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{{Infobox Prime Minister |
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vamsi nellore |
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| name = Morarji Desai |
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| image = Morarji Desai 1978.jpg |
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| birth_date = 29 February 1896 |
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<!-- Do not add flag icons to place of birth/death, per [[Wikipedia:Don't overuse flags]] --> |
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| birth_place = Bhadeli, [[Bombay Presidency]], [[India]] |
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| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1995|04|10|1896|02|29}} |
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| death_place = [[New Delhi]], [[India]] |
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| office = 5th [[Prime Minister of India]] |
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| term_start = 24 March 1977 |
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| term_end = 28 July 1979 |
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| president = [[Basappa Danappa Jatti]] and [[Neelam Sanjiva Reddy]] |
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| predecessor = [[Indira Gandhi]] |
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| successor = [[Choudhary Charan Singh]] |
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| office2 = [[Finance Minister of India]] |
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| term_start3 = 21 August 1967 |
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| term_end3 = 26 March 1970 |
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| predecessor3 = [[T. T. Krishnamachari]] |
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| successor3 = [[Indira Gandhi]] |
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| term_start4 = 15 August 1959 |
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| term_end4 = 29 May 1964 |
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| predecessor4 = [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] |
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| successor4 = [[T. T. Krishnamachari]] |
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| occupation = [[Civil servant]], [[Activism|Activist]] |
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| religion = [[Hindu]] |
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| party = Congress (up to 1969), Congress(O) (1969-1977), [[Janata Party]] |
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}} |
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'''Morarji Ranchhodji Desai''' ({{lang-gu|મોરારજી રણછોડજી દેસાઈ}}) (29 February 1896 – 10 April 1995) was an [[Indian independence activists|Indian independence activist]] and the [[Prime Minister of India]] from 1977-79. He was the first Indian Prime Minister who did not belong to the [[Indian National Congress]]. He is the only Indian to receive the highest civilian awards from both [[India]] and [[Pakistan]], the [[Bharat Ratna]] and [[Nishaan-e-Pakistan]]. |
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== Early life == |
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Morarji Desai was born into an [[Anavil]] [[Brahmin]] family in Bhadeli, [[Valsad]] in [[Bombay Presidency]] (now in Gujarat). After graduating from [[Wilson College, Mumbai]], he joined the civil service in [[Gujarat]]. Later, he left the service of the British in 1924 and joined the [[civil disobedience]] movement against [[British Empire|British]] rule in [[India]] in 1930. He spent many years in jail during the [[Indian independence movement|freedom struggle]] and owing to his sharp leadership skills and tough spirit, he became a favourite amongst freedom-fighters and an important leader of the [[Indian National Congress]] in [[Gujarat]]. When provincial elections were held in 1934 and 1937, Desai was elected and served as the Revenue Minister and Home Minister of the [[Bombay Presidency]]. |
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== In government == |
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[[Image:Desai1937.jpg|thumb|left|Morarji Desai in 1937, as [[Congress Party|Congress]] Home Minister of [[Bombay Presidency]]]] |
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Before the independence of India, he became Bombay's Home Minister and later was elected as Chief Minister of [[Bombay state|Bombay State]] in 1952. The state was home to Marathi linguistic movements, with calls for the creation of a separate linguistic state. Considered as a tough leader, Desai was also known for pioneering beliefs and enforcing strict discipline and authority and thus possessed a radical mindset. By Desai's orders in 1960, a demonstration by the [[Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti]] was fired upon by the police resulting in the deaths of 105 demonstrators. 105 demonstrators were killed in the incident leading to public outrage that shook the central government. The incident led to the formation of the present State of Maharashtra. |
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As Home Minister, Desai outlawed any portrayals of indecency (which included "kissing" scenes) in films and theatrical productions. Although a staunch [[Mahatma Gandhi|Gandhian]], Desai was socially conservative, pro-business, and in favour of free enterprise reforms, as opposed to Prime Minister [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]'s socialistic policies. |
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Rising in Congress leadership, Desai was at odds with Prime Minister Nehru and his allies, and with Nehru's age and health failing, he was considered as a possible contender for the position of Prime Minister. Outflanked in the leadership contest after Nehru's death in 1964 by the Nehruvian [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]], Desai remained content to build support within the ranks. |
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After Shastri's death in 1966, he contested for Prime Minister and fought a closely-contested election with [[Indira Gandhi]]. Desai obtained 169 votes but lost to Indira Gandhi who garnered 351. |
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=== Split of 1969 === |
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Initially Desai stayed out of the Cabinet, biding his time. As the young Indira Gandhi's government became embroiled in controversy following a poor harvest, currency devaluation, and rising disenchantment in the country, Desai's influence grew in strength and he returned to the Cabinet in 1967. He demanded the powerful position as the Minister for Home Affairs, but he settled for the Ministry for Finance, with the added title of [[Deputy Prime Minister of India|Deputy Prime Minister]]. Relations between Desai and the young Prime Minister were strained at best. |
