Gian Singh Rarewala
Encyclopedia
Sardar Gian Singh Rarewala (16 December 1901–31 December 1979) was an India
n politician and the first Chief Minister (actually designated as the Prime Minister) of the former India
n state of Patiala and East Punjab States Union
.
in Patiala in 1924. He joined the judicial service of the princley state of Patiala. Later, he became a judge of the HIgh Court of the Patiala State. He also served as a Revenue Commissioner and Revenue Minister of the Patiala state and finally he was the Prime Minister of Patiala state from 1946-47.
on April 28, 1947. The Patiala and East Punjab States Union was formed on 15 July 1948. A caretaker government was formed on 22 August, 1948 with Rarewala as the premier. On 13 January , 1949 a broad-based ministry was constituted and Rarewala sworn in as its Prime Minister. When this ministry was dissolved, Rarewala remained the premier of the caretaker ministry from 18 November, 1949 to 23 May, 1951. In 1951, he was elected to the PEPSU Legislative Assembly from Payal constituency as an independent candidate and became the Chief Minister of the PEPSU on 22 April 1952, heading a United Front ministry. Thus, he became the first non-Congress Chief Minister of any state in independent India. He was in office till 5 March 1953 when President's rule was imposed and his government was dismissed. He became the president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee
in 1955. After the merger of the PEPSU with Punjab
state in 1956, he became a member of the Indian National Congress
and elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1957. He became the Irrigation Minister in the Pratap Singh Kairon
Cabinet. He was re-elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1962 and 1967. In 1969, he left Congress and joined the Shiromani Akali Dal
, probably because of his differences with Morarji Desai
. He remained its member till his death
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n politician and the first Chief Minister (actually designated as the Prime Minister) of the former India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of Patiala and East Punjab States Union
Patiala and East Punjab States Union
The Patiala and East Punjab States Union was a state of India from 1948-56. It was created by combining eight princely states: Patiala, Jind, Nabha, Kapurthala, Faridkot, Kalsia, Malerkotla and Nalagarh. The state was inaugurated on July 15, 1948 and formally became a state of India in 1950. The...
.
Early life
Rarewala was born on 16 December 1901, at the Rara village. He was a descendant of Ratan Singh Bhangu, the author of Panth Prakash. Rarewala studied in Patiala and was graduated from the Mahindra CollegeMohindra College
Established in 1875, Mohindra College, located in Patiala, Punjab is the oldest institution of contemporary higher learning in Northern India....
in Patiala in 1924. He joined the judicial service of the princley state of Patiala. Later, he became a judge of the HIgh Court of the Patiala State. He also served as a Revenue Commissioner and Revenue Minister of the Patiala state and finally he was the Prime Minister of Patiala state from 1946-47.
Political career
Rarewala became a representative of Patiala in the Constituent Assembly of IndiaConstituent Assembly of India
The Constituent Assembly of India was elected to write the Constitution of India, and following independence served as the nation's first Parliament.-Nature of the Assembly:...
on April 28, 1947. The Patiala and East Punjab States Union was formed on 15 July 1948. A caretaker government was formed on 22 August, 1948 with Rarewala as the premier. On 13 January , 1949 a broad-based ministry was constituted and Rarewala sworn in as its Prime Minister. When this ministry was dissolved, Rarewala remained the premier of the caretaker ministry from 18 November, 1949 to 23 May, 1951. In 1951, he was elected to the PEPSU Legislative Assembly from Payal constituency as an independent candidate and became the Chief Minister of the PEPSU on 22 April 1952, heading a United Front ministry. Thus, he became the first non-Congress Chief Minister of any state in independent India. He was in office till 5 March 1953 when President's rule was imposed and his government was dismissed. He became the president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee
Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is an organization in India responsible for the upkeep of gurdwaras, Sikh places of worship in three states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. SGPC also administers Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar. Gurdwaras in Delhi are the administered by Delhi Sikh...
in 1955. After the merger of the PEPSU with Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
state in 1956, he became a member of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
and elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1957. He became the Irrigation Minister in the Pratap Singh Kairon
Pratap Singh Kairon
Pratap Singh Kairon was the Chief Minister of the Punjab province , and is widely acknowledged to be the architect of post-Independence Punjab Province. Moreover, he was an Indian independence movement leader...
Cabinet. He was re-elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1962 and 1967. In 1969, he left Congress and joined the Shiromani Akali Dal
Shiromani Akali Dal
The Shiromani Akali Dal , translation: Supreme Akali Party) is a Sikh nationalist political parties based in Punjab. The current party to be recognized by the Election Commission of India is the one led by Parkash Singh Badal...
, probably because of his differences with Morarji Desai
Morarji Desai
Morarji Ranchhodji Desai was an Indian independence activist and the fourth Prime Minister of India from 1977–79. He was the first Indian Prime Minister who did not belong to the Indian National Congress...
. He remained its member till his death