Zail Singh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Giani
Zail Singh
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| 7th President of India | |
| In office 25 July 1982 – 25 July 1987 |
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| Prime Minister | |
| Vice President |
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| Preceded by | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy |
| Succeeded by | R. Venkataraman |
| Minister of Home Affairs | |
| In office 14 January 1980 – 22 June 1982 |
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| Prime Minister | Indira Gandhi |
| Preceded by | Yashwantrao Chavan |
| Succeeded by | R. Venkataraman |
| 9th Chief Minister of Punjab | |
| In office 17 March 1972 – 30 April 1977 |
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| Governor |
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| Preceded by | President's rule |
| Succeeded by | President's rule |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jarnail Singh
5 May 1916 Sandhwan, Faridkot, British India |
| Died | 25 December 1994 (aged 78) Chandigarh, India |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse | Pardhan Kaur |
| Children | 4 |
Giani Zail Singh (born Jarnail Singh; 5 May 1916 – 25 December 1994) was an Indian politician from Punjab. He served as the seventh President of India from 1982 to 1987. He was the first Sikh person to become president. He was also the first person from a group called a "backward caste" to hold this high office. These groups faced challenges in society.
Born in Sandhwan in the area of Faridkot, Singh trained to be a granthi. A granthi is a person who reads and teaches from the Sikh holy book. He was given the title of giani, which means a learned man. This happened while he was training at the Sikh Missionary School in Amritsar. Singh was involved in movements that fought for farmers' rights. He also worked for a fair government in Faridkot.
His political work led him to join the Praja Mandal. This group worked closely with the Indian National Congress, a major political party. Because of his activism, he was put in jail alone for a long time, from 1938 to 1943. He led peaceful protests, like the flag satyagraha. He even formed a parallel government in Faridkot State. These actions stopped only after important leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel stepped in. Being in jail inspired him to change his name to Zail Singh.
After India became independent, Faridkot joined with the Patiala and East Punjab States Union. Singh worked as a minister there from 1949 to 1951. He helped bring in new rules about how land was owned in Punjab. Singh was a member of the Rajya Sabha (a part of India's Parliament) from 1956 to 1962. He was also a member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly (the state government) from 1962 to 1967. During this time, he was briefly a minister. He became the head of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee in 1966. He held this position until he was elected Chief Minister of Punjab in 1972.
As Chief Minister, Singh helped set up India’s first factory for making computer chips in Mohali. He also passed the Punjab Land Reforms Act in 1972. This law aimed to change land ownership. He made sure that certain groups, like Mazhabi Sikhs and Valmikis, got special help in education and jobs. He also brought back the remains of Udham Singh, a freedom fighter, to Punjab. Udham Singh was honored with a state funeral. Singh's policies aimed to reduce the influence of the Shiromani Akali Dal party. He did this by supporting Sikh religious causes. After his party lost the elections in 1977, Singh and Sanjay Gandhi supported Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. He was a religious leader with strong views. Later, there was a time of unrest and challenges in Punjab.
In 1980, Singh was elected to the Lok Sabha (another part of India's Parliament). He was then made India’s Home Minister by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. During his time as Home Minister, there were challenges in Punjab and Assam. In 1982, he was elected President of India, taking over from Neelam Sanjiva Reddy. The first years of his presidency saw important events. These included Operation Blue Star, the assassination of Indira Gandhi, and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
After Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister, his relationship with Singh became difficult. The Prime Minister did not always meet with or inform the president about government plans. He also limited Singh's travels. Singh, in turn, questioned government policies. He carefully checked proposals sent to him. In 1986, he used a special power called a pocket veto. He did not sign a bill about the Indian Post Office. There were also accusations of corruption in buying weapons. The government did not give President Singh the documents he asked for. This, along with his public criticism, led to talk that Singh might remove Rajiv Gandhi's government. However, Singh finished his term in 1987. R. Venkataraman became the next president.
Singh passed away in 1994 from injuries he got in a car accident. His memorial, called a samadhi, is at the Ekta Sthal in Delhi. Singh’s memories were published in a book in 1997. His 100th birthday was celebrated in 2016. A documentary film and a book about his life were released then.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Singh was born in Sandhwan, Faridkot district on 5 May 1916. His parents were Kishan Singh and Ind Kaur. He was the youngest of their five children. He belonged to a backward caste called Ramgarhia Sikh. This group was often linked with carpentry. Even though he finished school, Singh trained to be a granthi. He studied at the Shaheed Sikh Missionary College in Amritsar. There, he earned the title of giani because of his knowledge of religious texts. He was known for his speeches in Urdu and Punjabi. He married Pardhan Kaur. They had three daughters and one son. His nephew, Kultar Singh Sandhwan, became the Speaker of the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 2022.
