Baldev Singh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Baldev Singh
Baldev Singh (C) with Babasaheb Ambedkar (R) and K. M. Munshi (L) on the Greeneries of Indian Parliament in 1949
1st Minister of Defence
In office 15 August 1947 – 13 May 1952
Prime Minister	Jawaharlal Nehru
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar
Member of Parliament - Lok Sabha
In office 1952–1959
Personal details
Born	(1902-07-11)July 11, 1902 Rupar, Punjab, British Raj (now India)
Died	29 June 1961(1961-06-29) (aged 58) Delhi, India
Political party	Indian National Congress Shiromani Akali Dal Akali Dal
Alma mater	Khalsa College

Baldev Singh (Punjabi: ਬਲਦੇਵ ਸਿੰਘ,Hindi: बलदेव सिंह) was an important Indian political leader. He was born on July 11, 1902, and passed away on June 29, 1961. He played a key role in India's fight for freedom. After India became independent, he became the country's very first Minister of Defence.

Baldev Singh was a Sikh leader. He helped represent the Sikh community during the important talks that led to India's independence and the Partition of India in 1947. People often called him Sardar, which means leader or chief in Punjabi and Hindi. As the first Defence Minister, he served during the First Kashmir War between India and Pakistan.

Early Life and Political Start

Baldev Singh was born on July 11, 1902, in a village called Dumna in Punjab, India. His family was known as Jat. His father, Sir Indra Singh, was a successful businessman in the steel industry. Baldev Singh studied at Khalsa College in Amritsar. After his studies, he joined his father's company and became a director. He was married to Hardev Kaur, and they had two sons, Sarjit Singh and Gurdip Singh.

In 1937, Baldev Singh was elected to the Punjab provincial assembly. He was part of the Panthic Party. He worked closely with Master Tara Singh and the Shiromani Akali Dal, a political party representing Sikhs.

Working Towards India's Freedom

Cripps Mission and World War II

In 1942, the Cripps Mission came to India. This mission was sent by the British to offer Indians some control over their own government. Baldev Singh was chosen to speak for the Sikh community during these talks. Other major Indian political parties, like the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League, were also involved. However, the mission did not succeed.

While the Congress Party started the Quit India Movement to demand immediate British departure, Baldev Singh and other Sikh leaders did not support it. Instead, Baldev Singh worked with Sir Sikandar Hyat Khan to form a government in Punjab. For a short time in 1942, he served as the provincial Development Minister.

Cabinet Mission and India's Independence

Baldev Singh was again chosen to represent the Sikh community when the Cabinet Mission Plan arrived in India. This mission aimed to discuss how India would become independent. Baldev Singh strongly believed that India should remain a single, united country. He also wanted special protections for the rights of religious minorities. He stressed that if India had to be divided, Punjab should be split in a way that protected Sikhs from Muslim control.

Even though Baldev Singh and other Sikhs initially felt the Mission's plan didn't fully protect their community, he joined the new government. This government was led by Congress leaders Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhai Patel. Baldev Singh became the Defence Member, a very important role that was previously held by the British Commander in Chief of the Indian Army. By early 1947, it became clear that the interim government was struggling due to disagreements between the Congress Party and the Muslim League. This led to the decision to divide India.

India's First Defence Minister

Baldev Singh with C. Rajagopalachari and Chiefs of Staff in 1948

On August 15, 1947, India became an independent nation. Baldev Singh was appointed as India's first Minister of Defence under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He was also a member of the Constituent Assembly of India, which helped write India's new constitution.

As Defence Minister, Baldev Singh worked closely with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Home Minister. They were responsible for leading the Indian Army to help millions of Hindus and Sikhs who were moving from the newly formed Pakistan to India. There were huge challenges as people migrated, and the Army worked hard to bring peace and order across India, especially along the borders of Punjab and Bengal. They also organized large-scale relief efforts for the people arriving in India.

Defence Minister Singh also led the planning for the war in Kashmir. This war started when Pakistani tribesmen and some military officers entered Kashmir, trying to make it part of Pakistan. For almost two years, the Indian Army fought battles in very high mountain areas. The Army successfully pushed back the attackers from Srinagar. However, a ceasefire was declared under the United Nations, and a part of Kashmir remained under Pakistani control, leading to the ongoing Kashmir conflict.

In September 1948, Baldev Singh and his commanders prepared for Operation Polo. This was a quick operation that brought the princely state of Hyderabad into the Indian Union. Baldev Singh continued to advise Patel on managing the Kashmir conflict and integrating other states into India. His term as Defence Minister ended in 1952.

Later Life

In 1952, Baldev Singh was elected to the Parliament of India as a member of the Indian National Congress. This was during India's first democratic elections under its new constitution. He was respected by the Akali Dal and continued to represent Sikh concerns in politics. He was re-elected to Parliament in 1957.

Baldev Singh passed away in Delhi in 1961 after a long illness. He is remembered as a key figure in India's independence and its early years as a free nation.

See also

• History of the Punjab
• Indian independence movement
• Partition of India
• Shiromani Akali Dal
• Tara Singh Malhotra