Biography of Parkash Singh Badal

Parkash Singh Badal was a prominent Indian politician who has been associated with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) party for several decades. He has served as the Chief Minister of the Indian state of Punjab five times, making him the longest-serving Chief Minister of the state.

Early Life and Education

Parkash Singh Badal was born on December 8, 1927, in Abul Khurana, a small village in Punjab. He was the second child of his parents, Gurdas Singh and Sundri Kaur. Badal completed his early education in the village school and went on to obtain a degree in Agriculture from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.

Political Career

Badal's political career began in 1947 when he joined the Shiromani Akali Dal party. He contested his first election in 1957 and was elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly from the Lambi constituency. He went on to win several elections from the same constituency over the years.

In 1970, Badal became the youngest Chief Minister of Punjab, at the age of 43. He served as the Chief Minister for a brief period before his government was dismissed by the central government. He was again elected as the Chief Minister in 1977 and served a full term of five years.

Badal continued to be active in politics and was elected as the Chief Minister of Punjab for the third time in 1997. During his tenure, he implemented several welfare schemes for the people of Punjab, including free power for farmers, the establishment of medical colleges, and the development of infrastructure. He also played a crucial role in the signing of the Punjab Accord in 1985, which brought an end to the violent insurgency in the state.

In 2007, Badal was re-elected as the Chief Minister of Punjab and served a full term of five years. He was again elected as the Chief Minister in 2012, making him the only Chief Minister in India to be elected five times. During his tenure as the Chief Minister, he continued to focus on the development of the state and implemented several initiatives, including the construction of the Bathinda refinery, the establishment of a network of rural roads, and the promotion of tourism.

Honors and Awards

Badal has been recognized for his contributions to the field of politics and has been honored with several awards, including the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award in India, in 2015. He was also conferred with the Doctorate of Philosophy degree by Punjabi University, Patiala, in recognition of his contribution to the development of Punjab.

Controversies

In recent years, Badal has been involved in several controversies. In 2015, a series of incidents of sacrilege of the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, took place in Punjab. The Shiromani Akali Dal government, led by Badal, was criticized for its handling of the situation, and there were allegations that the government was involved in the incidents. The subsequent firing on protesters in Kotkapura also drew criticism.

In 2017, Badal resigned from his post as Chief Minister, citing health reasons. His son, Sukhbir Singh Badal, took over as the party leader.

Legacy

Despite his advanced age, Badal remains an influential figure in Punjab politics and is widely respected for his contributions to the state's development. His long tenure as the Chief Minister of Punjab has helped to shape the state's political and economic landscape, and his initiatives in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, and education have had a lasting impact on the people of Punjab.

Timeline of his Life

1927: Born in Abul Kurana, Punjab

1947: He started his career in politics

1957: He was first elected to Vidhan Sabha

1969: Badal was re-elected to Vidhan Sabha

1969-1970: Served as a Minister for Community Development, Panchayati Raj, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries.

1970-1971: Was appointed Chief Minister of Punjab

1977-1980: Re-elected as Chief Minister of Punjab

1997-2002: He was again elected as the Chief Minister or the third term

2009: The Punjab Cabinet under the chairmanship of Badal, rejected a proposal to enhance the retirement age to 60 years from the existing 58 years.

2009: Badal expanded his cabinet by inducting Akali Dal leader Sewa Singh Sekhwan as a Cabinet Minister.

2011: He served as the Chief Minister of Punjab for a fourth term.

2012: He was selected to the chief Minister for a record fifth term.