Bhairon Singh Shekhawat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat
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Shekhawat in 2004
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| 11th Vice President of India | |
| In office 19 August 2002 – 21 July 2007 |
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| President | A. P. J. Abdul Kalam |
| Prime Minister | Atal Bihari Vajpayee Manmohan Singh |
| Preceded by | Krishan Kant |
| Succeeded by | Mohammad Hamid Ansari |
| 8th Chief Minister of Rajasthan | |
| In office 4 December 1993 – 29 November 1998 |
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| Preceded by | President's rule |
| Succeeded by | Ashok Gehlot |
| In office 4 March 1990 – 15 December 1992 |
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| Preceded by | Hari Dev Joshi |
| Succeeded by | President's rule |
| In office 22 June 1977 – 16 February 1980 |
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| Preceded by | Hari Dev Joshi |
| Succeeded by | Jagannath Pahadia |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 October 1923 Khachariyaws, Rajputana, British India (now in Rajasthan, India) |
| Died | 15 May 2010 (aged 86) Jaipur, Rajasthan, India |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Spouse | Suraj Kanwar |
| Children | Ratan Rajvi |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan (2003) |
| Signature |  |
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat (born October 23, 1923 – died May 15, 2010) was an important Indian politician. He served as the 11th Vice President of India. He held this high position from August 2002 until July 2007.
Before becoming Vice President, he was the Chief Minister of Rajasthan three times. He was a key member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Shekhawat was also honored with the Padma Bhushan award in 2003 for his service to the nation.
Contents
Early Life and Start in Politics
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was born in 1923 in a Rajput family. His village, Khachriyawas, was in the Sikar district of British India. His father, Devi Singh, was a farmer, and his mother was Bane Kanwar.
He was a good student and finished high school. However, he could not go to college because his father passed away. He had to help support his family. He worked as a farmer and later as a police sub-inspector.
After working in the police for a few years, he became interested in politics. He joined the Bharatiya Jana Sangh party in 1950. In 1952, he left his police job to run in the elections for the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.
A Leader for Rajasthan
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was often called "Rajasthan ka ek hi Singh," meaning "The only lion of Rajasthan." People also affectionately called him "Babosa," which means "Head of the family." He started his political journey in 1952.
He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from different areas in Rajasthan. In 1975, during a tough time called the Emergency, he was arrested and sent to jail. He is remembered as the only non-Congress politician to be the Chief Minister of Rajasthan three times. He was also the first Vice President of India from the BJP.
Political Journey and Key Roles
Joining the Janata Party
After the Emergency ended in 1977, Shekhawat became an MLA again. He was a candidate for the Janata Party. In that year, the Janata Party won many seats in Rajasthan. Shekhawat became the first Chief Minister of Rajasthan who was not from the Congress party. His government was later removed by Indira Gandhi in 1980.
Leading the Bharatiya Janata Party
In 1980, Shekhawat joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He became an MLA and the leader of the opposition. In 1989, the BJP and another party, the Janata Dal, won all 25 seats in Rajasthan for the national parliament (Lok Sabha). They also won many seats in the state assembly.
Shekhawat became Chief Minister of Rajasthan for the second time in 1990. His government was dismissed in 1992, and President's rule was put in place. In the next elections in 1993, Shekhawat led the BJP to be the biggest party. He became Chief Minister of Rajasthan for the third time.
He won almost every election he ran in for the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. In 2002, Shekhawat was elected as the Vice President of India. He won against the other candidate by a good number of votes.
In July 2007, Shekhawat ran for President of India. He was an independent candidate supported by some parties. However, he lost the election to Pratibha Patil. After this, he resigned from his post as Vice President on July 21, 2007. He was the first Vice President to lose a presidential election.
Important Policies and Contributions
Stopping the Sati Practice
Shekhawat played a very important role in stopping the practice of Sati (practice) in Rajasthan. Sati was an old, harmful tradition where a widow would burn herself on her husband's funeral pyre. In 1987, when a young girl named Roop Kanwar was forced into this practice, it caused a big controversy. Shekhawat, without worrying about losing votes, put a complete ban on this practice.
Antyoday Yojna Scheme
Shekhawat started a special program called "Antyoday Yojna." This scheme was designed to help the very poorest people in society. The head of the World Bank, Robert McNamara, even called him the "Rockefeller of India" because of his efforts to help the needy.
Strong Leadership
Shekhawat was known for his strong leadership. He helped improve education and industry in Rajasthan. He also promoted tourism, focusing on the state's rich history, wildlife, and village life. Many leaders, both in India and around the world, praised him for how well he managed the Rajya Sabha (one of India's parliament houses).
Later Years and Passing
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat passed away on May 15, 2010. He had been battling cancer and other health issues. He died at the Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur.
His funeral was held the next day, and thousands of people attended. He was cremated on land provided by the Rajasthan government, where his memorial now stands. He is survived by his wife, Suraj Kanwar, and his daughter, Ratan Rajvi. His wife, Suraj Kanwar, passed away in 2013 and was also cremated at his memorial.
Offices Held
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat held several important positions:
- 22 June 1977 – 16 February 1980: Chief Minister of Rajasthan.
- 1980 – 1990: Leader of the Opposition, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.
- 4 March 1990 – 15 December 1992: Chief Minister of Rajasthan.
- 4 December 1993 – 29 November 1998: Chief Minister of Rajasthan.
- December 1998 – August 2002: Leader of the Opposition, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.
- 19 August 2002 – 21 July 2007: Vice President of India.
Images for kids
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Vice President Shekhawat along with former Governor of Odisha Rameshwar Thakur.
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Vice President Shekhawat inspecting guard of honor at Biju Patnaik International Airport.
See also
- First Bhairon Singh Shekhawat ministry
- Bhairon Singh Shekhawat ministry (1990–1992)
