VP Singh: The Renaissance Man(25 June 1931- 27 Nov 2008)

Vishwanath Pratap Singh, the Ex-Prime Minister is no more.

Sushmita Dutta

“The visual always fascinated me. As I grew up, I slowly realized that we not only see through our eyes, but also from the heart. Feeling is living. Beauty is understanding. I was overwhelmed by the harmony of creation. My youth was one rapturous communion with nature. The ecstasy is gone but fragments of its memory, still, at times, shimmer, to give a sudden insight. My paintings are such fragments. Yes, they are fragments because my life is so.” - VP Singh The Renaissance Man of Indian politics, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, the Ex-Prime Minister, poet, painter and a politician, is no more. Vishwanath Pratap Singh, the son of Raja Bahadur Ram Gopal Singh, was born on June 25, 1931 in Allahabad. He acquired his education at Allahabad and Poona Universities. On June 25, 1955 he married Sita Kumari who bore him two sons. Brought up as a single child guarded by two gunmen, with guardians and tutors to educate him, it was evident that VP Singh was to develop an affinity to the written word and the visual forms of things around him. This helped VP Singh to develop both his poetic and artistic sense. Right from his education days, VP Singh has been actively involved in politics. He was the President of Students Union at Udai Pratap College in Varanasi in the year 1947-48. Later, he was also the Vice-President of Allahabad University Students Union. He was an active member of the Bhoodan movement in 1957. After that there was no looking back. He soon made a name for himself in the state Congress Party for his unfailing rectitude, a reputation that he would carry with him throughout his career. VP as Chief Minister of UP In 1980, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi appointed him as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. As Chief Minister, he cracked down heavily on the dacoits, who were terrorizing the south west Uttar Pradesh. He was applauded for his offer of resignation when he failed to subdue the problem. After the demise of Indira Gandhi, his son Rajiv Gandhi swept the general elections with thumping mandate in 1984. Rajiv Gandhi deputed VP Singh with the pivotal post of Finance Minister in his cabinet. He came down heavily upon the gold smugglers and gave the Enforcement Directorate extra-ordinary powers to charge upon tax evaders. But Rajiv Gandhi was forced to take his ministry back when he went over board and raided houses of some famous personalities like Dhirubhai Ambani and Amitabh Bachchan. He was then shifted to Defence Ministry, but his over indulgence in the Bofors deal was enough for him to be shown the exit door. This time, VP not only quit the cabinet but also the Congress party and Lok Sabha. VP’s stint as PM VP Singh then with the support of Arun Nehru and Arif Mohammed Khan floated his own party called the Jan Morcha. On October 11, 1988 Janata Dal came into existence with the merging of Jan Morcha, Janata Party, Lok Dal and Congress (S). The Jan Morcha then colluded with all small parties to form the first coalition party called National Front. It fought the general elections in 1989 with the support of BJP and managed to defeat the Congress with a small majority. The National Front came to power and V P Singh became the Prime Minister. Though his stint at the PM office was a short one, he made big news. His visit to the Golden Temple to ask forgiveness for Operation Bluestar, his releasing of militants in exchange of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s daughter and his famous tussle with Reliance giant Dhirubhai Ambani were much in news. But the VP era will be remembered for his support for backward classes and the Mandal Commission. The Mandal Commission was brought to provide quota for jobs to OBC’s (Other backward classes). VP tried to implement the Mandal recommendations in August 1990 which was to reserve 27% seats in government jobs to backward classes. But he faced severe protests from across the country. A student called, Rajeev Goswami’s self-immolation made the situation worsen, and he was forced to resign from the post of Prime Minister. VP’s later life VP Singh retired from active politics, but in the late 1990’s when HD Deve Gowda and IK Gujral came together to form the Third Front, he acted as an elder statesman and adviser. In 1992, he opposed the demolition of the Babri Masjid. In the year 1998 he was diagnosed with cancer and thereafter he reduced his public appearances. After battling blood cancer and renal failure for almost a decade VP Singh, fondly called as the ‘Raja of Manda’ finally breathed his last on November 27, 2008 at the Apollo Hospital, New Delhi. VP Biography Name: Vishwanath Pratap Singh Father’s Name: Raja Bahadur Ram Gopal Singh Date of Birth: June 25, 1931 Place of Birth: Allahabad (UP) Date of Marriage: June 25, 1955 Wife’s Name: Sita Kumari Children: Two sons, Ajeya Singh & Abhai Singh Education: B.A., LLB, B.Sc., Allahabad & Pune University Field of Work: Social Work Posts held by VP Singh 1969-71: MLA, UP 1971: MP of 5th Lok Sabha 10th Oct. 1974 to Dec. 1976: Commerce Deputy-Minister of Central Govt. Dec. 1976 to March 1977: State Minister of Commerce Jan. 1980 to June 1980: MP of 7th Lok Sabha Nov. 1980 to June 1981: MLC, UP June 1980 to June 1982: Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh June 1981 to July 1983: Member of UP Assembly July 1983 to April 1988: MP, Rajya Sabha 29th Jan. 1983 to Sept. 1984: Minister of Commerce & addl. charge of Supply Sept. 1984: Member, A.I.C.C. (I), President P.C.C. (I), UP Dec. 1984 to Jan. 1987: Finance Minister, Govt. of India Jan. 1985 to March 1985: Minister of Finance, Commerce & Supply March 1985 to Sept. 1985: Minister of Finance, Commerce & Supply 23rd Jan. 1987 to April 1987: Defence Minister, Govt. of India 2nd Oct. 1987: Founder, Jan Morcha June 1988: MP, Lok Sabha August 1988: Convener, Rashtriya Morcha Oct. 1988: President, Janta Dal Nov. 1989: Elected MP of 9th Lok Sabha (Third term) 5th Dec. 1989 to 10th Nov. 1990: Prime Minister (Defence and other so many ministries, which were not distributed) 5th Dec. 1989 to 21st April 1990: Minister of Environment June 1991: Elected MP of 10th Lok Sabha Social & Cultural Workshop: Founder, Gopal Vidhyalaya Intermediate College, Koraon, Allahabad. Participation in 1957 Bhoodan-Aandolan and Donated a Farm House of Pasana Village, Allahabad. Special interest: Painting, Photography & Poetry