Gulzarilal Nanda (1898-1998)

Gulzarilal Nanda was a prominent Indian politician and economist who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement and post-independence politics. Born on 4th July 1898 in Sialkot, Punjab (present-day Pakistan), Nanda served as the interim Prime Minister of India twice during times of political crisis. He was also an advocate for social justice and was instrumental in the establishment of several institutions aimed at promoting education and welfare in India.

Nanda's early years were spent in Sialkot, where he attended school before moving to Lahore to pursue higher education. In 1919, he graduated from the Forman Christian College with a degree in Economics, after which he completed a Master's degree in the same subject from the University of Allahabad. Following his studies, Nanda worked as a professor of Economics at the University of Allahabad and later as a lecturer at the Lucknow University.

Nanda's political career began in the early 1920s when he joined the Indian National Congress and became involved in the independence movement. He was an active participant in the Civil Disobedience Movement and was imprisoned several times for his involvement in protests and demonstrations. In 1946, Nanda was elected to the Constituent Assembly of India, where he played an important role in drafting the Constitution of India, which was adopted in 1950.

In 1950, Nanda was appointed as India's first Minister of Planning and Development, a position he held until 1957. During this time, he oversaw the formulation and implementation of India's first Five-Year Plan, which aimed to promote economic growth and development in the country. Nanda was also a strong advocate for rural development and worked to promote the establishment of agricultural cooperatives and the expansion of irrigation facilities in rural areas.

In 1957, Nanda was elected to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian parliament, and was appointed as the Minister of Labour and Employment. He held this position until 1962 when he was appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. In 1966, following the sudden death of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, Nanda was appointed as the interim Prime Minister of India, a position he held for thirteen days until the election of Indira Gandhi as the new Prime Minister.

Nanda again served as the interim Prime

Minister of India in 1979, following the resignation of Prime Minister Morarji Desai. During his second term as interim Prime Minister, Nanda oversaw the conduct of the general elections and the smooth transfer of power to the newly elected government.

In addition to his political career, Nanda was also involved in several social and educational initiatives aimed at promoting the welfare of the Indian people. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra. Nanda was also a strong advocate for women's rights and played an important role in the passage of the Hindu Marriage Act and the Dowry Prohibition Act.

Nanda was widely respected for his integrity and commitment to public service. He was known for his simple and austere lifestyle and was regarded as a humble and compassionate leader. In recognition of his contributions to Indian politics and society, Nanda was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award in India, in 1997.

Gulzarilal Nanda died on 15th January 1998, at the age of 99. He is remembered as a visionary leader who dedicated his life to the service of his country and its people. His legacy continues to inspire generations of Indians to work towards building a more just, equitable, and prosperous society.