Former PM Charan Singh gets Bharat Ratna: Here is all you should know about 'Champion of Farmers'

Former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh will be honored with the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in the country, as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi expressed that this recognition is a tribute to Singh's remarkable contributions to the nation. Making announcement on Twitter, PM Modi said: "It is the good fortune of our government that former Prime Minister of the country Chaudhary Charan Singh is being honoured with Bharat Ratna. This honour is dedicated to his incomparable contribution to the country. He had dedicated his entire life to the rights and welfare of farmers. Be it the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh or the Home Minister of the country, even as an MLA, he always gave impetus to nation-building. He also stood firm against the Emergency. His dedication to our farmer brothers and sisters and his commitment to democracy during the Emergency are inspiring to the entire nation," PM posted on X.


Additionally, PM Modi announced that agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan and former PM PV Narasimha Rao will also be conferred with the Bharat Ratna. Notably, both Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh come from non-BJP backgrounds.


Also Read: MS Swaminathan: All you need to know about Bharat Ratna awardee & Father of Green Revolution

Who was Chaudhury Charan Singh?

Chaudhary Charan Singh was born in 1902 in Noorpur, Meerut district, Uttar Pradesh, to a middle-class peasant family. He joined the Congress party and served in various government positions, including Parliamentary Secretary and Cabinet Minister. As a Minister for Agriculture and Forests, he made significant contributions to the development of the agricultural sector.

He completed his science degree in 1923 and pursued post-graduation at Agra University in 1925. Additionally, he received legal training and established a practice in Ghaziabad before relocating to Meerut in 1929 and later joining the Congress party. Elected to the UP Legislative Assembly in 1937 from Chhaprauli, he held the position in subsequent years, serving in various ministerial capacities, including Parliamentary Secretary and Cabinet Minister in different departments.

In June 1951, he assumed the role of Cabinet Minister in the State, overseeing the Departments of Justice and Information. Subsequently, he transitioned to the position of Minister for Revenue and Agriculture in Sampurnanand's Cabinet in 1952. Upon his resignation in April 1959, he held responsibility for the Department of Revenue and Transport.

During CB Gupta's Ministry, he served as Minister for Home and Agriculture in 1960. In Sucheta Kripalani's Ministry, he held the post of Minister for Agriculture and Forests from 1962 to 1963. In 1965, he relinquished the Department of Agriculture and assumed leadership of the Local Self-government department in 1966.

Following the Congress split, he assumed the position of Chief Minister of UP for the second time in February 1970 with the backing of the Congress Party. However, President's Rule was enforced in the State on October 2, 1970.

(Inputs from ANI)