Balram Jakhar

Balram Jakhar (23 August 1923 – 3 February 2016) was an Indian politician, a parliamentarian and Governor of Madhya Pradesh.

Balram Jakhar
14th Governor of Madhya Pradesh
In office
30 June 2004  29 June 2009
Chief MinisterUma Bharti
Babulal Gaur
Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Preceded byLt. Gen. K. M. Seth (Acting)
Succeeded byRameshwar Thakur
Governor of Gujarat
Additional Charge
In office
2 July 2004  24 July 2004
Chief MinisterNarendra Modi
Preceded byKailashpati Mishra
Succeeded byNawal Kishore Sharma
19th Minister of Agriculture
In office
21 June 1991  17 January 1996
Prime MinisterP. V. Narasimha Rao
Preceded byDevi Lal
Succeeded byJagannath Mishra
8th Speaker of the Lok Sabha
In office
22 January 1980  27 November 1989
DeputyG. Lakshmanan
M. Thambi Durai
Preceded byK. S. Hegde
Succeeded byRabi Ray
Leader of Opposition of the Punjab Legislative Assembly
In office
19 June 1977  17 February 1980
Preceded byPrakash Singh Badal
Succeeded byPrakash Singh Badal
Personal details
Born(1923-08-23)23 August 1923
Pankosi, Punjab, British India
Died3 February 2016(2016-02-03) (aged 92)[1]
Delhi, India
NationalityIndian
Political partyIndian National Congress
ChildrenSunil Jakhar
ProfessionFarmer, Politician

Early life and education

Jakhar was born in a Jat family in Panjkosi village of Fazilka district in Punjab now in Abohar on 23 August 1923. His father was Chaudhari Rajaram Jakhar and his mother Patodevi Jakhar. His elder son, Sajjan Kumar Jakhar, is a former Punjab minister and his youngest, Sunil Jakhar is three time MLA from Abohar and became Leader of the Opposition in Punjab in March 2012 and Member of Parliament from Gurdaspur and became PPCC President in 2017.

Jakhar earned a degree in Sanskrit from Forman Christian College, Lahore, in 1945. He had knowledge of English, Punjabi, Urdu, Sanskrit and Hindi languages.

Politician

Jakhar was elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1972 and was re-elected in 1977 becoming the Leader of the Opposition.

He was elected to the seventh Lok Sabha from Ferozepur in 1980 and re-elected to the eighth Lok Sabha from Sikar in 1984. He served twice as Speaker of Lok Sabha from 1980 to 1989, a rare achievement in Indian parliament history, thus became the longest speaker of the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian Parliament). As Speaker of Lok Sabha he was an instrument for automation and computerization of Parliamentary works. He promoted Parliament library, reference, research, documentation and information services for the knowledge and use of members of Parliament. The establishment of Parliament Museum was his contribution. He was first Asian to be elected as Chairman of Commonwealth Parliamentarian Executive Forum.

He became the Central Agriculture minister in 1991 in INC govt headed by P. V. Narasimha Rao.

He was Governor of Madhya Pradesh state from 30 June 2004 to 30 May 2009.[2]

Speaker Jakhar with Pandit Ram Kishore Shukla and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother at a Commonwealth Conference.

Social activities

Jakhar was the life president of Bharat Krishak Samaj and president of Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Trust Management Committee. He has written a book, People, Parliament and Administration. He tried to introduce scientific techniques in agriculture to increase production. The president of India awarded him 'Udyan Pandit' in 1975 for his contribution to Horticulture. Haryana Agricultural University Hisar and Gurukul Kangri Visvavidyalaya Haridwar have awarded him Doctor of Science and ‘'Vidya Martand'’ honorary degrees for his contribution to the Agriculture and Horticulture.

Sports, farming and reading were his hobbies.

References

  1. "Balram Jakhar passes away". The Hindu. 4 February 2016.
  2. "Official Webpage on Loksabha Website". National Informatics Centre, New Delhi. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
Lok Sabha
Preceded by
Mohinder Singh Sayanwala
Member of Parliament
for Ferozepur

1980–1984
Succeeded by
Gurdial Singh Dhillon
Preceded by
Kumbharam Arya
Member of Parliament
for Sikar

1984–1989
Succeeded by
Devi Lal
Preceded by
Devi Lal
Member of Parliament
for Sikar

1991–1996
Succeeded by
Dr. Hari Singh
Political offices
Preceded by
K. S. Hegde
Speaker of the Lok Sabha
22 January 1980 18 December 1989
Succeeded by
Rabi Ray
Preceded by
Kailashpati Mishra
Governor of Gujarat (Acting)
July 2004 July 2004
Succeeded by
Nawal Kishore Sharma
Preceded by
Lt. Gen. K. M. Seth (Acting)
Governor of Madhya Pradesh
30 June 2004 29 June 2009
Succeeded by
Rameshwar Thakur
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