his land and agricultural reform initiatives, and was Member of Parliament (MP) for Baghpat. During his premiership, he was a member of the Janata Party (Secular). He served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh as a member of Bharatiya Kranti Dal. He also briefly served as the 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", dedicated to advocating for the well being and rights of farmers.[4]

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 pursued Master of Arts in history in 1925. In 1927 he completed his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Meerut College.

Singh entered politics during 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 Defence of India Rules (DIR) and released in November 1943. He was a Congress member for most of his life, he later founded his own Lok Dal party.[5][6] He is the first leader outside the Indian National Congress who formed government in northern India and became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.[7] He is second deputy prime minister to become prime minister after his predecessor Desai. He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2024.[4]

Early life and education

Singh was born on 23 December 1902 to Mir Singh and Netar Kaur in Nurpur village of Meerut district, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. His father was a farmer belonging to the Tewatia clan of Jats.[8][9] Singh started his primary education in Jani Khurd village in Meerut. He did his Matriculation and Intermediate from the Government High School in 1921 and then he went to Agra College to pursue Bachelor of Science in 1923, Masters of Arts in History (British, European and Indian) in 1925. He then did Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Meerut College in 1927. Singh had knowledge about European and Indian history as well as civil laws of British India as it affected the lives of people living in villages.[10]

Charan Singh parents, Mir Singh and Netar Kaur in 1955

Singh entered politics as part of the Indian Independence Movement motivated by Mahatma Gandhi. He was active from 1931 in the Ghaziabad District Arya Samaj as well as the Meerut district Indian National Congress for which he was jailed twice by the British. Before independence, as a member of Legislative Assembly of the United Provinces elected in 1937, he took a deep interest in the laws that were detrimental to the village economy and he slowly built his ideological and practical stand against the exploitation of tillers of the land by landlords.

Between 1952 and 1968, he was one of "three principal leaders in Congress state politics." He became particularly notable in Uttar Pradesh from the 1950s for drafting and ensuring the passage of what were then the most revolutionary land reform laws in any state in India under the tutelage of the then Chief Minister Govind Ballabh Pant; first as Parliamentary Secretary and then as Revenue Minister responsible for Land Reforms. He became visible on the national stage from 1959 when he publicly opposed the unquestioned leader and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's socialistic and collectivist land policies in the Nagpur Congress Session. Though his position in the faction-ridden Uttar Pradesh Congress was weakened, this was a point when the middle peasant communities across castes in North India began looking up to him as their spokesperson and later as their unquestioned leader. Singh stood for tight government spending, enforced consequences for corrupt officers, and advocated a "firm hand in dealing with the demands of government employees for increased wages and dearness allowances." It is also worth noting that within the factional Uttar Pradesh Congress, his ability to articulate his clear policies and values made him stand out from his colleagues. Following this period, Charan Singh defected from the Congress on 1 April 1967, joined the opposition party, and became the first non-Congress chief minister of UP.[11] This was a period when non-Congress governments were a strong force in India from 1967 to 1971.

As leader of the Bharatiya Lok Dal, a major constituent of the Janata coalition, he was disappointed in his ambition to become Prime Minister in 1977 by Jayaprakash Narayan's choice of Morarji Desai.

During 1977 Lok Sabha Elections, the fragmented opposition united a few months before the elections under the Janata Party banner, for which Chaudhary Charan Singh had been struggling almost single-handedly since 1974. It was because of the efforts of Raj Narain that he became Prime Minister in the year 1979 though Raj Narain was Chairman of Janata Party-Secular and assured Charan Singh of elevating him as Prime Minister, the way he helped him to become Chief Minister in the year 1967 in Uttar Pradesh. However, he resigned after just 23 days in office when Indira Gandhi's Congress Party withdrew support to the government. Singh said he resigned because he was not ready to be blackmailed into withdrawing Indira Gandhi's emergency-related court cases.[12] Fresh elections were held six months later. Charan Singh continued to lead the Lok Dal in opposition until his death in 1987.

