29/12/2014 MORARJI DESAI (ONE OF THE BEST PM) Born On: February 29, 1896 Born In: Bhadeli, Bombay Presidency Died On: April 10, 1995 Career: Freedom Fighter, Political Leader Nationality: Indian Born in a Brahmin family and surrounded in an orthodox religious upbringing, Morarji Desai broke all barriers to serve the nation in the Indian freedom movement to become of the nations foremost freedom fighters and fourth Prime Minister of India. Endearingly known as Morarji Bhai Desai, Morarji Ranchhodji Desai made unmatched achievements and distinctions in the annuals of history, the most eminent being the only high-ranking statesman to receive the highest civilian awards from both India and Pakistan. He was privileged to be conferred upon with Bharat Ratna from India and Nishaan-e-Pakistan from Pakistan. He once quoted One should act in life according to truth and ones faith which formed the core of his beliefs during the freedom movement and for the rest of his life. Early Life Morarji Desai was born in Bhadeli village of Valsad district in Bombay Presidency, now in Gujarat. He was born in an Anavil Brahmin family and hence, was brought up in an orthodox religious environment. Morarji Desai completed his schooling from St. Busar High School and later went to Wilson College in Mumbai to pursue graduation. Thereafter, he joined civil service in Gujarat in 1918 and started working as a Deputy Collector. However, he left his job under the British in 1824 to join the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930. For this, he served in prison on several occasions during the freedom struggle. To add on, his sharp and dynamic leadership skills and tough spirits made him a favorite amongst freedom fighters. He became a member of the All India Congress Committee in 1931 and rose to the position of Secretary of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee until 1937. When the first Congress Government office was set up in Bombay province in 1937, Morarji Desai became the minister of Revenue, Agriculture, Forest, and Co-operatives, under B.G. Kher. Political Career Prior to Indias independence, Morarji Desai took active participation in Satyagraha under Mahatma Gandhi for which he was arrested and was freed only in October 1941. Again in August 1942, he was arrested for supporting the Quit India Movement and was released in 1945. In the State Assembly elections in 1946, he was elected as Minister for Home and Revenue in the Bombay Province. Later in 1952, he was appointed as the Chief Minister of Bombay State. In 1956, he became the Minister of Commerce and Industry in the Union Government and changed his portfolio to Finance in 1958. But with a difference in the linguistics of Desai and the Marathi speaking population in Bombay, there raised a silent conflict in the minds of the public. He added fire to this by carrying out a demonstration under the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti that led to death of 105 demonstrators in 1960. As such, the central government was taken aback, thereby causing the formation of the present state of Maharashtra. Though Desai was a devoted Gandhian, but he opposed the views of the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. And with Nehrus continuous declining health, Desai was regarded as a strong contender for the next Indian Prime Minister due to his increasing popularity in Congress Party. However, in the 1964 elections after Nehrus death, he was defeated by Lal Bahadur Shastri, leaving him to build more support in the party. Yet again in 1966 on Shastris death, he contested for the post but lost to Indira Gandhi with votes in the ratio 169:351. Nonetheless, he was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister in 1967 in Indira Gandhis cabinet. But because he was removed from the post of Finance Minister, he considered this to be disheartening and hence, resigned from the post of Deputy Prime Minister in 1969. With the split of Congress party in the same year, he lent his vote to Organization Congress - Congress (O) and became the foremost opposition leader. He went on an indefinite fast in 1975 with a want of elections in Gujarat Assembly which had earlier been dissolved. As a result, elections were held in June 1975 and the Janata Party won with a clear majority. Following a judgment by the Allahabad High Court against Indira Gandhi in 1975, Desai was of the opinion that Indira Gandhi should resign. Soon after, the Emergency was declared and Desai was arrested on June 26, 1975, along with various other opposition leaders. He was freed from prison on January 18, 1977. Tenure as a Prime Minister Following the lifting of the Emergency, Desai rose amongst the masses sue to his strong willing and convincing powers. He had that spark and determination of drawing people towards his party. As such, he carried out campaigns all across India and therefore, his party, Janata Party, came out victorious in the General Elections in March 1977. He was elected to Lok Sabha from Surat constituency. Soon after, he was unanimously elected as the leader of Janata Party in the Parliament. On March 24, 1977, he was sworn as the fourth Prime Minister of India, thereby becoming the first non-Congress to hold such a position. He was also the worlds oldest person to become a Prime Minister at 81 years, a record which he holds till date. As a Prime Minister, his primary achievements were of improving relations with Pakistan and restoring political relations with China, after the 1962 war. Under his leadership, the government canceled some of the legislations passed during Emergency and thereafter, made it difficult for any other government to impose emergency in the future. But his tenure as a Prime Minister did not last long as he was forced to resign for the office in 1979, after Chaudhary Charan Singh and Raj Narain withdrew from Janata Party. Thus, Desai resigned from Prime Ministerial post on July 28, 1979 and also bid goodbye to politics at the age of 83. Although he campaigned for Janata Party in 1980 General Elections, but he himself did not contest in the election. R&AW Dispute When Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), Indias external intelligence agency, was formed in 1968, Desai regarded it as the praetorian guard of Indira Gandhi and promised to cease all the activities of this agency when he becomes the Prime Minister, which he successfully did to some extent. The budget and operations of the agency were reduced significantly. On one occasion, B. Raman, the former head of the Counter-Terrorism Division of R&AW and noted security analyst, stated that Desai had cautiously informed the them Pakistani President Zia ul-Haq that he was aware of Islamabads nuclear schemes. Contribution to Society Morarji Desai was a true Gandhian and a strict follower of principles, apart from being a social worker and reformer. At Gujarat Vidapith, a university established by Mahatma Gandhi, he served as the Chancellor. He used to visit and stay at the university in October, while serving as the Indian Prime Minister. On Sardar Patels request, he conducted meetings with farmers of Kaira district, thereby leading to the establishment of AMUL Cooperative Movement. He pulled out from Public Distribution System which led to losses incurred by rationing shops due to the availability of sugar and oil at cheap prices in the market. Death On retirement, Morarji Desai resided in Mumbai and died on April 10, 1995, at the age of 99. He is remembered and honored for his contribution to politics during his last years and as a legendary freedom fighter. Timeline 1896: Born on February 29 in Bhadeli, Bombay Presidency 1918: Joined as Deputy Collector in civil service in Gujarat 1924: Resigned from the job 1930: Joined Civil Disobedience Movement 1931: Became a member of All India Congress Committee 1937: Served as secretary of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee 1937: Appointed as Minister of Revenue, Agriculture, Forest, and Co-operatives in Bombay Province 1942: Arrested for supporting Quit India Movement and imprisoned 1945: Released from jail 1946: Elected as Minister for Home and Revenue in Bombay Province 1952: Elected as Chief Minister of Bombay State 1956: Appointed as Minister of Commerce and Industry in the Union Government 1958: Changed the portfolio to Finance 1964: Lost to Lal Bahadur Shastri in Prime Ministerial elections 1966: Lost again to Indira Gandhi in Prime Ministerial elections 1967: Appointed as Deputy Prime Minister of India 1969: Resigned from the post 1975: Campaigned against Indira Gandhi and arrested on June 26 1977: Released from prison on January 18 1977: Became the fourth Prime Minister of India on march 24 1979: Resigned from office on July 28 and retired from politics 1990: Awarded the Nishaan-e-Pakistan 1991: Conferred upon with Bharat Ratna Award 1995: Died in Mumbai on April 10, aged 99 Read more at iloveindia/indian-heroes/morarji-desai-biography.html#EguTJ0e1OlQvl9Dz.99
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 16:30:13 +0000
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