U. N. Dhebar
Encyclopedia
Uchharangrai Navalshankar Dhebar (1905-1977) was active in India
's struggle for Independence
, and later served as Chief Minister of Saurashtra, and President of the Indian National Congress. As a freedom fighter and right hand to Gandhiji, Dhebar is one of the keys to helping India gain Independence from the British in 1947. He was born on September 21 1905 in the hamlet of Gangajala, eleven miles from Jamnagar
in Gujarat. He belonged to the Nagar
community. After his university education, he started a legal practice and from the very beginning gained a name as a reputable lawyer. Under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi
he left his promising legal career in 1936 and devoted himself to national service and freedom fighting for the country he loved.
In 1941 Dhebar was selected by Gandhiji to offer Individual Satyagraha
at Viramgam. He was arrested and sentenced to six months imprisonment. In 1942 he was again arrested during the Quit India Movement
. On the attainment of independence, Dhebar played a prominent role in the merger of the States of Kathiawad in the Indian Union and then in the formation of the Kathiawad Union known as 'United State of Kathiawar'. He was appointed as Chief Minister
of Saurashtra State
in 1948. During his administration several reform were introduced in Saurashtra for the uplift of Villages.
In 1955 he was elected President of the Indian National Congress
. He continued in that position for five years, till 1959. His first act as the President was to assemble the top leaders of the Congress for a week in a conference to decide how the Congress could best serve the nation. Historically, he is remembered even today in the political circle. In 1962 he was elected to the Lok Sabha
. Dhebar was connected with several institutions rendering social and educational services to the country. He was awarded Padma Vibhushan
in 1973.
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...
's struggle for Independence
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
, and later served as Chief Minister of Saurashtra, and President of the Indian National Congress. As a freedom fighter and right hand to Gandhiji, Dhebar is one of the keys to helping India gain Independence from the British in 1947. He was born on September 21 1905 in the hamlet of Gangajala, eleven miles from Jamnagar
Jamnagar
Jamnagar is a city and a municipal corporation in Jamnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city was built up substantially by Maharaja Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji in the 1920s, when the district was known as Nawanagar. The district lies just to the south of the Gulf of Kutch and is...
in Gujarat. He belonged to the Nagar
Nagar Brahmins
Nagar Gujarati Brahmins are believed to be one of the oldest of the Brahmin groups.-Overview:Historians suggest that the origin of the Nagars to be Aryan, having immigrated to the Indian plains from Balkh in Central Asia...
community. After his university education, he started a legal practice and from the very beginning gained a name as a reputable lawyer. Under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
he left his promising legal career in 1936 and devoted himself to national service and freedom fighting for the country he loved.
In 1941 Dhebar was selected by Gandhiji to offer Individual Satyagraha
Satyagraha
Satyagraha , loosely translated as "insistence on truth satya agraha soul force" or "truth force" is a particular philosophy and practice within the broader overall category generally known as nonviolent resistance or civil resistance. The term "satyagraha" was conceived and developed by Mahatma...
at Viramgam. He was arrested and sentenced to six months imprisonment. In 1942 he was again arrested during the Quit India Movement
Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement , or the August Movement was a civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in response to Mohandas Gandhi's call for immediate independence. Gandhi hoped to bring the British government to the negotiating table...
. On the attainment of independence, Dhebar played a prominent role in the merger of the States of Kathiawad in the Indian Union and then in the formation of the Kathiawad Union known as 'United State of Kathiawar'. He was appointed as Chief Minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
of Saurashtra State
Saurashtra State
Saurashtra State also known as United State of Kathiawar was a separate State within Union of India from 1948 till 1956 with Rajkot as its Capital.-History:The Saurashtra State was earlier named as United State of Kathiawar...
in 1948. During his administration several reform were introduced in Saurashtra for the uplift of Villages.
In 1955 he was elected President 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...
. He continued in that position for five years, till 1959. His first act as the President was to assemble the top leaders of the Congress for a week in a conference to decide how the Congress could best serve the nation. Historically, he is remembered even today in the political circle. In 1962 he was elected to the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
. Dhebar was connected with several institutions rendering social and educational services to the country. He was awarded Padma Vibhushan
Padma Vibhushan
The Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian award in the Republic of India. It consists of a medal and a citation and is awarded by the President of India. It was established on 2 January 1954. It ranks behind the Bharat Ratna and comes before the Padma Bhushan...
in 1973.