Pre-independence India

Charan Singh's ancestor was a prominent leader of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Raja Nahar Singh of Ballabhgarh (in present-day Haryana). Nahar Singh was sent to the gallows in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. In order to escape the oppression from the British Government following their defeat, the Maharaja's followers, including Charan Singh's grandfather moved eastward to district Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh.[13]

He received a Master of Arts (MA) degree in 1925 and a law degree in 1926 from Agra University. He started practice as a civil lawyer at Ghaziabad in 1928.[14]

In February 1937 he was elected from the constituency of Chhaprauli (Baghpat) to the Legislative Assembly of the United Provinces at the age of 34.[14] In 1938 he introduced an Agricultural Produce Market Bill in the Assembly which was published in the issues of The Hindustan Times of Delhi dated 31 March 1938. The Bill was intended to safeguard the interests of the farmers against the rapacity of traders. The Bill was adopted by most of the States in India, Punjab being the first state to do so in 1940.[15]

Charan Singh (fifth from left in last row) with members of Arya Samaj in 1930

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.[16]

Independent India

Charan Singh opposed Jawaharlal Nehru on his Soviet-style economic reforms. Charan Singh was of the opinion that cooperative farms would not succeed in India. Being a son of a farmer, Charan Singh opined that the right of ownership was important to the farmer in remaining a cultivator. He wanted to preserve and stabilise a system of peasant proprietorship.[11] Charan Singh's political career suffered due to his open criticism of Nehru's economic policy.

Singh is known for piloting pro-farmer legislation such as the Consolidation of Holdings Act of 1953 and the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari and Land Reforms Act, 1952. The latter led to the abolition of zamindari system in the state.He was also strict in dealing with the 'Patwari strike crisis' in 1953. Land reforms resulted in empowering the tillers and providing the landless with ownership of land. It created a conducive atmosphere for the social and economic upliftment of the farmers. During the drought in 1966–1967, Singh offered the agriculturists a much higher procurement price than the prevailing market rates. The infrastructure he laid down led to the Minimum Support Price mechanism.[16]

Charan Singh left the Congress party in 1967, and formed his own political party, Bharatiya Kranti Dal. With the help and support of Raj Narain and Ram Manohar Lohia, he became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1967, and later in 1970. In 1975, he was jailed again, but this time by then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, daughter of his former rival Nehru. She had declared the state of emergency and jailed all her political opponents. In the 1977 general elections, the Indian populace voted her out, and the opposition party, of which Chaudhary Charan Singh was a senior leader came into power. He served as Deputy Prime Minister, Home Minister and Finance minister in the Janata government headed by Morarji Desai.

First term as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (1967–1968)

Charan Singh for the first time, became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on 3 April 1967 with the help of Samyukta Vidhayak Dal coalition.[14] Samyukta Vidhayak Dal was formed after failure of negotiations between Charan Singh and Chandra Bhanu Gupta on the composition of Gupta's ministry. Singh wanted some of his allies like Jai Ram Varma and Udit Narain Sharma to be included in the cabinet and removal of some of the men from the cabinet. As a result of failure of negotiations, Charan Singh with his 16 MLAs defected from Congress.[17]

Samyukta Vidhayak Dal was coalition formed with the help of non-Congress parties like Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Samyukta Socialist Party, Communist Party of India, Swatantra Party, Praja Socialist Party, Republican Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist).[18] Within months of his government formation disputes started to arise in SVD coalition. Samyukta Socialist Party, one of the constituent of this coalition, demanded to completely abolish the land revenue or at least abolish on uneconomic lands but Charan Singh refused to accept this demand as he was worried about the revenue generation and resources.[19] Praja Socialist Party, another constituent in this coalition, demanded for the release of government employees held in preventive detention for their strikes but this demand also Singh refused to accept.[20]

