Amarinder Singh (born 1942)

Amarinder Singh is a prominent Indian politician and former Chief Minister of the state of Punjab. Born on March 11, 1942, in Patiala, Punjab, Amarinder Singh hails from the royal family of Patiala. He completed his education from Doon School in Dehradun and later attended National Defence Academy in Pune. He is also a graduate of the prestigious Trinity College, Cambridge.

After completing his education, Amarinder Singh joined the Indian Army and served as a captain in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war. He was later promoted to the rank of Major in the Army. After leaving the Army, he started his political career in 1980 when he contested and won the Lok Sabha election from Patiala. He was re-elected to the Lok Sabha in 1984 and 1991.

Amarinder Singh was appointed as the Chief Minister of Punjab for the first time in 2002. He led the Indian National Congress to a victory in the state assembly elections held that year. He was re-elected as the Chief Minister in 2007. During his tenure as the Chief Minister, he implemented several reforms in the state, including improving the state's infrastructure, boosting agriculture, and attracting investment in the state.

In 2012, Amarinder Singh resigned from the post of the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee following the party's defeat in the state assembly elections. He was later appointed as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

In 2017, Amarinder Singh was appointed as the Chief Minister of Punjab for the third time. He led the Congress party to a thumping victory in the state assembly elections held that year. During his tenure as the Chief Minister, he focused on improving the state's economy, creating job opportunities, and promoting investment in the state.

Amarinder Singh is also an accomplished author and has written several books on Indian history and politics. Some of his notable books include 'The Last Sunset: Rise and Fall of Lahore Durbar', 'A Ridge Too Far: War in the Kargil Heights 1999', and 'The Sikhs in History'.

In addition to his political and literary career, Amarinder Singh is also a sports enthusiast and has been actively involved in promoting sports in Punjab. He is the President of the Punjab Cricket Association and has played a key role in promoting cricket in the state.

Amarinder Singh has been recognized for his contributions to society and has received several awards and honors. In 2007, he was awarded the 'Punjabi Ratna' by the World Punjabi Organisation for his contributions to the Punjabi community. In 2017, he was awarded the 'Parkash Singh Badal Award' for his contribution to the field of agriculture in Punjab.

In September 2021, Amarinder Singh resigned as the Chief Minister of Punjab after a feud with the central leadership of the Congress party. He had been critical of the party's handling of the ongoing farmers' protests in the state and had also expressed displeasure over the appointment of Navjot Singh Sidhu as the new President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee.

In conclusion, 

Amarinder Singh is a prominent Indian politician who has played a key role in the development of Punjab. He has served as the Chief Minister of Punjab three times and has implemented several reforms in the state. He is also an accomplished author and a sports enthusiast who has been actively involved in promoting cricket in the state. Despite his resignation from the post of Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh remains a prominent figure in Indian politics and continues to contribute to society in various ways.