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In 1969, Indira Gandhi and her allies engineered a major schism in the Congress Party, and her leftist supporters within the Congress Party formed the Congress (R), later to become the Congress (I) Party. Desai and the rest of the Congress establishment cohered to form the Congress (O) Party. But in the General Elections held in 1971, the Congress (O) was drubbed owing to Indira Gandhi's popularity. |
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In a petition filed by veteran socialist leader [[Raj Narain]], Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was convicted in June 1975 of wrongfully using government machinery for election work and corruption, Desai joined [[Jaya Prakash Narayan]] and [[Raj Narain]] in organising mass protests throughout the country calling for her resignation. In a show of intolerance towards any sort of opposition, [[Indira Gandhi]] declared [[Indian Emergency|Emergency]] and had all the opposition leaders including Desai arrested. |
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When Indira called for elections in January 1977, she lost to [[Raj Narain]] from Rae Bareilly, and with many opposition groups, including the Congress (O), joined with longtime rivals, regional parties and blocs of rival ideologies to form the [[Janata Party]]. It won 356 seats, close to 2/3 majority, and for the first time since independence, the dominance of the ruling Congress Party was broken. Morarji Desai finally came into office as the Prime Minister when Jaiprakash Narayan picked him as the man most likely to keep the coalition united. |
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At the time, he was 81 years old but still healthy and vigorous, without any particular ailments. |
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== Prime Minister == |
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Morarjee Desai led a fractious coalition government, and thus failed to achieve much owing to continuous in-wrangling and much controversy. With no party in leadership of the coalition, rival groups vied to unseat Desai. Controversial trials of prominent Congress leaders, including Indira Gandhi over Emergency-era abuses worsened the fortunes of his administration. Desai worked to improve relations with neighbour and arch-rival [[Pakistan]] and restored normal relations with [[China]], for the first time since [[Sino-Indian War|the 1962 war]]. He communicated with [[Zia-ul-Haq]] and established friendly relations and diplomatic relations were also re-established with [[China]]. His government undid many amendments made to the constitution during emergency and made it difficult for any future government to impose national emergency. |
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<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:antregreiy.jpg|thumb|right|Morarji Desai with MGR at a programme in [[Chennai]]]] --> |
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Since India's first nuclear test in 1974, Desai kept India's nuclear reactors stating "they will never be used for atomic bombs, and I will see to it if I can help it". [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,947858-2,00.html] In 1977, the [[Jimmy Carter|Carter administration]] sold India, [[heavy water]] and [[uranium]] for its nuclear reactors but required American on-site inspection of nuclear materials. Desai declined, seeing the American stance as contradictory, in light of its own nuclear arsenal. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,919248-3,00.html] |
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=== Retirement and death === |
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In 1979, [[Raj Narain]] and [[Choudhary Charan Singh|Charan Singh]] pulled out of the Janata Party, forcing Desai to resign from office and retire from politics at the age of 83. Desai campaigned for Janata Party in 1980 General Election as a senior politician but did not contest the election himself. |
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In retirement, he lived in [[Bombay]], and died at the age of 99. He had been honoured much in his last years a freedom-fighter of his generation. |
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Kanti Desai, Morarji Desai's son, was often criticized for being corrupt and using his father's name as an influence. During Desai's retirement, the family was evicted from their apartment in 'Oceanea' Complex in Mumbai by a court order issued by Justice Chandrachud. Sharad Pawar, then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, provided him with permanent Govt Residence in Mumbai until his death. |
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Morarji Desai is most often remembered for his championing of [[Urine Therapy]]. He told journalist [[Khushwant Singh]] that he was advised to try drinking his own urine when in his 40s to cure piles ([[hemorrhoids]]), and he got immediate results. Thereafter he continued the practice and was quite open about it, saying that you should not do anything you would be ashamed of. |
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Morarji Desai was a strict follower of [[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s principles and a [[moralist]]. |
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=== Feud with R&AW === |
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Morarji Desai had described the [[Research and Analysis Wing]] (R&AW), India's external intelligence agency, as the praetorian guard of Indira Gandhi and had promised to stop all activities of the R&AW after becoming prime minister. He closed down much of the agency, and reduced its budget and operations. B. Raman, the former head of the Counter-Terrorism Division of R&AW and noted security analyst, reveals that, in an unguarded moment, Morarji Desai indiscreetly told Pakistani President [[Zia ul-Haq]] that he was aware of Islamabad's nuclear schemes.<ref>"Kaoboys of R&AW: Down Memory Lane" by B.Raman</ref> |
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It is understood that Moshe Dayan was sent on a mission to intercede with Morarji Desai for permission to enable Israeli Tanker aircraft to land refuel and take off from an IAF base in Gujrat supporting a mission the Israeli's planned, to destroy Pak Nuclear facilities, then coming up, as they had done at Osirak in Iraq. Dayan was disguised as a Sikh gentleman on a private visit for the purpose. The request was turned down and the mission did not materialize. |
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{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}}. |
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=== Social Service === |