The disputes between Charan Singh and Samyukta Socialist Party became public when SSP decided to launch an agitation of Angrezi Hatao (get rid to English) and during this movement two of its ministers courted arrest.[14][21] SSP withdrew from coalition on 5 January 1968.[21] On 17 February 1968, Charan Singh submitted his resignation to the governor Bezawada Gopala Reddy and on 25 February 1968, President's rule was imposed on Uttar Pradesh.[22][23]

Second term as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (1970)

After the split in Congress party, Chandra Bhanu Gupta resigned as Chief Minister on 10 February 1970.[24] On 18 February 1970, Charan Singh became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for the second time with the help of Indira Gandhi's Congress (R).[25][26] After three Rajya Sabha members of Bharatiya Kranti Dal voted against the decision of Indira Gandhi to eliminate the Privy Purse, Kamalapati Tripathi announced the withdrawal of the support of Congress (R) for the Singh's government.[27] Charan Singh demanded the resignation of 14 Congress (R) minister but they refused to resign.[27] On 27 September 1970, governor Bezawada Gopala Reddy accepted the resignation of ministers but also asked Charan Singh to resign.[26][28]

On 1 October 1970, President's rule was imposed on Uttar Pradesh by V. V. Giri from Kiev, who was on tour there.[29] Just two weeks later with the recalling of the Uttar Pradesh assembly, Tribhuvan Narain Singh was elected the leader of the house and became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh with the support of Congress (O), Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Swatantra Party and Samyukta Socialist Party.[30]

Minister of Home Affairs (1977–1978)

Charan Singh became Cabinet minister in Morarji Desai government and took the office as Minister of Home Affairs on 24 March 1977.[14][31] As a Home Minister, Charan Singh took the decision to dissolve all the state assemblies which were under Congress rule. He argued that these assemblies no longer represent the will of the electorate of their respective states.[32][33] Charan Singh wrote the letter to nine Chief Ministers to advise their governors to dissolve their state assemblies.[34] Chief Minister of these states went to Supreme Court against this dissolution but the dismissals were validated by Supreme Court.[35][36]

On 3 October 1977, Charan Singh got Indira Gandhi arrested from her 12 Willingdon Crescent residence.[37][38][39] The charges against her were that during 1977 election, she misused her position to get jeeps for election campaigns and another charge was related to contract between the ONGC and the French oil company CFP.[40][41] But the magistrate before whom she appeared, released her stating that there was no evidence to back up the arrest.[40] By botching up the arrest, Singh prepared his resignation letter but Morarji Desai did not accept it.[42]

On 1 July 1978, Charan Singh resigned from the cabinet of Morarji Desai because of growing differences between them over trial of Indira Gandhi.[14][43] In December 1978, Singh wanted to undo Janata Party and wanted coalition government in place of Janata Party government.[44] On 24 January 1979, Singh returned into cabinet and held two portfolios of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.[45][14]

Prime Minister of India (1979–1980)

Following the Janata Party victory in the 1977 general election, its MPs delegated the selection of a prime minister to Jayaprakash Narayan and Acharya Kripalani. Morarji Desai was chosen as the prime minister and subsequently appointed Charan Singh as home minister of India. However, due to disagreements with Desai, Singh was asked to resign on 1 July 1978. He was later reinstated as deputy prime minister with finance ministry on 24 January 1979. By 1979, the Janata Party faced internal divisions, particularly over the dual loyalties of some members to both the party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).[46][47]

Charan Singh as Prime Minister of India

Singh, who had previously ordered the arrests of Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi as union home minister, capitalised on the growing discord by seeking the support of Indira Gandhi's Congress (I) party. Following significant defections from the Janata Party to Singh's faction, Morarji Desai resigned as prime minister in July 1979. Subsequently, president Neelam Sanjiva Reddy appointed Singh as prime minister after Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi assured him of external support from Congress (I) under certain conditions. Singh was sworn in as prime minister on 28 July 1979, with Yeshwantrao Chavan of the Congress (U) party serving as deputy prime minister.[48][49]

President Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy swearing in Singh as PM

Singh's tenure as prime minister was short-lived. On 15 August 1979, he hoisted the national flag at the Red Fort on Independence Day, making history with his address to the nation. In his speech, he emphasised the importance of integrity, stating:

‘To be able to achieve noble objectives, your means should also be equally noble…A country where people are corrupt, will never be able to progress whosoever may be the leader of the party or whatever be the sound programme he might follow.’[50]

Prime Minister Charan Singh addresses nation at Red Fort on 15 August 1979

However, Charan Singh government soon faced a major setback. Indira Gandhi's support was conditional upon the withdrawal of all charges against her and Sanjay Gandhi. Singh refused to comply, prompting Congress (I) to withdraw its support just before he was scheduled to prove his majority in the Lok Sabha. Consequently, he resigned as prime minister on 20 August 1979, after just 23 days in office, becoming the only Indian prime minister to never face Parliament.[51]

Following his resignation, Singh advised president Reddy to dissolve the Lok Sabha. Janata Party leader Jagjivan Ram contested this move and sought time to gather support, but the dissolution proceeded. Singh remained in office as caretaker prime minister from 21 August 1979 to 14 January 1980, when fresh elections were held.[52]

Later years

On 26 September 1979, he formed Lok Dal by merging Janata Party (Secular), Socialist Party and Orissa Janata Party.[53] He was elected president of Lok Dal and Raj Narain was elected as its working president.[53][54] In August 1982, a major split occurred in Lok Dal, with one faction of Charan Singh and another consisted of Karpoori Thakur, Madhu Limaye, Biju Patnaik, Devi Lal, George Fernandes and Kumbha Ram Arya.[55][56]

On 21 October 1984, Singh founded a new party Dalit Mazdoor Kisan Party, by merging Lok Dal, Democratic Socialist Party of Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, Rashtriya Congress of Ratubhai Adani and some leaders of Janata Party like Devi Lal.[57] Later it changed its name back to the Lok Dal.[58]

Public image

Singh's public image was predominantly that of a dedicated advocate for farmers, earning him the nicknames like "Champion of Farmers" and "Chaudhary Sahab".[59] His efforts in land reforms, such as the UP Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1952, aimed at empowering tillers and providing land ownership to the landless, significantly boosted his reputation among rural communities, particularly in western Uttar Pradesh and made him messiah of farmers.[60] His simple lifestyle and integrity, often highlighted by wearing hand-woven Khadi clothes and was a teetotaler,[61] further enhanced his image as an ethical leader committed to rural development.[62]

Singh in Khadi made dhoti and kurta

Singh was also noted for his opposition to casteism, advocating for social equality and criticising caste-based discrimination, which resonated with his broader vision of uplifting rural and marginalised groups.[63][64]

In 2018, BBC wrote that, Chaudhary Charan Singh was more than merely a political figure, a champion of farmers, a leader of a political party, or a past Prime Minister; he embodied an entire philosophy and way of thinking.[65]

In Chaudhuri Charan Singh: An Indian Political Life, Paul Brass, an American political scientist wrote that Singh was a visionary leader committed to rural development and farmer welfare. Brass highlights Singh's legislative achievements, such as the Consolidation of Holdings Act of 1953, Uttar Pradesh Zamindari and Land Reforms Act of 1952, and the introduction of the Minimum Support Price (MSP), which empowered farmers and addressed caste divisions. Singh is depicted as a principled nationalist, advocating for agriculture over industrialisation, though ambitious and entangled in Congress factional politics, notably clashing with Nehru. Brass emphasises Singh's strong support among Jats and backward castes in Uttar Pradesh, his social justice initiatives like inter-caste marriage incentives, and his dedication to public service without personal enrichment. Drawing from Singh's personal files and interviews, Brass presents him as a forward-thinking politician whose policies influenced modern governance.[66]

