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{{complex|date=January 2021}}
{{Short description|5th Chief Minister of Haryana and 6th Deputy Prime Minister of India}}
{{short description|Indian politician and 6th Deputy Prime Minister of India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|name          = Devi Lal  
|name          = Devi Lal  
|native_name  =  
|native_name  =  
|image        = Chaudhary Devi Lal 2001 stamp of India.jpg
|image        = Chaudhary Devi Lal stamp (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 240px
| image_size = 240px
|caption      = Chaudhary Devi Lal on a 2001 stamp of India
|caption      = Chaudhary Devi Lal from a 2001 stamp of India
|office        = 6th [[Deputy Prime Minister of India]]
|office        = 6th [[Deputy Prime Minister of India]]
|primeminister = [[V. P. Singh]]<br />[[Chandra Shekhar]]
|primeminister = [[V. P. Singh]] and [[Chandra Shekar]]  
|term_start    = 2 December 1989
|term_start    = 2 December 1989
|term_end      = 21 June 1991
|term_end      = 21 June 1991
|predecessor  = [[Yashwantrao Chavan]]
|predecessor  = [[Yashwantrao Chavan]] (1980)
|successor    = [[L. K. Advani]]
|successor    = [[L. K. Advani]] (2002)
|office2       = [[List of Chief Ministers of Haryana|5th Chief Minister of Haryana]]
|office3       = [[List of Chief Ministers of Haryana|5th Chief Minister of Haryana]]
|governor2     = Muzaffar Husain Burney <br />Hara Anand Barari  
|governor3     = Muzaffar Husain Burney <br />Hara Anand Barari  
|term_start2   = 17 July 1987
|term_start3   = 17 July 1987
|term_end2     = 2 December 1989
|term_end3     = 2 December 1989
|predecessor2 = [[Bansi Lal]]
|predecessor3 = [[Bansi Lal]]
|successor2   = [[Om Prakash Chautala]]
|successor3   = [[Om Prakash Chautala]]
|governor3     = [[Jaisukh Lal Hathi]]<br />[[Harcharan Singh Brar]]
|governor4     = [[Jaisukh Lal Hathi]]<br />[[Harcharan Singh Brar]]
|term_start3   = 21 June 1977
|term_start4   = 21 June 1977
|term_end3     = 28 June 1979
|term_end4     = 28 June 1979
|predecessor3 = [[Banarsi Das Gupta]]
|predecessor4 = [[Banarsi Das Gupta]]
|successor3   = [[Bhajan Lal]]
|successor4   = [[Bhajan Lal]]
|birth_name    = Devi Dayal Sihag
|birth_name    = Devi Lal Sihag
|birth_date    = {{birth date|1915|9|25|df=y}}
|birth_date    = {{birth date|1914|9|25|df=y}}
|birth_place  = [[Sirsa district|Teja Khera]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]] <br />(now in [[Haryana]], [[India]])
|birth_place  =Teja Khera, [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]] <br />(now in [[Haryana]], [[India]])
|death_date    = {{death date and age|2001|4|6|1915|9|25|df=y}}
|death_date    = {{death date and age|2001|4|6|1914|9|25|df=y}}
|death_place  = [[New Delhi]], [[India]]
|death_place  = [[New Delhi]], [[India]]
|party        = [[Indian National Lok Dal]] (1996–2001)
|party        = [[Indian National Lok Dal]] (1996–2001)
Line 35: Line 34:
|}}
|}}


