Chaudhary Charan Singh Age, Wiki and Bio

Chaudhary Charan Singh

Quick Info

ProfessionPolitician
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth23/12/1902
Age121 years
BirthplaceNoorpur village of Meerut district, United Provinces, British India (now Uttar Pradesh, India)

Bio/Wiki

Real nameCharan Singh

Physical Stats & More

Height5' 7" (170 cm)
Eye ColorBlack
Hair ColorGrey

Educational Qualification(s)

Qualification 1Matriculation (10th) at Government High School, Meerut, in 1919
Qualification 2Intermediate (12th) at Government High School, Meerut, in 1921
Qualification 3Bachelor of Science at Agra College, Agra, in 1923
Qualification 4Master of Arts in History (British, European, Indian) at Agra College, Agra, in 1925
Qualification 5LLB at Meerut College (Agra University) in 1927

Personal Life

Marital StatusMarried
Marriage Date5 December 1925
Religion/Religious ViewsInfluenced by Arya Samaj, rejected religious rituals and idol worship
CasteTeotia clan of the Jat community (OBC)
Food HabitVegetarian
HobbiesReading, Writing

Relationships & More

Wife/SpouseGayatri Devi
Children
SonAjit Singh (Politician)
Daughter(s)
  • Satyavati
  • Vedvati
  • Gyanvati
  • Saroj
  • Sharda
Parents
FatherMir Singh (Farmer)
MotherNetra Kaur (Homemaker)
Siblings
Brother(s)
  • Shyam Singh
  • Man Singh
Sister(s)
  • Ram Devi
  • Risalo Devi

Career

Political Party
  • Indian National Congress (Before 1967)
  • Bharatiya Kranti Dal (1967)
  • Bharatiya Lok Dal (1967–1977)
  • Janata Party (1977–1979)
  • Janata Party (Secular) (1979–1980)
  • Dalit Mazdoor Kisan Party (1984)
  • Lok Dal (1980–1987)
Political Journey
  • 1929: Joined the Indian National Congress
  • 1937: Elected to the legislative assembly of the United Provinces on the Congress ticket from Meerut district (South-West)
  • 1946: On 21 March, elected for the 2nd time to the United Provinces Legislative Assembly from Meerut District (South-West) and appointed Parliamentary Secretary in U. P. Congress ministry
  • May 1948-June 1951: Parliamentary Secretary to Premier Govind Ballabh Pant of United Provinces
  • 1950-1951: Minister of Justice and Information in Uttar Pradesh Government
  • 1951-1952: Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Information
  • 1952-1954: Minister of Revenue, Scarcity, Agriculture, Cane Development, Food Development and Animal Husbandry
  • 1954-1957: Cabinet Minister for Revenue, Scarcity and Transport in Dr. Sampurnanand’s ministry
  • 1957-1958: Cabinet Minister of Revenue & Scarcity
  • 1958-1959: Cabinet Minister of Revenue, Scarcity, Irrigation, Power & Power Projects
  • 1960-1963: Cabinet Minister for Home, Police, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Fisheries in Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Chandra Bhan Gupta's Cabinet
  • 1963-1967: Minister for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Forests in Cabinet of Sucheta Kripalani
  • Quit the Congress party and formed his own political party, Bharatiya Kranti Dal
  • 1967-1968: First non-Congress Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh
  • 1974: Established Bharatiya Lok Dal
  • 1977-1978: Union Home Minister of India in Morarji Desai's Cabinet
  • 1979: Union Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
  • 1979: Sworn in as the Prime Minister of India in July
AwardBharat Ratna (2024)

Some Lesser Known Facts

He was known as the ‘Champion of India’s Peasants.’
His parents were Mir Singh, a tenant, and Netra Kaur, a homemaker.
Every day, he walked 3 km to attend primary school in Jani Khurd, Meerut.
His uncle Lakhpat Singh took charge of his education.
He strongly opposed discrimination based on caste and creed.
He drew inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi's Harijan upliftment call.
In 1925, he married Gayatri Devi.
He was influenced by Dayananda Saraswati and Arya Samaj.
He declined job offers from institutions with 'Jat' in their names.
He actively participated in movements led by Mahatma Gandhi.
He was jailed for six months during the Civil Disobedience Movement.
He passed the United Provinces Agricultural and Workmen Debt Redemption Bill.
He became the first non-Congress Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
He took measures to combat corruption and casteism in India.
He was imprisoned during the emergency declared by Indira Gandhi.
He was a vegetarian and refrained from alcohol and smoking.
His birthday on 23 December is celebrated as 'Kisan Diwas' in India.
He authored books on agriculture, development, and rural economy.
He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2024.
Amausi Airport and two universities were named in his honor.