Mohammad Hamid Ansari, then Vice-President of India along with H. D. Deve Gowda, former prime minister of India releasing Hindi transl. of book by Paul Brass on Charan Singh, in New Delhi

Over the years many contemporary and modern politicians have perceptions on Charan Singh. In February 2024, when announcing the Bharat Ratna for Charan Singh, prime minister Narendra Modi praised his contributions. He stated that, "It is the good fortune of our government that former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh is being honoured with Bharat Ratna. This honor is dedicated to his incomparable contribution to the country." Modi further elaborated, "He had dedicated his entire life to the rights and welfare of farmers. He also stood firm against the Emergency. His dedication to our farmers and his commitment to democracy during the Emergency is inspiring to the entire nation.[67][68] R. Venkataraman, then president of India described Singh as "a champion for the cause of India's peasantry" in a posthumous tribute[69]

Electoral history

Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections

YearConstituencyPartyVotes%ResultOpponentMargin
1952Baghpat WestINC18,298WonRaghubir Singh8420
1957Kotana27,075WonVijaipal Singh624
196233,912WonShyam Lal26,641
1967Chaprauli59,199WonS. Singh52,188
1969BKD62,419WonMunshi Ram47,940
197454,348WonPritam Singh26,533

Lok Sabha elections

YearConstituencyPartyVotes%ResultOpponentMargin
1977BaghpatBKD286,301WonRam Chandra Vikal121,538
1980JP(S)323,077WonRam Chandra Vikal165,121
1984LKD253,463WonMahesh Chand85,674

Personal life

In 1925, Singh married Gayatri Devi (1905–2002), who later became political leader, serving as an Member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Iglas (1969) and Gokul (1974) in Uttar Pradesh, and as a Lok Sabha MP from Kairana (1980).[70]

The couple had six children: five daughters - Satyawati, Vedwati, Gyanwati, Sharda, Saroj and one son, Ajit Singh (1939–2021). Ajit, a former IBM employee with degrees from IIT Kharagpur and the Illinois Institute of Technology, entered politics in 1986, later founding the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). He served as a Union Minister and represented Baghpat in the Lok Sabha for seven terms. Ajit married Radhika Singh in 1967, and they had one son and two daughters. He died of COVID-19 in May 2021.[71][72]

Charan Singh's grandson, Jayant Chaudhary (born 1978), son of Ajit and Radhika, was elected to the 15th Lok Sabha from Mathura in 2009 but lost in 2014 to Hema Malini. He also contested Baghpat in 2014, losing to Satyapal Singh of the BJP. Jayant became RLD president after his father's death and was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in 2022. He is married to Charu Singh, with whom he has two daughters.[73][74]

Singh with Gayatri Devi

Awards and honours

Death

Singh initially suffered a stroke on 29 November 1985. He could not recover from that condition despite being treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital, United States in March 1986. On 28 May 1987, Dr Jai Pal Singh along with other senior doctors from RML Hospital, New Delhi arrived at his residence around 11:35 p.m. (IST), after his respiration was found "unsteady".[76] Singh was then given oxygen support but efforts to revive him failed and was declared dead at 2:35 a.m. (IST) on 29 May 1987, due to "cardiac arrest" at the age of 85.[77]

Following his death, the Government of India announced a four-day mourning and a state funeral. On 31 May 1987, Singh was given a state funeral in Delhi. He was cremated at the Kisan Ghat in Raj Ghat, New Delhi. Many leaders arrived at Singh residence on Tuglaq Road to pay their last respects such as then PM Rajiv Gandhi, Natwar Singh, former president Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, Bansi Lal, Devi Lal, Ram Niwas Mirdha, N. D. Tiwari.[78]

Legacy

Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh paying floral tribute to the former Prime Minister, Late Ch. Charan Singh on his 104th birth anniversary at Kisan Ghat in Delhi on 23 December 2006

Singh, often hailed as the Champion of Farmers,’ left behind a rich legacy that continues to inspire and shape the agricultural landscape of India. His contributions to the welfare of the farmers and the rural community were profound and multifaceted.

