Gulzarilal Nanda was an eminent
Indian politician who is widely known for his stint as interim Prime
Minister of India twice. Though both his terms were uneventful, the
timing was crucial. When Jawaharlal Nehru passed away in 1962, India was
trying to overcome from the war with China. At the crucial point, Nanda
stepped up to lead the nation which was leaderless. Following the
appointment of Lal Bahadur Shastri, Nanda stepped down from his position
as interim Prime Minister only to take it up yet again in 1966 when Lal
Bahadur Shastri passed away. Once again, the time when Nanda stepped up
was crucial as India was reeling from a war with Pakistan in 1965.
Nanda served both the terms for merely thirteen days each. However,
Nanda’s career isn’t just about his role as interim Prime Minister.
Before being appointed as the PM, Nanda served the nation through
various government appointments. An economist by background, Nanda
specialized in labour issues and worked as Labour Minister. Nanda
represented India in various national and internal conferences. He also
served as the Minister of Home Affairs from 1963 to 1966. For his
immeasurable work during Indian freedom struggle and later in post
independent India, Nanda was awarded the prestigious Bharat Ratna.
Childhood & Early Life
- Gulzarilal Nanda was born on July 4, 1898 in Sialkotin a Punjabi, Hindu family. Sialkot was then a part of the Punjab province of British India. After the partition of India in 1947 it became a part of Pakistan.
- Young Nanda received his early education in Lahore, Amritsar, Agra an Allaha
Major Works
- Nanda worked as an eminent Indian politician specializing on labour issues. He, in his lifetime, served the Government of India as the Labour Minister and later as the Minister of Home Affairs. A multi-talented personality, he even took up the profile of Irrigation and Power. Though Nanda dedicatedly worked all through, the high point in his career came when he twice took up the post of interim Prime Minister for thirteen days each in 1962 and 1966.
Awards & Achievements
- He was amongst the 42 members who were honored with ‘Proud Past Alumni’ from Allahabad University Alumni Association, NCR, Ghaziabad.
- To commemorate his dedication and service to the country, Government of India bestowed upon him the country’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna in 1997.
Personal Life & Legacy - Nanda tied the knot with Lakshmi. The couple was blessed with three children, two sons and a daughter.
- Despite being a well-known politician and leader of the Indian freedom movement, Nanda lived a life with meagre means.
- Nanda breathed his last on January 15,1998 in Ahmadabad, Gujarat
