NEW DELHI, Dec 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tribute to former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna awardee Chaudhary Charan Singh on his birth anniversary, stating that the nation will always remain grateful for his immense contribution to India’s nation building, particularly in the areas of agriculture, rural development and social justice.
In a message shared on social media platform X, the Prime Minister recalled the life and legacy of the former Prime Minister and farmer leader. “Respectful tributes to former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh on his birth anniversary. He dedicated his life to the welfare of the underprivileged sections of society and to the progress of agriculture and prosperity of farmers. A grateful nation can never forget his contribution to nation-building,” PM Modi said.
In an accompanying video message, the Prime Minister highlighted Chaudhary Charan Singh’s unwavering commitment to farmers, especially small and marginal cultivators. He said Charan Singh consistently worked to bring farmers’ concerns to the centre of national policymaking and strengthen rural India.
PM Modi added that the present government continues to draw inspiration from the ideals and vision of Chaudhary Charan Singh, noting that several initiatives aimed at empowering farmers and boosting small-scale agriculture are rooted in the principles laid down by the former Prime Minister. Emphasising inclusive growth, he said strengthening agriculture remains central to building a strong and self-reliant India.
Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, also paid tributes to Chaudhary Charan Singh on the occasion, describing him as a visionary leader who dedicated his life to the empowerment of farmers, rural India and social justice. “His contributions to agricultural reform and public welfare will always inspire the nation,” Sinha said in a post on X.
Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, also remembered the former Prime Minister on Kisan Diwas, observed annually on December 23 to mark Charan Singh’s birth anniversary. He extended greetings to farmers and the people of Ladakh, describing Charan Singh’s life as one devoted to the upliftment of villages and the underprivileged.
Chaudhary Charan Singh was born in 1902 in Noorpur village of Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district to a middle-class peasant family. His early life shaped his deep understanding of rural challenges and agrarian issues. A science graduate, he went on to earn a postgraduate degree from Agra University in 1925 and later trained as a lawyer.
He began his political career after joining the Indian National Congress and was first elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1937 from the Chhaprauli constituency. Over the years, he held several key portfolios in the Uttar Pradesh government, including Revenue, Agriculture, Justice and Transport, and emerged as a prominent advocate of farmers’ rights and rural reform.