Singh's journey as a stalwart for farmers’ rights began with his instrumental role in piloting pro-farmer legislation such as the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act of 1950, which aimed to redistribute land from the zamindars to the tillers, and the Consolidation of Holdings Act of 1953, which sought to prevent the fragmentation of agricultural land.[79]

Singh was the chief architect of land reforms in Uttar Pradesh, where he played a pivotal role in the formulation and finalisation of the Debt Redemption Bill 1939.[79] This legislation brought significant relief to rural debtors, easing the burden of debts that had long plagued the agricultural community.[80]

Statue of Charan Singh

As Chief Minister of U.P., Singh was instrumental in enacting the Land Holding Act of 1960. This act aimed at lowering the ceiling on land holdings to make it uniform throughout the state, thereby promoting fairer land distribution and addressing the disparities in land ownership.[6]

Singh's birthday, 23 December, was declared as Kisan Diwas or National Farmers’ Day in 2001. This day is celebrated across India to honor his memory and his unwavering dedication to the agrarian community.[81] To commemorate his second death anniversary, the Government of India issued a postage stamp on 29 May 1990. The stamp symbolises the nation's respect for his contributions as the 5th prime minister of India and a champion of farmers’ rights.[82] His commitment to the agricultural sector were further immortalised with the establishment of Kisan Ghat in 1987 as this memorial in New Delhi serves as a serene place where people pay their respects to the man who was often referred to as the Champion of Farmers.[83]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying tributes at the portrait of the former Prime Minister, Late Ch. Charan Singh, on his 113th birth anniversary, at Parliament House on 23 December 2015

Several monuments and institutions have been named after Singh to honour his legacy which includes the Chaudhary Charan Singh University in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, and the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, which was renamed in his honour. On 23 December 2023, a 51-foot statue of Singh was unveiled by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Bilari, Moradabad district coinciding Singh's birth anniversary.[84]

On 30 March 2024, Singh was posthumously honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award by President Droupadi Murmu, for his exceptional service and contributions to the agricultural sector, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. Singh's multifaceted personality encompassed roles as a patriot, administrator, statesman, and a man of integrity and humanist values.[85][86]

Charan Singh 1990 stamp of India

Kisan Kranti Ke Praneta – Ch. Charan Singh is a 1996 short documentary film directed by Ashok Vazirani and produced by the Films Division of India which covers the life and achievements of the prime minister including his contributions to the Indian agriculture sector.[87][88] Charan Singh has also been portrayed by Anwar Fatehan in the 2013 television series Pradhanmantri (lit. 'Prime Minister'), which covers the tenures of Indian PMs,[89] by Sundaram in the 2019 film NTR: Mahanayakudu which is based on the life of Indian actor-politician N. T. Rama Rao.,[90] and by Govind Namdeo in the 2021 film Main Mulayam Singh Yadav which charts the life of former Uttar Pradesh CM Mulayam Singh Yadav.[91]

Books

  • Abolition of Zamindari (1947)[92]
  • Whither Co-operative Farming (1956)[93]
  • Agrarian Revolution in Uttar Pradesh (1957)[94]
  • Joint Farming X-rayed (1959)[95]
  • India's Poverty and Its Solution (1964)[96]
  • India's Economic Policy – The Gandhian Blueprint (1978)[97]
  • Economic Nightmare of India: Its Cause and Cure (1981)[98]
  • Land Reforms in UP and the Kulaks (1986)[99]
  • Peasant Proprietorship or Land to the Workers
  • Prevention of Division of Holdings Below a Certain Minimum

See also

References

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Further reading

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Famous Quotes by Charan Singh

