Chandra Shekhar

Chandra shekhar : (1 July 1927- 8 July 2007)

Before and after India got freedom, many great personalities were born on India’s pious land. In the history of Indian politics, Chandrashekhar had been a great politician in the period when India was struggling for independence. July1, 1927 was a historical day of Indian politics because on that day, Chandrashekhar, a great politician, took his first breath on this land of India. It was Chandrashekhar who was born on July 1, 1927 in Ibrahimpatti, district Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. His father was a farmer. His family depended on agriculture by occupation. Chandrashekhar had done his Intermediate class from Ram Karan Inter College Bhimpurra, Uttar Pradesh, after that, he completed his B.A. degree from Satish Chandra P.G. College.

In the period of his graduation, he had been head of his company. After graduation, he did not stop his academic studies and took admission in Allahabad University. He completed his Master’s degree in political science in 1951. In the beginning of his political life, Chandrashekhar was called “Firebrand” by people because he was firmly determined in the matter of taking good decisions and speaking truth. His political career began with Ram Manohar Lohia (a great patriot in the Indian freedom history). After getting the degree of B.A., he took his responsibility of socialist politics.

He got married with Duja Devi, a lady with determination in nature. In the season of waist anchor, Chandrashekhar’s wife Duja Devi spoke harsh words in front of Indra Gandhi’s home (3^rd Prime Minister of India). He started contributing in social movements and he was selected secretary of Praja Socialist Party (PSP) over district level, Ballia. Only after sometime, he became joint secretary of the PSP over state level in Uttar Pradesh and in 1955-56, he became general secretary of PSP in Uttar Pradesh. In 1962, he participated first time in his political career for Rajya Sabha election in Utter Pradesh.

Chandrashekhar did some social works with fiery socialist leader Acharya Narendra Dev. In the session 1962-67, he had been a member of Rajya Sabha in India. During the time of emergency in India, he was arrested by police and kept in Patiala jail. To know the real condition of India, he did a nationwide padayatra in 1983. Indira Gandhi got fear from this Padayatra which was done by Chandrashekhar because she thought that if Chandrashekhar is able to make victory in it, she could lose her dynasty. He was a laborious socialist leader.

Mr.Chandrashekhar played a great role for Congress and Praja Socialist Parties. He connected with Congress in 1964 and became the member of Lok Sabha in 1967. In spite of being a member of Congress, he protested Indira Gandhi because of her decisions and actions. He connected with Congress 1964-75. He was known as a ‘Young Turk’ for his bravery at the time of protest against some wrong activities. He and other political leaders, who made “Ginger Group”, were captured in the time of emergency. Mohan Dharia and Ram Dhan were also arrested in that period of emergency. In the starting point of “Ginger Group”, Firoz Gandhi and Satyendra Narayan had been a part of it. After emergency, Chandrashekhar was awarded as a first President of Janata Party. And he founded the base of non-Congress government in the centre in 1977. After that Janata Party performed well in the parliamentary elections and made a combined government. In 1988, Janata Party joined with other local parties and made a compound government in the central. And V.P. Singh became the head of Janata Party on that time. After all, Chandrashekhar founded a new party Janata Dal. With the support of Rajiv Gandhi, he changed the Prime Minister of India in 1990. He supported to V.P. Singh for Prime Minister and in November 1990, V.P. Singh became the seventh Prime Minister of India.

After 1977, he became a part of Lok Sabha in all elections. In1984 Indira Gandhi was murdered. Chandrashekhar came to know that V.P. Singh and Devi Lal opposed him for being the Prime Minister Post. So he pulled down the party and towed down the government in 1990. Chandra Shekhar left Janta Dal with his own several companions and founded Samajwadi Janta Party. He had a confident with the support of his own 64 MPs and Rajiv Gandhi (opposition leader). Some MPs of Janata Dal voted for Chandrashekhar as a Prime Minister but speaker Rabi Ray failed it. Chandrashekhar had been Prime Minister for seven months.

It was the second shortest period of Prime Minister in the Indian history after freedom. Before it, Chaudhary Charan Singh had been awarded as a Prime Minister for the shortest period. After V.P. Singh, Chandrashekhar became the 8^th Prime Minister of India. Chandrashekhar resigned on March 6, 1991 after new elections were held by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. After he resigned the P.M. post, his interest in politics reduced. Although after it, he had been a member of Lok Sabha for many years. He worked as a socialist throughout his life. He made many historical achievements in his more than 80 years life. According to the natural rule, if someone lives on this earth, one day he has to leave this world.

8^th July 2007 was the day when Chandrashekhar (8^th Prime Minister of India) took his last breath. In the age of over 80 years, Chandrashekhar left away from this world. Before death, he suffered from a danger disease multiple myeloma for some time and he was admitted in Apollo Hospital in New Delhi in May 2007. He had two sons. His contribution, which he made for Indian society in the field of politics, can never be forgotten. His works as a socialist have been commendable. There was a big hand of Chandrashekhar in breaking Congress dynasty. Just because of his smart working style, Chandrashekhar has taken a place in the list of great Indian politics. After all, Chandrashekhar is a great example for today’s politicians.