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Morarji Desai was a true Gandhian follower, social worker, institution builder and a great reformer. He was the Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith (university established by Mahatma Gandhi). Even during his term as the Prime Minister he used to visit and stay at Vidyapith during the month of October. He exemplified simplicity and used to write post cards himself even when he held the office of Prime Minister. Sardar Patel deputed him to conduct meetings of farmers in Kaira district which finally led to the establishment of the AMUL Cooperative movement. During his rule, he withdrew intervention in Public Distribution System and rationing shops were literally lost due to cheap sugar and oil available in the market. |
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=== Urine Therapy === |
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Morarji Desai was a practitioner of urine therapy. In 1978 he spoke to [[Dan Rather]] on ''[[60 Minutes]]'' about urine therapy. Desai stated that urine therapy was the perfect medical solution for the millions of Indians who cannot afford medical treatment. Desai claimed that he drank a pint of his own urine every day.<ref>[[The Daily Telegraph]] - Cameroon threatens to jail urine drinkers, by Jane Flanagan. (16 March 2003)</ref> |
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==External Link== |
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[http://www.vandemataram.com/biographies/patriots/mdesai.htm Biography of Morarji Desai] Learn about Indian Civilization, Culture, Yoga, Ayurveda,History |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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{{start box}} |
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{{s-off}} |
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{{succession box| |
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before=[[Jawaharlal Nehru]]| |
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title=[[Finance Minister of India]]| |
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years=1959–1964| |
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after=[[T. T. Krishnamachari]] |
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}} |
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{{succession box| |
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before=[[Sachindra Chaudhuri]]| |
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title=[[Finance Minister of India]]| |
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years=1967–1970| |
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after=[[Indira Gandhi]] |
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}} |
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{{succession box| |
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before=[[Indira Gandhi]]| |
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title=[[Prime Minister of India]]| |
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years=1977–1979| |
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after=[[Choudhary Charan Singh]] |
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}} |
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{{end box}} |
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{{Prime Ministers of India}} |
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{{Bharat Ratna}} |
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{{Indian Emergency}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Desai, Morarji}} |
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[[Category:1896 births]] |
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[[Category:1995 deaths]] |
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[[Category:Gujarati people]] |
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[[Category:Prime Ministers of India]] |
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[[Category:Janata Party]] |
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[[Category:Recipients of the Bharat Ratna]] |
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[[cy:Morarji Desai]] |
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[[da:Morarji Desai]] |
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[[de:Morarji Desai]] |
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[[fr:Morarji Desai]] |
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[[ko:모라르지 데사이]] |
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[[gu:મોરારજી દેસાઈ]] |
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[[hi:मोरारजी देसाई]] |
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[[it:Morarji Desai]] |
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[[kn:ಮೊರಾರ್ಜಿ ದೇಸಾಯಿ]] |
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[[ml:മൊറാർജി ദേശായി]] |
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[[mr:मोरारजी देसाई]] |
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[[no:Morarji Desai]] |
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[[pl:Morarji Desai]] |
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[[ro:Morarji Desai]] |
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[[ru:Десаи, Морарджи]] |
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[[fi:Morarji Desai]] |
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[[sa:मोरारजी देसाई]] |
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[[sv:Morarji Desai]] |
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[[ta:மொரார்ஜி தேசாய்]] |
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[[te:మొరార్జీ దేశాయి]] |
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[[tr:Morarji Desai]] |
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[[zh:莫拉尔吉·德赛]] |
Revision as of 16:17, 26 March 2010
Morarji Desai | |
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5th Prime Minister of India | |
In office 24 March 1977 – 28 July 1979 | |
President | Basappa Danappa Jatti and Neelam Sanjiva Reddy |
Preceded by | Indira Gandhi |
Succeeded by | Choudhary Charan Singh |
Finance Minister of India | |
In office 21 August 1967 – 26 March 1970 | |
Preceded by | T. T. Krishnamachari |
Succeeded by | Indira Gandhi |
In office 15 August 1959 – 29 May 1964 | |
Preceded by | Jawaharlal Nehru |
Succeeded by | T. T. Krishnamachari |
Personal details | |
Born | 29 February 1896 Bhadeli, Bombay Presidency, India |
Died | 10 April 1995 New Delhi, India | (aged 99)
Political party | Congress (up to 1969), Congress(O) (1969-1977), Janata Party |
Occupation | Civil servant, Activist |
Morarji Ranchhodji Desai (Gujarati: મોરારજી રણછોડજી દેસાઈ) (29 February 1896 – 10 April 1995) was an Indian independence activist and the Prime Minister of India from 1977-79. He was the first Indian Prime Minister who did not belong to the Indian National Congress. He is the only Indian to receive the highest civilian awards from both India and Pakistan, the Bharat Ratna and Nishaan-e-Pakistan.