Charan Singh, the fifth Prime Minister of India (1979–1980), was known for his strong advocacy of rural welfare, agrarian reforms, and opposition to caste-based discrimination. Here are some of his notable quotes:

  • On villages and rural life: "The true India resides in its villages." A-Z Quotes+1

  • On poverty and basic needs: "Our poverty has to be eliminated and the basic necessities of life made available to every single citizen. Political leadership of the country must remember that nothing mocks our values and our dreams more than the desperate struggle of our people for existence; nothing could therefore be more poignant than the look of despair in the eyes of a starving child. Nothing could therefore be a more patriotic objective for our political leaders than to ensure that no child will go to bed hungry, that no family will fear for its next day's bread and that the future and capacities of not a single Indian will be allowed to be stunted by malnutrition." en.wikiquote.org+1

  • On caste and social reform: "I have always been opposed to this social system since my childhood. After graduation I was offered a post as Vice-Principal at the Jat High School but in that there was the name of a caste and I could not accept that." en.wikiquote.org+1

  • On communal bodies: "The first thing our leadership in 1947 should have done was to delegalize all communal bodies. All organizations whose membership was confined to a particular caste or religion should have been disallowed from the political field." en.wikiquote.org+1

  • On leadership and democracy: "There is utter lack of leadership in the state. The name of the Congress is mud." Lib Quotes+1

  • On political adversaries: "Quite a number of Congressmen are disguised as communists. They will go with Mrs Gandhi to the ultimate end. They have always been enemies of democracy. Behind-them is the Right CPI and behind it is Soviet Russia." Lib Quotes+1

  • On monarchy and democracy: "That abolition of the privy purse will strengthen and ensure success of democracy is pure bunkum. Advanced countries like Britain and Japan are not less democratic or less progressive for the maintenance of their kings and princes. Royalty was not abolished even by socialist parties when they came to power in these countries." Lib Quotes+1

  • On identity and caste barriers: "I am a Jat, born in a Jat family. A Muslim I can become immediately, but I cannot become a Brahmin, I cannot become a Rajput. Nor can I become even a Vaishya. And if I want to become a Harijan, even that is impossible, because the constitution does not permit it. It is better if this sort of caste system is destroyed…" Lib Quotes+1

  • On political loyalty: "Non-Jats also vote for him. How many districts are there in UP and how many districts are there in which in which this animal of a Jat is found? Is there anything in my life to suggest that I am casteist?" en.wikiquote.org+1

These quotes reflect his commitment to rural development, social justice, and democratic values, while also revealing his strong stance against casteism and his critical view of political leadership.


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Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement founded in 1875 by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, emphasizing Vedic authority, social reform, and moral living.

Origin and Founder

Arya Samaj was established by Swami Dayananda Saraswati on April 10, 1875, in Bombay, India, with the aim of reviving Vedic Hinduism and promoting truth (satya) and righteousness (dharma) in society Wikipedia+2. The term “Arya Samaj” translates to “Society of Nobles”, reflecting a community of individuals with high moral character Wikipedia+1. Dayananda Saraswati sought to reform orthodox Hindu practices and counter social evils prevalent at the time, such as idolatry, child marriage, polygamy, and the practice of Sati Study IQ Education+1.

Core Beliefs and Principles

Arya Samaj is based on the Vedas as the ultimate source of knowledge and divine revelation Wikipedia+1. Its key principles include:

Social and Educational Reforms

Arya Samaj established Vedic schools (Gurukulas) to teach Vedic knowledge, Sanskrit, and moral values, providing separate education for boys and girls Wikipedia+1. The movement actively engaged in social reform, including:

  • Campaigns against child marriage and polygamy.
  • Promotion of widow remarriage.
  • Establishment of schools, colleges, orphanages, and homes for widows Encyclopedia Britannica.
  • Relief work during famines and social crises aryasamajkerala.org.in+1.