'''Chaudhary Devi Lal''' (born '''Devi Dayal'''; 25 September 1915 - 6 April 2001) was an Indian politician. He served as 6th [[Deputy Prime Minister of India]] from 1989 to 1991 in the management of [[V. P. Singh]] and [[Chandra Shekhar]].<ref name=nytdevilal>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/16/world/devi-lal-86-expert-in-weaving-his-way-through-indian-politics.html |title=Devi Lal, 86, Expert in Weaving His Way Through Indian Politics |first=Paul |last=Lewis |work= NY Times |date=16 April 2001|access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="toidevilal">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/devi-lal-original-tau-of-indian-politics-popular-farmer-leader/videoshow/65937369.cms |title=Devi Lal: Original Tau of Indian politics, popular farmer leader |work= Times of India| date=25 September 2018| access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref> He is popularly known as '''Tau''' (uncle). Devi Lal came out as farmer leader from the state of [[Haryana]]. He served as the Chief Minister of Haryana first in 1977-79 and then in 1987-89.<ref name="toidevilal"/>
'''Chaudhary Devi Lal''' (born '''Devi Lal'''; 25 September 1914 – 6 April 2001) was an Indian statesman who served as 6th [[Deputy Prime Minister of India]] from 1989 to 1991 in the governments of [[V. P. Singh]] and [[Chandra Shekhar]].<ref name=nytdevilal>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/16/world/devi-lal-86-expert-in-weaving-his-way-through-indian-politics.html |title=Devi Lal, 86, Expert in Weaving His Way Through Indian Politics |first=Paul |last=Lewis |work= NY Times |date=16 April 2001|access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="toidevilal">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/devi-lal-original-tau-of-indian-politics-popular-farmer-leader/videoshow/65937369.cms |title=Devi Lal: Original Tau of Indian politics, popular farmer leader |work= Times of India| date=25 September 2018| access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref> Also popularly known as '''Tau''' (uncle), Lal emerged as farmer leader from the state of [[Haryana]], and served as the [[Chief Minister of Haryana]] first in 1977-79 and then in 1987-89.<ref name="toidevilal"/>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Chaudhary Devi Lal was born in Teja Khera village of [[Sirsa district]] in present-day Haryana to Shunga Devi and Lekh Ram Sihag. Lekh Ram was a [[Jat]] of Chautala village. He owned 2750 bighas of land. Lal received education up to middle-school.<ref>{{cite book|title=History of Sirsa Town|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G0Z457ZOR44C&pg=PA241|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distri|page=241}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=September 2020}} His son, [[Om Prakash Chautala]] has also served as Haryana's chief minister four times.
Chaudhary Devi Lal was born on 25 September 1914 in Teja Khera village of [[Sirsa district]] in present-day Haryana. His mother's name was Shugna Devi and father's name was Lekh Ram Sihag. Lekh Ram was a [[Jat]] of Chautala village and he owned 2750 bighas of land. He received education up to middle-school.<ref>{{cite book|title=History of Sirsa Town|year = 1991|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G0Z457ZOR44C&pg=PA241|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distri|page=241}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=September 2020}} His son [[Om Prakash Chautala]] has also served as Haryana's chief minister four times.


In 1928 at the age of 16, Devi Lal participated in independence struggle event by Lala Lajpat Rai. He was a student of "''Dev Samaj Public High School Moga''" in Moga during his 10th class. At that time, he was arrested at Congress office in 1930. He quit studies and joined freedom movement. He also took wrestling lesson at an Akhara in Badal village of Punjab. He was first elected MLA in 1952.<ref name=polly4>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Om-Prakash-Chautalas-ancestors-came-from-Rajasthan/articleshow/18175626.cms |title=Om Prakash Chautala's ancestors came from Rajasthan |work=The Times of India |date=25 January 2013 |access-date=22 September 2019}}</ref>  
Lal's ancestral roots lie in [[Bikaner]], Rajasthan, from where his great-grandfather Tejaram had migrated. His father Lekhram relocated to Chautala village in 1919 when Lal was five years old. In 1928 at the age of 16 Lal participated in demonstration by [[Lala Lajpat Rai]]. He was a student of ''"Dev Samaj Public High School Moga"'' in [[Moga, Punjab|Moga]] during his 10th class, at that time was arrested at Congress office in 1930, he quit studies and joined freedom movement. He also took wrestling lesson at an [[Akhara]] in [[Badal, Punjab|Badal]] village of Punjab. He was first elected MLA in 1952.<ref name=polly4>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Om-Prakash-Chautalas-ancestors-came-from-Rajasthan/articleshow/18175626.cms |title=Om Prakash Chautala's ancestors came from Rajasthan |work=The Times of India |date=25 January 2013 |access-date=22 September 2019}}</ref>


