Parkash badal biography of martin

Who was Parkash Singh Badal?

Badal received his diploma from Lahore's Forman Christian College.

Name	Parkash Singh Badal
Date of Birth	8 December 1927
Place of Birth	Abul Khurana, near Malout
Father’s Name	S. Critics, including Congress leaders, accused him of tacitly supporting militants for political gain, such as alleged protection from the Khalistan Commando Force in the early 1990s, but these claims remained politically motivated allegations without judicial substantiation.[58][59] Badal countered by highlighting Congress's labeling of Sikhs broadly as "terrorists and separatists" during the militancy era, framing his approach as defensive advocacy for minority rights within a unified India.[60] This positioning enabled SAD to reclaim electoral dominance in Punjab post-militancy, appealing to voters opposed to violence while rejecting outright separatism.[61] Contributions to Post-Militancy Stabilization Following the suppression of the Khalistan insurgency by the mid-1990s under Punjab Police chief K.P.S. By the time he demitted office for the last time in 2017, Punjab had become a laggard and rou­tinely ranked close to last among major states. On July 23, 2015, as Chief Minister, he underscored that such demands were unjustified and disconnected from the state's realities, positioning SAD as a proponent of communal harmony and opposition to extremism.[56] During a November 23, 2015, SAD rally in Bathinda, both Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal reiterated the party's firm stance against Khalistan, linking it to broader efforts for national unity while critiquing extremist fringes.[57]Under Badal's moderate leadership, SAD distanced itself from militant groups during Punjab's insurgency in the 1980s and 1990s, prioritizing dialogue with the central government over separatist agitation. Gill, Parkash Singh Badal's Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) returned to power in the 1997 state assembly elections, marking the first elected Akali government since 1980 and signaling a shift toward moderate, inclusive politics.[54] Badal, as chief minister from February 1997 to March 2002, emphasized governance focused on economic recovery and communal harmony to prevent militancy's resurgence, rejecting extremism explicitly by pledging that "we are committed to peace in Punjab and shall not allow it to be disturbed at any cost."[62] This approach helped normalize politics in a state scarred by over a decade of violence that had claimed an estimated 30,000 lives.[40]A cornerstone of Badal's stabilization efforts was forging a post-poll alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1997, despite ideological differences between the Sikh-centric SAD and the Hindu-nationalist BJP, which reassured Punjab's Hindu minority—about 30% of the population—and fostered cross-communal stability.[54] This partnership, renewed in subsequent terms (2007–2012 and 2012–2017), was credited with guaranteeing communal peace by integrating diverse groups into the political fold and diluting separatist narratives.[54] Complementing this, the SAD's 1996 Moga Declaration under Badal's leadership redefined the party as a representative of all Punjabis, transcending its panthic (Sikh-specific) roots to include Hindus, Muslims, and others, thereby broadening its appeal and reducing sectarian divides.[54][63]Badal's administrations prioritized development to address grievances that had fueled militancy, such as economic stagnation and youth unemployment, through initiatives like free electricity for farmers (up to 7 hours daily) and the Atta-Dal scheme providing subsidized food grains to low-income households, which boosted agricultural productivity and rural incomes in a state where farming employed over 70% of the workforce.[64] Infrastructure investments, including road networks and power sector reforms, contributed to Punjab's GDP growth averaging 5-6% annually during his 1997–2002 term, helping restore investor confidence and integrate the state economically with India.[22] By sidelining demands for inquiries into insurgency-era excesses in favor of forward-looking governance, Badal's strategy—while criticized by some Sikh radicals—facilitated reconciliation and long-term stability, as evidenced by Punjab's avoidance of major communal flare-ups post-1997.[65][22] Policy Initiatives and Governance Rural Development and Infrastructure During his tenure as Chief Minister from 1977 to 1980, Badal introduced the Rural Growth Centres scheme, known as Focal Points, which divided Punjab into clusters of five villages each to concentrate development efforts on essential services like roads, electricity, and markets, aiming to reduce urban migration and boost rural economies.[35] This initiative marked an early emphasis on decentralized rural planning, with focal points serving as hubs for agro-industries and infrastructure upgrades.