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Arjun Singh
Arjun Singh (cropped).jpg
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
3 April 2000 (2000-04-03) – 4 March 2011 (2011-03-04)
Constituency Madhya Pradesh
Minister of Human Resource Development
In office
22 May 2004 (2004-05-22) – 22 May 2009 (2009-05-22)
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
Preceded by Murli Manohar Joshi
Succeeded by Kapil Sibal
In office
23 June 1991 (1991-06-23) – 24 December 1994 (1994-12-24)
Prime Minister Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao
Preceded by Rajmangal Pandey
Succeeded by Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao
Leader of the House in Lok Sabha
In office
July 10, 1991 (1991-07-10) – November 20, 1991 (1991-11-20)
Prime Minister Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao
Preceded by Chandra Shekhar
Succeeded by Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
1991 (1991)–1996 (1996)
Preceded by Sukhendra Singh
Succeeded by Sukhlal Kushwaha
Constituency Satna
In office
1985 (1985)–1988 (1988)
Preceded by Lalit Maken
Succeeded by Constituency vacant
Constituency South Delhi
12th Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
In office
14 February 1988 (1988-02-14) – 23 January 1989 (1989-01-23)
Preceded by Motilal Vora
Succeeded by Motilal Vora
In office
9 June 1980 (1980-06-09) – 12 March 1985 (1985-03-12)
Preceded by President's rule
Succeeded by Motilal Vora
Minister of Communications
In office
22 October 1986 (1986-10-22) – 13 February 1988 (1988-02-13)
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi
Preceded by Ram Niwas Mirdha
Succeeded by Vasant Sathe
Minister of Commerce
In office
15 November 1985 (1985-11-15) – 20 January 1986 (1986-01-20)
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi
Preceded by Vishwanath Pratap Singh
Succeeded by Punjala Shiv Shankar
16th Governor of Punjab
In office
14 March 1985 (1985-03-14) – 14 November 1985 (1985-11-14)
President Giani Zail Singh
Preceded by Kershasp Tehmurasp Satarawala
Succeeded by Hokishe Sema
Member of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly
In office
1990 (1990)–1991 (1991)
Preceded by Ajay Singh
Succeeded by Ajay Singh
Constituency Churhat
In office
1988 (1988)–1990 (1990)
Preceded by Laxmi Patel
Succeeded by Nand Kumar Patel
Constituency Kharsia
In office
1977 (1977)–1985 (1985)
Preceded by Chandra Pratap Tiwari
Succeeded by Ajay Singh
Constituency Churhat
In office
1972 (1972)–1977 (1977)
Preceded by KP Singh
Succeeded by Indrajeet Patel
Constituency Sidhi
In office
1967 (1967)–1972 (1972)
Preceded by Ranvijaya Pratap Singh
Succeeded by Ranvijaya Pratap Singh
Constituency Umaria
In office
1957 (1957)–1967 (1967)
Preceded by Constituency established
Succeeded by Constituency dissolved
Constituency Majholi
Personal details
Born (1930-11-05)5 November 1930
Churhat, Bagelkhand Agency, British India
Died 4 March 2011(2011-03-04) (aged 80)
New Delhi, India
Political party Independent (1957-1960)
Indian National Congress (1960-1996, 1998-2011)
All India Indira Congress (Tiwari) (1996-1998)
Spouse Saroj Kumari
Children Ajay Singh
Abhimanyu Singh
Veena Singh
Alma mater Allahabad University

Arjun Singh was an important Indian politician. He was born on November 5, 1930, and passed away on March 4, 2011. He belonged to the Indian National Congress party. He served as the top leader, called Chief Minister, for the state of Madhya Pradesh two times in the 1980s.

He also worked as a Minister of Human Resource Development for the whole country. He did this under Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and P. V. Narasimha Rao. He is well-known for helping to create a system where 27% of seats in colleges like IITs and IIMs were set aside for students from Other Backward Classes. This was done through a special law to help more students get a good education.

Early Life and Education

Arjun Singh was born on November 5, 1930. His family was from a place called Churhat. His father, Shiv Bahadur Singh, was also a politician. Arjun Singh studied law at Rewa Darbar College. He was even the student president there in 1953.

Political Career Highlights

Arjun Singh started his political journey in 1957. He was first elected to the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly. He joined the Indian National Congress party in 1960. He became a minister in the state government in 1962.

He became the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in 1980. This was a very important role. During his time as Chief Minister, the Bhopal Gas Tragedy happened. This was a very sad event.

In 1985, he became the Governor of Punjab. He worked to bring peace to Punjab. After this, he became a minister in the national government. He served as Minister of Commerce. He was also Minister of Communications.

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Arjun Singh addressing the opening of the National Science Centre in New Delhi, 1992

He became Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh again in 1988. He later resigned from this role. In 1991, he was elected to the Lok Sabha, which is a part of India's Parliament. He then became the Minister of Human Resource Development.

Key Contributions to Education

Arjun Singh played a big role in education. As Minister of Human Resource Development, he worked to make education more fair. He helped pass a law to set aside 27% of seats in top colleges for students from Other Backward Classes (OBCs). These colleges included famous ones like IITs, NITs, and IIMs.

This decision was made to help more students from these groups get a chance at higher education. There were some protests about this in 2006. However, in 2008, the Supreme Court of India supported the law. They said that the "creamy layer" (families with higher incomes) among OBCs should not get this benefit. This was to ensure the help went to those who needed it most.

Shri Arjun Singh assumes the charge of Union Minister for Human Resource Development in New Delhi on May 24, 2004
Arjun Singh taking charge as Union Minister for Human Resource Development in New Delhi, 2004

Later Years and Passing

Arjun Singh was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2000. This is the other part of India's Parliament. He was re-elected in 2006. He continued to serve as the Minister of Human Resource Development until 2009.

He received the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award in 2000. This award is given to politicians who do excellent work in Parliament. Arjun Singh passed away on March 4, 2011, at the age of 80. He died in New Delhi due to a heart attack. He was buried in his hometown of Churhat.

Family Life

Arjun Singh was married to Saroj Kumari. They had three children. His son, Ajay Singh, is also a politician. He was a leader in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Arjun Singh's grandson, Arunoday Singh, is a Bollywood actor.

His other grandson, Yuvaraja Aishwarya Singh, is married to Devyani Rana. She is from the royal family of Nepal.

Positions Held by Arjun Singh

  • 1957 - 1985: Member, Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly
  • 1963 - 1967: Minister of State for Agriculture and Information, Government of Madhya Pradesh
  • 1967: Minister of Planning and Development, Government of Madhya Pradesh
  • 1972 - 1977: Minister of Education, Government of Madhya Pradesh
  • 1977 - 1980: Leader of Opposition, Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly
  • 1980 - 1985: Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
  • 1985: Governor of Punjab
  • 1985 - 1988: Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
  • 1985 - 1986: Minister of Commerce, Government of India
  • 1986 - 1988: Minister of Communications, Government of India
  • 1988 - 1991: Member, Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly
  • 1988 - 1989: Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
  • 1991 - 1996: Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
  • 1991 - 1994: Minister of Human Resource Development, Government of India
  • 2000 - 2011: Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
  • 2004 - 2009: Minister of Human Resource Development, Government of India

See Also

  • 2006 Indian anti-reservation protests
  • Reservation in India
  • Forward caste
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