Lal comes from a productive political period of time with his powerful family rulers of Haryana. His older brother Sahib Ram Sihag was the first politician from the family. Sahib Ram Sihag became Congress MLA from Hisar in 1938 and 1947.<ref name=polly1>{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/bahu-naina-broke-glass-ceiling-of-chautala-family-politics-5553039/ |title=Bahu Naina broke glass ceiling of Chautala family politics] |work=The Indian Express |date=24 January 2019 |access-date=22 September 2019}}</ref> Lal had four sons - Partap Singh, Om Prakash Chautala, Ranjit Singh and Jagdish Chander. His eldest son, Partap Singh, was an MLA from Indian National Lok Dal in the 1960s.<ref name="polly3">{{cite news|date=15 November 2018|title=In Chautala, villagers say family feud no surprise|work=The Indian Express|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/in-chautala-villagers-say-family-feud-no-surprise-5447040/|access-date=22 September 2019}}</ref>
Lal comes from a [[Political families of Haryana#Chautala clan|prolific political dynasty of Haryana]]. His elder brother Sahib Ram Sihag was the first politician from the family who became Congress MLA from Hisar in 1938 and 1947.<ref name=polly1>{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/bahu-naina-broke-glass-ceiling-of-chautala-family-politics-5553039/ |title=Bahu Naina broke glass ceiling of Chautala family politics] |work=The Indian Express |date=24 January 2019 |access-date=22 September 2019}}</ref> Lal had four sons, Partap Singh, Om Prakash Chautala, Ranjit Singh and Jagdish Chander. All joined politics except Jagdish who died at a young age. His eldest son, Partap Singh, was an MLA from Indian National Lok Dal in the 1960s.<ref name="polly3">{{cite news|date=15 November 2018|title=In Chautala, villagers say family feud no surprise|work=The Indian Express|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/in-chautala-villagers-say-family-feud-no-surprise-5447040/|access-date=22 September 2019}}</ref>


==Independence movement==
==Independence movement==
Lal was a follower of [[Mahatma Gandhi]]. He was involved in the struggle for India's independence from the [[British Raj]]. Both he and his elder brother, Sahib Ram, left their studies unfinished to take part in the freedom movement.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
{{see also|Indian independence movement}}


For this, he was sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment and sent to [[Hisar (city)|Hissar]] jail on 8 October 1930. He took part in the movement of 1932. He was then kept in Sadar Delhi Thana (Jail). In 1938 he was selected delegate of [[All-India Congress Committee]]. In March 1938, his elder brother was elected a [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Legislative Assembly]] in a by-election on the [[Indian National Congress|Congress party]] ticket. In January 1940, Sahib Ram courted arrest as a ''[[satyagrahi]]'' in the presence of Lal and over ten thousand people. He was fined Rs 100 and sentenced to 9&nbsp;months imprisonment.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
Lal was a follower of [[Mahatma Gandhi]] and was involved in the struggle for India's independence from the [[British Raj]]. Both he and his elder brother, Sahib Ram, left their studies unfinished to take part in the freedom movement.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}}


Lal was arrested again on 5 October 1942. He then kept in jail for two years for taking part in the 1942 [[Quit India]] movement. He was released from prison in October 1943. He negotiated parole for his elder brother. In August 1944, [[Chhotu Ram]], the then Revenue Minister, visited [[Chautala]] village. He, along with Lajpat Rai Alakhpura, made efforts to woo both Sahib Ram and Lal to desert Congress and join the [[Unionist Party (Punjab)|Unionist Party]]. But both workers, being dedicated freedom fighters, refused to leave the Congress Party.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
For this, he was sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment and sent to [[Hisar (city)|Hissar]] jail on 8 October 1930. He took part in the movement of 1932 and was kept in Sadar Delhi Thana. In 1938 he was selected delegate of [[All-India Congress Committee]]. In March 1938 his elder brother was elected a [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Legislative Assembly]] in a by-election on the [[Indian National Congress|Congress party]] ticket. In January 1940, Sahib Ram courted arrest as a ''[[satyagrahi]]'' in the presence of Lal and over ten thousand people. He was fined Rs 100 and sentenced to 9&nbsp;months imprisonment.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}}
 