[12]In subsequent terms, particularly 2007–2017, Badal prioritized expanding rural road networks, approving over 3,000 kilometers of new roads under Punjab Mandi Board projects to enhance connectivity for agricultural transport and village access.[66] His government targeted comprehensive village infrastructure, including concrete roads with open drains and piped water supply in more than 10,000 villages, as part of a broader strategy to modernize rural habitats.[67] Road improvements extended to highways and bridges, contributing to better intra-rural linkages and economic integration.[68]On power infrastructure, Badal's administration commissioned three private thermal power plants with a combined capacity of 3,920 MW between 2007 and 2017, significantly increasing rural electrification rates and supporting agricultural pumping needs.[10] Rural water supply received focused attention through the 2012–13 Annual Plan, which allocated resources for expanded schemes alongside power and road developments.[69] Additionally, irrigation enhancements were pursued, with Badal seeking central clearance for projects worth ₹5,236.7 crore in 2015 to bolster rural water security via canals and reservoirs.[70] These efforts collectively aimed to address longstanding rural deficits in Punjab's agrarian landscape. Economic and Agricultural Reforms During his tenure as Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal prioritized agricultural subsidies and rural economic stabilization to support Punjab's predominantly agrarian economy, which contributes significantly to India's food security through wheat When Badal became chief minister for the first time in 1970, Punjab was one of India's fastest-growing states and among the top in terms of per capita income. Joining SAD in the early 1950s, Badal actively supported the movement's agitations, which intensified after the SAD's 1955 working committee resolution formalizing the demand and peaked with mass protests in the early 1960s, including the 1960-1961 morchas where thousands courted arrest to press for Punjab's redrawing along linguistic lines. Decades after India began liberalising its economy, Punjab continued to bank on agriculture as its economic mainstay. I am an emotionally driven, self-motivated, and camera-friendly fabler scooping whoopie stories from the daily grind. Parkash Singh Badal Parkash Singh Badal (8 December 1927 – 25 April 2023) was an Indian politician from Punjab who led the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and served as Chief Minister of Punjab for five terms spanning over 14 years.[1][2] Born into a Jat Sikh family in Abul Khurana village near Malout, he entered politics in 1947 amid India's independence and rose through local governance to become Punjab's youngest chief minister in 1970 at age 43.[1][2] His terms in office—1970–1971, 1977–1980, 1997–2002, and 2007–2017—focused on agricultural reforms, rural electrification, and infrastructure projects that bolstered Punjab's economy post-militancy, earning him recognition as one of India's longest-serving regional leaders.[3][4] Badal advocated for Sikh rights and federalism, navigating Punjab's turbulent history including the Green Revolution and anti-Sikh riots, while fostering alliances with national parties.[5] In 2015, he received the Padma Vibhushan for public service.[3] His career, however, faced scrutiny over corruption charges filed in 2003 against him, his son Sukhbir, and wife Surinder, involving misuse of state resources, alongside criticisms of nepotism and inadequate response to drug trafficking in Punjab.[6] Badal died in Mohali from complications of bronchial asthma and age-related ailments after a seven-decade political journey.[7][8] Personal Background Early Life and Education Parkash Singh Badal was born on December 8, 1927, in Abul Khurana village near Malout, in the Punjab province of British India, into a Jat Sikh family of prosperous landowning farmers from the Dhillon clan.[9][2] His father, Raghuraj Singh Badal, served as a local landlord managing agricultural estates in the arid southwestern region of Punjab, while his mother was Sundri Kaur.[10][11] The family's agrarian background instilled in Badal an early familiarity with rural Punjabi life, including the challenges of farming in a semi-feudal landscape marked by water scarcity and dependence on traditional cultivation methods.[12]Badal completed his primary and secondary schooling in local institutions, including village schools in areas such as Longhi and Ferozepur, before advancing to Sikh College for further studies.[11] He later enrolled at Forman Christian College in Lahore, a prominent institution in undivided Punjab, where he obtained a B.A. degree prior to the 1947 Partition of India.[9][5] This education in Lahore exposed him to a diverse urban environment amid rising communal tensions, though specific details on his academic focus or extracurricular involvement remain limited in contemporary records.