Gian Singh Rarewala

Sardar Gian Singh Rarewala (16 December 1901–31 December 1979) was an Indian politician and the first Chief Minister (actually designated as the Prime Minister) of the former Indian state of Patiala and East Punjab States Union.[1]

Gian Singh Rarewala
1st Chief Minister of PEPSU
In office
15 July 1948 – 23 May 1951
Preceded byPost Established
Succeeded byRaghbir Singh
In office
22 April 1952 – 5 March 1953
Preceded byRaghbir Singh
Succeeded byPresident's rule
Leader of opposition in Punjab assembly
In office
9 March 1967 – 24 November 1967
Preceded byGurnam Singh
Succeeded byGurnam Singh
President of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee
In office
7 July 1955 – 16 October 1955
Preceded byBawa Harkishan Singh
Succeeded byTara Singh
Personal details
Born16 December 1901
Rara Village, Patiala State (now in Punjab, India)
Died31 December 1979
Political partyIndependent (till 1956)
Indian National Congress (1956-1969)
Shiromani Akali Dal (1969-1979)

Early life

Rarewala was born on 16 December 1901, at Rara village, Patiala. He was a descendant of Ratan Singh Bhangu, author of Panth Prakash. Rarewala studied in Patiala and graduated from Mahindra College in 1924. He joined the judicial service of the princely state of Patiala. Later, he became a High Court judge for Patiala State. He also served as a Revenue Commissioner and Revenue Minister for Patiala state and finally he was the Prime Minister of Patiala state from 1946-47.[1]

Political career

Rarewala became a representative of Patiala in the Constituent Assembly of India on 28 April 1947.[2] The Patiala and East Punjab States Union was formed later on 15 July 1948. A caretaker government was formed on 22 August 1948 with Rarewala as its Premier. On 13 January 1949 a broad-based ministry was constituted and Rarewala was sworn in as its Prime Minister. When this ministry was dissolved, Rarewala remained the premier of the caretaker ministry from 18 November 1949 to 23 May 1951.

In 1951, Rarewala was elected to the PEPSU Legislative Assembly from the constituency of Payal as an independent candidate. He became the Chief Minister of the PEPSU on 22 April 1952, heading a United Front ministry. Thus, he became the first non-Congress Chief Minister of any state in independent India.[3] He was in office until 5 March 1953 when the President's rule was imposed and his government was dismissed. He became the president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee in 1955. After the merger of the PEPSU with the Punjab state in 1956, he became a member of the Indian National Congress and elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1957. Rarewala became the Irrigation Minister in the Pratap Singh Kairon Cabinet. He was re-elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1962 and 1967. In 1967 he was appointed leader of opposition in Punjab assembly.

In 1969, Rarewala left Congress and joined the Shiromani Akali Dal, probably because of his differences with Morarji Desai. He remained its member until his death[1]

References
  1. Singh, Roopinder (16 December 2001). "Rarewala: A Punjabi-loving gentleman-aristocrat". The Tribune.
  2. "Constituent Assembly of India Debates (Proceedings) - Vol. III" (PDF). Parliament of India website. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  3. "Conditional Mandate for Congress" (PDF). Economic and Political Weekly. 4 (19–20, 17 May 1952). May 1952.
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