Charan Singh
Chaudhary Charan Singh (23 December 1902 – 29 May 1987) was an Indian politician and a freedom fighter. He served as the 5th prime minister of India and 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 |
| 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.
He served as the 5th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1970 before serving as the 5th prime minister of India beteween 28 July 1979 and 14 January 1980. Though a Congress member for most of his life, he later founded his own political party Lokdal in 1980. Historians and people alike frequently refer to him as the "Champion of India's peasants".