Morarji Desai (1896-1995)

 Morarji Desai (1896-1995) was an Indian independence activist, statesman, and the fifth Prime Minister of India. He was born on February 29, 1896, in the village of Bhadeli in the Bombay Presidency, British India. His father, Kripanarayan Desai, was a schoolteacher, and his mother, Vajiaben Desai, was a homemaker. Morarji Desai was the eldest of eight siblings, and he spent his childhood in Bhadeli and later in the city of Bombay (now Mumbai).

Desai was a brilliant student, and he earned his Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Bombay in 1918. After completing his education, he started his career as a schoolteacher in Godhra, Gujarat. However, he soon quit his job and joined the Indian independence movement.

Desai was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and participated in the non-violent civil disobedience movement against British rule in India. He was arrested several times and spent a total of nine years in jail. During his imprisonment, he studied economics and politics and became an expert in these fields.

In 1937, Desai was elected to the Bombay Legislative Assembly, and he served as the Minister of Revenue and Agriculture in the provincial government. In 1952, he was elected to the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian parliament), and he became the Minister of Commerce and Industry in the central government.

Desai served as the Finance Minister of India from 1958 to 1963 and again from 1967 to 1969. During his tenure, he introduced several economic reforms, including the abolition of the gold control act, devaluation of the rupee, and the introduction of a system of voluntary disclosure of income.

In 1975, Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, imposed a state of emergency and suspended civil liberties. Desai was one of the leading opposition figures to be arrested during the emergency. After the emergency was lifted in 1977, Desai emerged as a key leader of the opposition and formed the Janata Party, which went on to win the general elections held in the same year.

Desai became the Prime Minister of India on March 24, 1977. As the Prime Minister, he focused on reducing government intervention in the economy and promoting individual freedom. He also improved India's relations with its neighbors, especially Pakistan and China.

One of Desai's most controversial decisions as Prime Minister was to order the arrest of Indira Gandhi, who was then the leader of the opposition in parliament. Gandhi was arrested on charges of corruption and abuse of power, but her arrest was widely seen as politically motivated.

In 1979, Desai's government fell due to differences within the Janata Party. However, he continued to play an active role in Indian politics and was elected to the Rajya Sabha (upper house of the Indian parliament) in 1980. He also served as the Deputy Prime Minister of India from 1979 to 1980.

Desai retired from active politics in 1985, but he continued to express his views on various issues until his death on April 10, 1995. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1991 for his contributions to the nation.

In conclusion, 

Morarji Desai was a prominent Indian politician who played a key role in India's struggle for independence and its subsequent development as a democracy. He served in various capacities in the government and played a crucial role in shaping India's economic policies. Despite his controversial decisions and actions, he is widely respected for his integrity and dedication to public service.