Lal was arrested on 5 October 1942 and kept in jail for two years for taking part in the 1942 [[Quit India]] movement. He was released from prison in October 1943 and he negotiated parole for his elder brother. In August 1944, [[Chhotu Ram]], the then Revenue Minister, visited [[Chautala]] village. He, along with Lajpat Rai Alakhpura, made efforts to woo both Sahib Ram and Lal to desert Congress and join the [[Unionist Party (Punjab)|Unionist Party]]. But both workers, being dedicated freedom fighters, refused to leave the Congress Party.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}}


==Post independence==
==Post independence==
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=== Pre-1960: Punjab Assembly politics ===
=== Pre-1960: Punjab Assembly politics ===
After independence, Lal emerged as a popular farmer leader in the 1950s and started a farmers' movement, for which he was arrested along with his 500 workers. After some time, then chief minister, [[Gopi Chand Bhargava]], made an agreement and the Muzzara Act was amended. He was elected a member of the Punjab Assembly in 1952 and President of the Punjab Congress in 1956.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}} In 1958, he was elected from [[Sirsa, Haryana|Sirsa]].  
After independence, Lal emerged as a popular farmer leader in the 1950s and started a farmers' movement, for which he was arrested along with his 500 workers. After some time, then chief minister, [[Gopi Chand Bhargava]], made an agreement and the Muzzara Act was amended. He was elected a member of the Punjab Assembly in 1952 and President of the Punjab Congress in 1956.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}} In 1958, he was elected from [[Sirsa, Haryana|Sirsa]].


=== Pre-1980: Haryana Assembly politics===
=== Pre-1980: Haryana Assembly politics ===
He played an active and clear role in the (creation and construction/ group of objects) of Haryana as a separate state. In 1971, he left Congress. In 1972 Vidhan Sabha elections, he argued over unsuccessfully against the two Congress heavyweights. One was Bansi Lal in Tosham (Vidhan Sabha seat) and another was Bhajan Lal in Adampur seat.<ref>https://eci.gov.in/files/file/3818-haryana-1972/</ref> In 1974, he successfully contested in the Rori constituency. In 1975, [[Indira Gandhi]] declared [[The Emergency (India)|the Emergency]]. Lal along with all opposition leaders were jailed for 19 months. In 1977, the emergency ended and [[1977 Indian general election|general elections]] were held. He was elected on the [[Janata Party]] ticket from Bhattu Kalan. He then became the [[Chief Minister of Haryana]]. As the chief minister of Haryana he made several decisions benefiting farmers and rural people.<ref name="toidevilal" />
He played an active and decisive role in the formation of [[Haryana]] as a separate state. In 1971 he left Congress. In 1972 vidhan sabha elections, he contested unsuccessfully against the two Congress heavyweights, Bansi Lal in [[Tosham (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Tosham]] constituency and Bhajan Lal in Adampur seat.<ref>{{cite web |title=Haryana 1972 |url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/3818-haryana-1972/ |website=Election Commission of India |access-date=8 February 2021 |language=en-IN}}</ref> In 1974 he successfully contested in the Rori constituency. In 1975, [[Indira Gandhi]] declared [[The Emergency (India)|the Emergency]] and Lal along with all opposition leaders were jailed for 19 months. In 1977, the emergency ended and [[1977 Indian general election|general elections]] were held. He was elected on the [[Janata Party]] ticket from Bhattu Kalan and became the [[Chief Minister of Haryana]].<ref name="toidevilal" />