Early life
Morarji Desai was born into an Anavil Brahmin family in Bhadeli, Valsad in Bombay Presidency (now in Gujarat). After graduating from Wilson College, Mumbai, he joined the civil service in Gujarat. Later, he left the service of the British in 1924 and joined the civil disobedience movement against British rule in India in 1930. He spent many years in jail during the freedom struggle and owing to his sharp leadership skills and tough spirit, he became a favourite amongst freedom-fighters and an important leader of the Indian National Congress in Gujarat. When provincial elections were held in 1934 and 1937, Desai was elected and served as the Revenue Minister and Home Minister of the Bombay Presidency.
In government
Before the independence of India, he became Bombay's Home Minister and later was elected as Chief Minister of Bombay State in 1952. The state was home to Marathi linguistic movements, with calls for the creation of a separate linguistic state. Considered as a tough leader, Desai was also known for pioneering beliefs and enforcing strict discipline and authority and thus possessed a radical mindset. By Desai's orders in 1960, a demonstration by the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti was fired upon by the police resulting in the deaths of 105 demonstrators. 105 demonstrators were killed in the incident leading to public outrage that shook the central government. The incident led to the formation of the present State of Maharashtra.
As Home Minister, Desai outlawed any portrayals of indecency (which included "kissing" scenes) in films and theatrical productions. Although a staunch Gandhian, Desai was socially conservative, pro-business, and in favour of free enterprise reforms, as opposed to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's socialistic policies.
Rising in Congress leadership, Desai was at odds with Prime Minister Nehru and his allies, and with Nehru's age and health failing, he was considered as a possible contender for the position of Prime Minister. Outflanked in the leadership contest after Nehru's death in 1964 by the Nehruvian Lal Bahadur Shastri, Desai remained content to build support within the ranks.
After Shastri's death in 1966, he contested for Prime Minister and fought a closely-contested election with Indira Gandhi. Desai obtained 169 votes but lost to Indira Gandhi who garnered 351.
Split of 1969
Initially Desai stayed out of the Cabinet, biding his time. As the young Indira Gandhi's government became embroiled in controversy following a poor harvest, currency devaluation, and rising disenchantment in the country, Desai's influence grew in strength and he returned to the Cabinet in 1967. He demanded the powerful position as the Minister for Home Affairs, but he settled for the Ministry for Finance, with the added title of Deputy Prime Minister. Relations between Desai and the young Prime Minister were strained at best.
In 1969, Indira Gandhi and her allies engineered a major schism in the Congress Party, and her leftist supporters within the Congress Party formed the Congress (R), later to become the Congress (I) Party. Desai and the rest of the Congress establishment cohered to form the Congress (O) Party. But in the General Elections held in 1971, the Congress (O) was drubbed owing to Indira Gandhi's popularity.
In a petition filed by veteran socialist leader Raj Narain, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was convicted in June 1975 of wrongfully using government machinery for election work and corruption, Desai joined Jaya Prakash Narayan and Raj Narain in organising mass protests throughout the country calling for her resignation. In a show of intolerance towards any sort of opposition, Indira Gandhi declared Emergency and had all the opposition leaders including Desai arrested.