Global Presence and Impact

Arya Samaj has a worldwide presence, with branches in India and abroad, including Kerala, where it played a significant role in reviving Vedic teachings and aiding communities during crises like the Malabar Rebellion of 1921 aryasamajkerala.org.in. The movement emphasizes ethical living, spiritual growth, and social welfare, aiming to improve both individual and societal well-being arya-samaj.org.

Summary

In essence, Arya Samaj is a reformist Hindu movement that seeks to restore the authority of the Vedas, promote moral and ethical living, and implement social reforms. It combines spiritual teachings with practical efforts to enhance education, equality, and social justice, making it a significant force in modern Hindu society 

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CHARAN SINGH DIES AT AGE 85

CHARAN SINGH DIES AT AGE 85; INDIA'S FIFTH PRIME MINISTER

By Steven R. Weisman, Special To the New York Times

CHARAN SINGH DIES AT AGE 85; INDIA'S FIFTH PRIME MINISTER
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Charan Singh, a peasant organizer and leader of the independence movement who in 1979 became India's fifth Prime Minister, died today of complications from a stroke. He was 85 years old.

Mr. Singh served as Prime Minister for less than a month before his coalition dissolved. With his death, another link was broken between the generation that campaigned for Indian independence and the current generation of politicians.

Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, declaring that India had lost ''a respected and dedicated leader,'' noted that Mr. Singh had joined the independence movement as a follower of Mohandas K. Gandhi ''and adopted rural upliftment as his life's mission.''

A political ally of Mr. Singh's, Sitaram Kesri, said, ''Another link with the great Gandhian past has been snapped by his death.''

Another ally, H. N. Bahuguna, said Mr. Singh's death had removed ''a great champion of freedom struggle and the tallest living Gandhian.'' Mohandas Gandhi is no relation to the current Prime Minister. Wrote Books on Rural Issues

Mr. Singh, president of the Lok Dal, or People's Party, was a popular politician and a shrewd tactician who also wrote books on the abolition of large feudal landholdings and the need for cooperative farming as a solution to India's rural poverty.

Starting out as a member of the Indian National Congress, which led the independence movement, Mr. Singh was jailed several times in the years before independence in 1947. He then rose to power in his home state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. He served as the state's Chief Minister but broke with the Congress Party when it split under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1969.

In 1977, Mr. Singh helped forge a new coalition challenging Mrs. Gandhi for re-election after the two-year state of emergency, in which she had suspended civil liberties and jailed thousands of political opponents. The coalition, known as the Janata, or People's Party, was swept into power in elections that year. Thus began the first and only period in which India was governed by an organization other than the Congress Party.

The Janata Government was fractious from the outset, and Mr. Singh, leading the separate party known as Lok Dal, broke from Morarji R. Desai, who was Prime Minister, in 1978.

He rejoined Mr. Desai as Deputy Prime Minister and then broke with him again in 1979, this time because of objections to the involvement in the coalition of a right-wing Hindu organization. Backed Briefly by Indira Gandhi

The second time, Mrs. Gandhi's Congress forces were instrumental in bringing Mr. Singh to power as Prime Minister, supporting his Lok Dal with Congress votes. He was sworn in on July 28, 1979, only to have Mrs. Gandhi withdraw her support and precipitate elections on Aug. 20.

President Sanjiva Reddy asked Mr. Singh to continue functioning as Prime Minister of a caretaker Government while the election campaign was under way. Mrs. Gandhi swept back into power, however, and the Lok Dal came in second.

Since 1980, Mr. Singh continued to lead the Lok Dal and was a strong critic of Mrs. Gandhi and her son Rajiv, who took office in 1984 after his mother's assassination. But Mr. Singh had been ailing since his stroke in November 1985.

The Government today declared four days of mourning and said Mr. Singh would be given a state funeral. He is survived by his wife, Gayatri Devi, a son and five daughters.

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