Early Political Work
In 1936, Singh was put in jail for a year for taking part in a farmers' protest. In 1938, Singh started the Praja Mandal in Faridkot. This was a political group that worked with the All India States Peoples' Conference. The Mandal wanted an elected government in the princely state. But the ruler, Sir Harinder Singh Brar, said no. Singh was jailed from 1938 to 1943. He spent time alone in a Faridkot prison. After he was released in 1943, he had to leave Faridkot. But he kept fighting for the people's movement from outside the state. It was during his time in prison that Singh changed his name from Jarnail Singh to Zail Singh.
In 1946, he started a peaceful protest called a satyagraha against the Faridkot government. He was also involved in the Flag agitation that year and was jailed for it. The flag protest ended with an agreement. The ruler agreed to let political groups form and lifted the ban on flying the Congress flag. But the ruler did not fully follow the agreement. So, a new protest started in 1948. Praja Mandal activists surrounded the state's main office. Zail Singh announced the creation of a parallel government in Faridkot. This protest ended only after Sardar Patel stepped in. The ruler agreed to free Singh and three other ministers from the parallel government. He also freed other activists who were arrested. In 1948, Faridkot joined with other states in Punjab to form the Patiala and East Punjab States Union.
Political Career in Independent India (1947–1972)
In January 1949, Singh became the minister for revenue in the PEPSU government. This government was led by Chief Minister Gian Singh Rarewala. But this government lasted less than a year. In 1951, Col. Raghbir Singh became Chief Minister. Zail Singh was made minister for agriculture. As minister, he helped get rid of old laws. He also changed land laws. These changes took away the right of the Raja of Faridkot to take farmers' land. They also removed special benefits for landlords. He introduced a law that allowed the government to take land from landlords without paying them. This law also gave tenancy rights to the farmers who worked the land. In the elections of 1952, Singh lost his seat. He became the head of the PEPSU Pradesh Congress Committee from 1955 to 1956.
From 1956 to 1962, he was a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. He left this position in March 1962 to run in the Punjab state assembly elections. He won his seat. He was briefly a minister in the government led by Partap Singh Kairon. But he resigned after the 1962 war with China. In 1966, he became the head of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. He held this job until he became Chief Minister in 1972. Even though he did not run in the 1967 election, he was re-elected to the Punjab Assembly in 1970 through a special election.
Chief Minister of Punjab (1972–77)
In the 1972 elections for the Punjab Legislative Assembly, Singh was elected. The Congress Party won most seats and formed the government. Singh became the Chief Minister. He and ten other ministers took their oath on 17 March 1972. Singh was the first leader from an Other Backward Class to be Chief Minister of Punjab. He was also the only non-Jat Sikh to hold this position since Punjab was reorganized in 1966.
From the start, Singh showed himself as a strong supporter of the Sikh religion. He did this partly because he was not from the main Jat caste. He also wanted to challenge the Akali Dal party. As part of this policy, he opened the Guru Gobind Singh Marg. This was a highway connecting Punjab’s most important Sikh temples, called gurudwaras. He also renamed several government hospitals after Sikh gurus. He started the Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar. And he renamed a town near Chandigarh after one of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons. In response to losing elections, Akali politicians met in October 1972. They passed a resolution asking for more power for Punjab and for Sikhs to decide their own future.
Singh’s government passed the Punjab Land Reforms Act in 1972. This law set limits on how much land a family could own. Many parts of the Act were later struck down by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The state government then appealed to India's Supreme Court. The Act also planned to give extra land to others. But it did not work well, so there was little change in land ownership.
Singh started a plan to give a life-long pension to people who took part in India’s independence movement. In 1974, Singh brought back the remains of Udham Singh from the United Kingdom. These were taken in a procession to Punjab. Singh used this event to gain public support. The remains were cremated in Sunam with full state honors. Singh himself lit the funeral pyre. He also honored Bhagat Singh. He declared a holiday on Bhagat Singh's birthday. He turned Bhagat Singh's old home into a museum. He also honored Bhagat Singh's mother with the title ‘Punjab Mata’.