When Indira called for elections in January 1977, she lost to Raj Narain from Rae Bareilly, and with many opposition groups, including the Congress (O), joined with longtime rivals, regional parties and blocs of rival ideologies to form the Janata Party. It won 356 seats, close to 2/3 majority, and for the first time since independence, the dominance of the ruling Congress Party was broken. Morarji Desai finally came into office as the Prime Minister when Jaiprakash Narayan picked him as the man most likely to keep the coalition united.
At the time, he was 81 years old but still healthy and vigorous, without any particular ailments.
Prime Minister
Morarjee Desai led a fractious coalition government, and thus failed to achieve much owing to continuous in-wrangling and much controversy. With no party in leadership of the coalition, rival groups vied to unseat Desai. Controversial trials of prominent Congress leaders, including Indira Gandhi over Emergency-era abuses worsened the fortunes of his administration. Desai worked to improve relations with neighbour and arch-rival Pakistan and restored normal relations with China, for the first time since the 1962 war. He communicated with Zia-ul-Haq and established friendly relations and diplomatic relations were also re-established with China. His government undid many amendments made to the constitution during emergency and made it difficult for any future government to impose national emergency. Since India's first nuclear test in 1974, Desai kept India's nuclear reactors stating "they will never be used for atomic bombs, and I will see to it if I can help it". [1] In 1977, the Carter administration sold India, heavy water and uranium for its nuclear reactors but required American on-site inspection of nuclear materials. Desai declined, seeing the American stance as contradictory, in light of its own nuclear arsenal. [2]
Retirement and death
In 1979, Raj Narain and Charan Singh pulled out of the Janata Party, forcing Desai to resign from office and retire from politics at the age of 83. Desai campaigned for Janata Party in 1980 General Election as a senior politician but did not contest the election himself.
In retirement, he lived in Bombay, and died at the age of 99. He had been honoured much in his last years a freedom-fighter of his generation.
Kanti Desai, Morarji Desai's son, was often criticized for being corrupt and using his father's name as an influence. During Desai's retirement, the family was evicted from their apartment in 'Oceanea' Complex in Mumbai by a court order issued by Justice Chandrachud. Sharad Pawar, then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, provided him with permanent Govt Residence in Mumbai until his death.
Morarji Desai is most often remembered for his championing of Urine Therapy. He told journalist Khushwant Singh that he was advised to try drinking his own urine when in his 40s to cure piles (hemorrhoids), and he got immediate results. Thereafter he continued the practice and was quite open about it, saying that you should not do anything you would be ashamed of.
Morarji Desai was a strict follower of Mahatma Gandhi's principles and a moralist.
Feud with R&AW
Morarji Desai had described the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), India's external intelligence agency, as the praetorian guard of Indira Gandhi and had promised to stop all activities of the R&AW after becoming prime minister. He closed down much of the agency, and reduced its budget and operations. B. Raman, the former head of the Counter-Terrorism Division of R&AW and noted security analyst, reveals that, in an unguarded moment, Morarji Desai indiscreetly told Pakistani President Zia ul-Haq that he was aware of Islamabad's nuclear schemes.[1]
It is understood that Moshe Dayan was sent on a mission to intercede with Morarji Desai for permission to enable Israeli Tanker aircraft to land refuel and take off from an IAF base in Gujrat supporting a mission the Israeli's planned, to destroy Pak Nuclear facilities, then coming up, as they had done at Osirak in Iraq. Dayan was disguised as a Sikh gentleman on a private visit for the purpose. The request was turned down and the mission did not materialize.[citation needed].
Social Service
Morarji Desai was a true Gandhian follower, social worker, institution builder and a great reformer. He was the Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith (university established by Mahatma Gandhi). Even during his term as the Prime Minister he used to visit and stay at Vidyapith during the month of October. He exemplified simplicity and used to write post cards himself even when he held the office of Prime Minister. Sardar Patel deputed him to conduct meetings of farmers in Kaira district which finally led to the establishment of the AMUL Cooperative movement. During his rule, he withdrew intervention in Public Distribution System and rationing shops were literally lost due to cheap sugar and oil available in the market.
Urine Therapy
Morarji Desai was a practitioner of urine therapy. In 1978 he spoke to Dan Rather on 60 Minutes about urine therapy. Desai stated that urine therapy was the perfect medical solution for the millions of Indians who cannot afford medical treatment. Desai claimed that he drank a pint of his own urine every day.[2]
External Link
Biography of Morarji Desai Learn about Indian Civilization, Culture, Yoga, Ayurveda,History
References
- ^ "Kaoboys of R&AW: Down Memory Lane" by B.Raman
- ^ The Daily Telegraph - Cameroon threatens to jail urine drinkers, by Jane Flanagan. (16 March 2003)