Charan Singh
Indian prime minister and champion of farmers' rights.
via Wikipedia: Manmohan Singh · see source
- field
- Politics, land reform, independence activism
- nationality
- Indian
- known_for
- Land and agricultural reform; prime minister of India (1979–1980); chief minister of Uttar Pradesh; Bharat Ratna (2024)
Lore & Background
He was a Congress member for most of his life but later founded his own Lok Dal party. Singh served as deputy prime minister from January to July 1979 as a member of the Janata Party, then became prime minister in July 1979 as a member of the Janata Party (Secular). He resigned after 23 days when Indira Gandhi's Congress Party withdrew support, stating he would not be blackmailed into dropping emergency-related court cases.
Reader's Guide
As revenue minister and later chief minister, he enacted laws that abolished the zamindari system and consolidated land holdings, empowering tillers and landless farmers. His brief prime ministership, though cut short, highlighted the fragility of coalition politics in the post-Emergency era. His legacy endures as a symbol of farmer rights and rural empowerment.
Did You Know?
- He was the second deputy prime minister to become prime minister, after Morarji Desai.
- He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2024.
More in Asian Presidents And Prime Ministers 1-20
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record