Giani Zail Singh Biography: Throughout his life, Zail Singh was lauded and criticised for his unwavering loyalty to the Nehru-Gandhi family. Later in his career, his outspoken commitment to the ‘family’ was met with ridicule and coloured every aspect of his character. Initially, his loyalty was essential to his rapid ascension to the top of his field.
Giani Zail Singh Biography
Early years
Zail Singh also referred to as Jarnail Singh, was born in the princely state of Faridkot on May 5, 1916, to Bhai Kishan Singh. He was raised by his aunt after his mother passed away when he was small. As a result of his family’s religious upbringing, Zail Singh is proficient in reading the Guru Granth Sahib and has a profound comprehension of Sikh philosophy and history. He was also fluent in Urdu and had an extensive understanding of Hindu mythology and texts.
Even though he did not have a high school diploma, he was admitted to the Shahid Sikh Missionary College in Amritsar as an adolescent. In college, he was given the title ‘Gyani’ due to his comprehension of the Guru Granth Sahib and his extensive knowledge of religious studies.
Giani Zail Singh Career
After the execution of Bhagat Singh, he became politically active at a tender age and joined the Indian freedom movement. In 1938, he established the Congress-affiliated Praja Mandal political party in Faridkot. The Maharaja of Faridkot took offence to this and ordered Singh’s detention. During his five years of imprisonment, Singh altered his name to Zail Singh.
Shortly after his release from prison, Singh was designated minister of the Patiala and East Punjab States Union. Singh served as a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1956 to 1962. In the Punjab Assembly elections of 1972, he was acclaimed as the state’s chief minister.
Zail Singh supported Indira Gandhi in every way when she was voted out of office in 1977, and when she was re-elected in 1980, he was given the Home Affairs Ministry, which he held until he was elected president in 1982.
As president, Zail Singh was required to guide the nation through some of its most difficult periods. During this time, Sikh extremism was at its height, with the army raiding the Golden Temple on the orders of the Prime Minister, the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and the ensuing political turmoil. After the assassination of Indira Gandhi, Singh was subjected to even more criticism when he appointed Rajiv Gandhi as prime minister, under whose reign even more Sikhs were murdered.
Singh continued to serve as President and concluded his term despite opposition and criticism from other political leaders.
In November 1994, he was severely injured in an automobile accident and died in Chandigarh one month later.
Death
Singh was superseded as president on 25 July 1987 by Ramaswamy Venkataraman, who was subsequently sworn in.[150] Singh chose to spend his retirement in Delhi, where he was provided with a residence on Circular Road by the government.[151][152]
On November 29, 1994, Singh was severely injured when his vehicle collided with a truck at Kiratpur Sahib in the Ropar district of Punjab. Singh was admitted to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, where he passed away at the age of 78 on 25 December 1994. The Indian government has proclaimed seven days of national mourning. His cremation took place on December 26 in Delhi, where his samadhi is located at the Ekta Sthal.[156][157][158]
The Memoirs of Giani Zail Singh, Singh’s autobiography, was published in 1996.
Achievements
During the Catholicate Platinum jubilee celebration conducted on September 12, 1982, Zail Singh was awarded the Order of St. Thomas by Catholicos of the East Baselios MarThoma Mathews.
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Facts about Giani Zail Singh
- As he was well-versed in Sikh doctrines and philosophies and had mastered the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikhs’ sacred book, he was given the epithet ‘Giani,’ which translates to ‘learned person.’
- Zail Singh was admitted to Shaheed Sikh Missionary College without possessing the minimum requirement of a high school diploma due to his persuasive oratory.
- He was proficient in both Urdu and Punjabi.
- In 1983, Singh founded the Praja Mandal, a political organisation affiliated with the Congress Party, in his native district of Faridkot.
- This act of rebellion resulted in a five-year prison sentence. During his incarceration, he adopted the name Zail Singh.
- Beginning his political career in 1949, he was appointed Revenue minister of the newly founded Patiala and East Punjab States Union under the leadership of chief minister Gian Singh Rarewala.
- From 1956 to 1962, he was a member of the Rajya Sabha. In 1951, he was appointed minister of agriculture.
- The turning point in his career occurred in 1972 when he was elected Chief Minister of Punjab from the Congress party.
- 1980, following his election to the 7th Lok Sabha, Zail Singh was designated a cabinet minister in the Ministry of Home Affairs by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
- On July 25, 1982, he was unanimously elected president, a position he held until his tenure expired in 1987.
- Singh faced additional opposition when, following the assassination of Indira Gandhi, he appointed Rajiv Gandhi as prime minister, under whose reign many more Sikhs had been murdered.