He also helped the Department of Electronics set up the Semiconductor Complex Limited in Mohali in 1974. This was India’s first factory for making semiconductors (computer chips). It started working in 1983. It made integrated chips using American technology. In 1975, Singh introduced a reservation policy. This set aside fifty percent of jobs for Valmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs. These jobs were under the quota for scheduled castes. This move aimed to get more support for the Congress Party from these groups. It also increased his own standing among them.
After the Emergency was declared in 1975, Singh strongly followed the policies of Sanjay Gandhi.
In the general elections of 1977, the Congress party lost badly in Punjab. Singh’s time as Chief Minister ended on 30 April 1977. Punjab was then put under President's rule. In the state assembly elections in June 1977, the Shiromani Akali Dal won and formed the government.
After the Congress Party lost in 1977, Sanjay Gandhi and Zail Singh looked for a Sikh leader. They hoped this leader would weaken the Akali Dal by taking a strong stand on Sikh religious matters. Their choice was Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. He was a little-known Sikh preacher at the time. Bhindranwale became well-known in 1978 after a clash between his followers and another group led to deaths. The Congress party supported Bhindranwale. In the 1980 general elections, Bhindranwale even campaigned for Congress candidates.
Union Minister of Home Affairs (1980–1982)
In the general election of 1980, which the Congress Party won, Singh was elected to Parliament. He became Minister of Home Affairs on 14 January 1980. He stayed in this job until 22 June 1982. The Punjab government was removed, and the state was put under President’s rule in February 1980. In the elections held in June, the Congress Party won most seats. Darbara Singh, a political rival of Zail Singh, became Chief Minister. The Akali Dal party, now out of power, brought back their demands for more power for Punjab. They also allied with groups abroad who wanted a separate state. The disagreements within the Congress party and the rivalry between Zail Singh and Darbara Singh made the situation in Punjab more difficult. This prevented strong action against those causing unrest. Bhindranwale was able to use these disagreements to his advantage.
Bhindranwale was suspected in some murders. Even though arrest warrants were issued, he was able to escape. Singh later said in Parliament that Bhindranwale was not involved in one of the murders. Bhindranwale was released from jail in October after widespread unrest. In these situations, even when Darbara Singh wanted to take strong action against Bhindranwale, Zail Singh stepped in to help him. He hoped to use him in his political fight against Darbara Singh. Bhindranwale's release made the Punjab Police feel discouraged. They became targets for extremists. Requests to ban a group called Dal Khalsa were also delayed by the Home Ministry. Singh’s time as Home Minister is generally seen as difficult. He was seen as a minister who struggled to handle challenges in Punjab, Kashmir, and the North East.
President of India (1982–1987)
In June 1982, the Congress party chose Singh to be their candidate for the presidential election. He would take over from Neelam Sanjiva Reddy. This choice was seen as a way to show support for Sikhs. It also aimed to keep Singh out of active politics. This allowed Darbara Singh to run the Punjab government without interference. Singh’s loyalty to the Prime Minister was another reason for his nomination.
The election was held on 12 July 1982. Singh won with 72.7 percent of the votes. He won a majority in almost all of India’s state assemblies. Singh was sworn in as the seventh President of India on 25 July 1982. He was the first Sikh and the first person from a backward caste to become president.
Indira Gandhi's Time (1982–1984)
Singh was known for his loyalty to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He once said he would do anything she asked. It was reported that Singh would walk to meet her when she visited him. He even opened her car door, which was unusual for a president. In 1983, New Delhi hosted two big international meetings. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited in November 1983. They were guests of President Singh.
As President, he spoke against the idea that Sikhs were being treated unfairly in India. He also criticized the use of Sikh temples as safe places by criminals. In June 1984, the Indian Army launched Operation Blue Star. This operation aimed to deal with Sikh militants inside the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. Singh was not told about these plans beforehand. When Singh visited the Golden Temple on 8 June, someone shot at him. He was not hit, but his security officer was badly hurt. Singh was very upset about the damage to the temple. Singh later said that violence could have been avoided if the militants had surrendered. He urged all Sikhs to make sure their temples would not be used for weapons in the future. In September, the Akal Takht, a high Sikh authority, criticized Singh for his role in Operation Blue Star. He was cleared 24 days later after he expressed regret and asked for forgiveness.