[2] Family and Personal Influences Parkash Singh Badal was born on December 8, 1927, into a prosperous Jat Sikh family of landowners known as the Dhillonclan in Abul Khurana village, near Malout in southwestern Punjab.[13][5] His father, Raghuraj Singh Badal, served as a local zamindar managing extensive agricultural holdings, while his mother, Sundri Kaur, upheld traditional Sikh family values.[10][14] This agrarian environment exposed Badal from an early age to the challenges and rhythms of rural Punjab life, shaping his empathy for farmers and commitment to agricultural reforms throughout his career.[15]Badal had a younger brother, Gurdas Singh Badal, who also pursued a political career, reflecting the family's orientation toward public service and regional leadership.[14] In 1959, he married Surinder Kaur, a partnership that lasted until her death in 2011 from a prolonged illness.[10][2] The couple had two children: son Sukhbir Singh Badal, who succeeded him as president of the Shiromani Akali Dal and held ministerial positions, and daughter Parneet Kaur, married to Congress politician Adesh Partap Singh Kairon.[13][5]The Badal family's Sikh heritage and landowning status fostered a worldview centered on Punjab's cultural identity, community welfare, and resistance to central overreach, influences that propelled Badal toward Akali politics emphasizing Sikh rights and federalism.[11] His early immersion in village governance under familial guidance, including inspirations from relatives like uncle Teja Singh and Akali figures such as Giani Kartar Singh, reinforced a dedication to grassroots leadership and Punjabiautonomy.[11] Entry into Politics Local Leadership and Independence Era Parkash Singh Badal entered politics in 1947, coinciding with India's independence, when he was elected sarpanch of Badal village in Lambi tehsil, Sri Muktsar Sahib district, Punjab, at the age of 20.[16][17][18] This position as village head represented his initial foray into local governance, focusing on community administration amid the disruptions of partition, which had divided Punjab and displaced millions.[19][11] His decision to pursue politics was influenced by his uncle Teja Singh and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Giani Kartar Singh, reflecting early ties to Akali organizational networks.[11]In this role, Badal managed village affairs, including development and dispute resolution, establishing a foundation in grassrootsleadership that persisted throughout his career, with villagers in Badal continuing to view him as their sarpanch even decades later.[16][12] This period of local stewardship in the independence era positioned him to engage with post-partition challenges, such as refugee rehabilitation and agricultural recovery in rural Punjab, though specific initiatives under his sarpanch tenure remain sparsely documented in contemporary accounts.[2] By the early 1950s, Badal expanded his local influence, reportedly becoming chairman of the block samiti, further embedding him in Punjab's evolving panchayati raj system.[10] Initial Electoral Victories Badal's entry into formal politics began at the local level shortly after India's independence. He was the Badal village sarpanch before entering Punjab politics and later served as the Lambi Block Samiti's chairman. While southern states invested heavily in education and infrastructure, Punjab did not invest even a fraction of what it received from the Centre. This period established him as a committed party worker, though formal leadership roles at the district or state level remain sparsely documented in primary accounts.[25]By 1957, Badal secured election to the Punjab Legislative Assembly from the Faridkot constituency on an SAD ticket, marking his entry into representative politics and beginning a series of electoral successes that bolstered his standing within the party. Get to know the renowned former host of Fox News Awards & Recognition Akal Takht awarded Badal the title of Panth Rattan Fakhr-e-Qaum on December 11, 2011, which translates to "Jewel of the religion or pride of the community." It was later rescinded, though, following charges of civil rights violations.  On March 30, 2015, President of India Pranab Mukherjee presented Padma Vibhushan to Parkash Singh Badal. He recalled his decades-long friendship with Badal.  Scroll through the tweets given  below to know more:  Hello! During the national Emergency imposed on June 25, 1975, by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Badal was arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act for opposing the curtailment of civil liberties and democratic processes; he remained imprisoned for 19 months across multiple facilities.[48][49]In the lead-up to Punjab's militancy escalation, Badal, as Shiromani Akali Dal president, spearheaded the Dharam Yudh Morcha agitation starting August 4, 1982, aimed at enforcing the Anandpur Sahib Resolution's demands for greater federalism, river water shares, and Sikh institutional control. 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