Zail Singh
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| Giani Zail Singh | |
 Zail Singh (right), the President of India at Award giving Ceremony at his Presidential residence - Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi |
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| In office July 25, 1982 – July 25, 1987 |
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| Vice President | Muhammad Hidayat Ullah (1982-1984) R. Venkataraman (1984-1987) |
| Preceded by | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy |
| Succeeded by | R. Venkataraman |
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| In office March 12, 1983 – September 6, 1986 |
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| Preceded by | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy |
| Succeeded by | Robert Mugabe |
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| Born | May 5, 1916 |
| Died | December 25, 1994 |
| Religion | Sikhism |
Giani Zail Singh (Punjabi: ਜ਼ੈਲ ਸਿੰਘ, May 5, 1916 – December 25, 1994) was an Indian politician and member of the Congress Party. He served as the seventh President of India. He was the President of India during Operation Blue Star, the assassination of Indira Gandhi, and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.[1]
Sardar Zail Singh, a Sikh by religion, was given the title of Giani, as he was educated and learned about Guru Granth Sahib. However, he did not have formal secular education. He had a humble start in life and his father was a Sikh Tarkhan Ramgarhia who was killed in an automobile accident.[2]
Zail Singh's public life was long and varied - freedom fighter, state Congress leader, Chief Minister, Union Home Minister, and the president of India. A fighter against princedom, feudalism and foreign domination in the pre-independence days, he is also remembered for his crusade against communalism, economic disparities and social injustice in the republic. He also served as Chief Minister of Punjab.
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[edit] President of India
Giani Zail Singh was elected to the highest office of the President of India on July 15, 1982 and took the oath of office on July 25, 1982.He belongs to Kotkapura region of Punjab He was criticised for his subservient attitude to the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Many people believe that he was chosen by Indira Gandhi only because she wanted to have her hold on the office of President as she was having her hold on the party. He was always thankful to the people who had been helpful to him and people still remember him as a man who returned milk for the water offered to him during his days of struggle.Politically his detractors and opponents also praise his human qualities. He was President, when Indira Gandhi launched Operation Blue Star. Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister after the assassination of his mother by two of her Sikh bodyguards. Even though Zail Singh had strained relations with Rajiv Gandhi, he declined to embarrass his government by seeking re-election as President of India with the support of non-Congress parties. Giani Zail Singh died, coincidentally, in a road accident on December 25, 1994, near Kiratpur Sahib in Ropar district. Following his accidental death, Zail Singh was cremated at EKTA STHAL in the vicinity of the Raj Ghat.
[edit] Important positions
1951 Agriculture minister, PEPSU
1956 Member of Indian parliament (Rajya Sabha)
1972-1977 Chief minister of Punjab
1980-1982 Union Home Minister
1982-1987 President Of India
[edit] External links
[edit] References
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Neelam Sanjiva Reddy |
President of India July 25, 1982-July 25, 1987 |
Succeeded by R. Venkataraman |
| Preceded by Neelam Sanjiva Reddy |
Secretary General of Non-Aligned Movement 1983-1986 |
Succeeded by Robert Mugabe |
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