In August 1984, a political meeting happened at the President's house. N. T. Rama Rao, who had been removed as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, met Singh. He brought over 160 members of the state assembly with him. After many protests, the Governor was removed. NT Rama Rao returned as chief minister. During Singh's presidency, similar removals of state governments happened in Jammu and Kashmir and Sikkim.
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31 October 1984 by her Sikh bodyguards. Singh was on a visit to North Yemen. He returned to Delhi that evening. The presidential cars were hit with stones on the way. Violence against Sikhs began in Delhi. After the deaths of earlier Prime Ministers, the President had appointed the most senior minister as acting Prime Minister. But the Congress party chose Rajiv Gandhi to be Prime Minister. So, Singh swore Rajiv Gandhi in as Prime Minister on 21 October 1984. The Congress party approved this choice three days later.
Rajiv Gandhi's Time (1984–1987)
Indira Gandhi’s assassination led to anti-Sikh violence across India. This lasted for four days. Even though he was the head of the armed forces, Singh could not stop the violence. Singh later said that his loyalty to the Congress party and the Indian constitution was severely tested. But he chose to stay in his post. Rajiv Gandhi soon called for parliamentary elections. The Congress Party won a huge number of seats. A new group of ministers with Gandhi as Prime Minister took office on 31 December 1984.
However, the relationship between President Singh and Prime Minister Gandhi quickly became difficult. Gandhi did not always meet with Singh to discuss state matters. Other ministers also stopped visiting Singh. This lasted for almost two years. Gandhi finally met Singh in March 1987. Gandhi stopped telling Singh about domestic and foreign policy. Congress governments in the states also started delaying visits by the president. Singh fought back by carefully checking all proposals sent to him. He asked for explanations from the government. These actions caused the government some trouble.
Singh is best remembered for his stand on the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill, 1986. This bill would have given the government wide powers to check mail. This could have violated citizens’ rights. Singh decided not to sign the bill. He kept it without giving his approval. The Constitution does not set a time limit for the President to approve a law. So, Singh kept the bill on hold. This was like a pocket veto. The bill remained unsigned even by his successor.
From 1986 to 1987, there were accusations of corruption in buying weapons. Singh asked the government for information. Gandhi said the president did not have the right to know every secret matter. The government refused Singh’s demand. But in Parliament, Gandhi said the "president was being fully informed," which was not true. Singh responded by writing to the prime minister. He listed times when he was not given information. A copy of this letter was shared with the press. This accusation by the head of state against the head of government further hurt the government’s image.
By 1987, many people thought Singh planned to remove Rajiv Gandhi's government. They thought he would appoint a temporary government. It was believed that this move might help Singh get a second term as president. However, Singh never acted on this plan. He decided not to seek a second term. He did not get enough support from other parties. He also feared it could lead to a military takeover.
International Visits
Singh made official visits to Czechoslovakia, Qatar, and Bahrain in 1983. He also visited Mexico, Argentina, Mauritius, North, and South Yemen in 1984. Singh was in Aden, Yemen when Indira Gandhi was assassinated. He also visited Nepal, Yugoslavia, Greece, and Poland in 1986. As the relationship between Rajiv Gandhi and Singh became difficult, the government started sending the Vice President R. Venkataraman on trips instead of Singh. Some visits that were planned for Singh were cancelled. Because of this, Singh became one of the least traveled Presidents of India.
Later Life and Passing
Ramaswamy Venkataraman became the next president on 25 July 1987. Singh chose to live in Delhi after his retirement. The government gave him a house there.
Singh was badly hurt in a car accident on 29 November 1994. His car crashed with a truck in Punjab. Singh was taken to a hospital in Chandigarh. He passed away on 25 December 1994, at the age of 78. The Government of India announced 7 days of national mourning. His cremation was held on 26 December in Delhi. His memorial, called a samadhi, is at Ekta Sthal.
Singh's autobiography, The Memoirs of Giani Zail Singh, was published in 1996.
Commemoration
A special postage stamp was released by India's postal service in 1995. This was to honor Singh on the first anniversary of his death. The Giani Zail Singh Campus College of Engineering and Technology, Bhatinda is named after him. His 100th birthday was celebrated in 2016. A documentary film about his life and a book were released to honor him.
See Also
- Giani Zail Singh College Of Engineering & Technology
- Gyani
- Giani Dhanwant Singh Sital