=== Post-1980: national and state politics ===
=== Post-1980: national and state politics ===
He remained a [[Member of Parliament (India)|Member of Parliament]] from 1980 to 1982. He was a member of State assembly between 1982 and 1987. He formed [[Lok Dal]]. He started Nyaya Yuddh (en. battle for justice), under the banner of Haryana Sangharsh Samiti. In the 1987 state elections, the alliance led by Lal won a record victory winning 85 seats in the 90 member house. Congress won the other five seats. Lal became the chief minister of Haryana for the second time. In the [[1989 Indian general election|1989 parliamentary election]], he was simultaneously elected, both from [[Sikar]], Rajasthan and [[Rohtak]], Haryana.
He remained a [[Member of Parliament (India)|Member of Parliament]] from 1980 to 1982 and was a member of State assembly between 1982 and 1987. He formed [[Lok Dal]] and started Nyaya Yuddh (en. battle for justice), under the banner of Haryana Sangharsh Samiti, and became hugely popular among masses. In the 1987 state elections, the alliance led by Lal won a record victory winning 85 seats in the 90 member house. Congress won the other five seats. Lal became the chief minister of Haryana for the second time. In the [[1989 Indian general election|1989 parliamentary election]], he was simultaneously elected, both from [[Sikar]], Rajasthan and [[Rohtak]], Haryana. He became deputy prime minister of the country from 1989 to 1991 in the non-Congress governments of VP Singh and Chandra Shekhar<ref name="toidevilal"/> He was elected to [[Rajya Sabha]] in August 1998. Later, his son [[Om Prakash Chautala]] also became the chief minister of Haryana.<ref name="The Jat patriarch">{{cite magazine|title=The Jat patriarch|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1809/18091200.htm|magazine=Frontline|date=April 2001|author=Sukumar Muralidharan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315234640/http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1809/18091200.htm|archive-date=15 March 2014|access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref>


He went on to become deputy prime minister of the country from 1989 to 1991.<ref name="toidevilal"/>
Lal died on 6 April 2001 at the age of 85. He was cremated at [[Raj Ghat and other memorials|Sangarsh Sthal]] on the banks of the river [[Yamuna]] in New Delhi. "Kisan Ghat" is the samadhi of another popular leader of the farmers, [[Charan Singh]], the fifth [[Prime Minister of India]].


He was elected to [[Rajya Sabha]] in August 1998. Later, his son [[Om Prakash Chautala]] also became the chief minister of Haryana.<ref name="The Jat patriarch">{{cite journal|title=The Jat patriarch|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1809/18091200.htm|journal=Frontline|volume =18|issue =9|date=April 2001|author=Sukumar Muralidharan}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[First Devi Lal ministry (1977–1979)]]
* [[Second Devi Lal ministry (1987–1989)]]
* [[Aaya Ram Gaya Ram]]
* [[Political families of Haryana|Dynastic politics of Haryana]]


== Death and legacy ==
His popularity among farmers and rural people earned him the title of 'Tau' (Elder Uncle). Lal died on 6 April 2001 at the age of 85. He was cremated at [[Raj Ghat and other memorials|Sangarsh Sthal]] on the banks of the river [[Yamuna]] in New Delhi. "Kisan Ghat" is the samadhi of another popular leader of the farmers, [[Charan Singh]], the fifth [[Prime Minister of India]].
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
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{{Commons category|Chaudhary Devi Lal}}
{{Commons category|Chaudhary Devi Lal}}
*[http://inld.co.in Official website of Indian National Lok Dal]
*[http://inld.co.in Official website of Indian National Lok Dal]
*{{Britannica|328330}}


{{s-start}}
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{{s-aft|after=[[L. K. Advani|Lal Krishna Advani]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[L. K. Advani|Lal Krishna Advani]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{Chief Ministers of Haryana}}
{{Deputy Prime Ministers of India|state=expanded}}
{{Haryana}}
[[Category:1915 births]]
{{Authority control}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devi Lal}}
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:Chief Ministers of Haryana]]
[[Category:Indian Deputy Prime Ministers]]
[[Category:Indian Deputy Prime Ministers]]
[[Category:Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Haryana]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians]]
[[Category:People from Sirsa district]]
[[Category:V. P. Singh administration]]
[[Category:Punjab, India MLAs 1952–1957]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of British India]]
[[Category:9th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Indians imprisoned during the Emergency (India)]]
[[Category:Chief ministers from Janata Party]]
[[Category:Chautala family]]
[[Category:Samata Party politicians]]
[[Category:Indian National Lok Dal politicians]]
[[Category:Chief ministers from Janata Dal]]
[[Category:Agriculture Ministers of India]]
[[Category:Samajwadi Janata Party politicians]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Haryana]]
[[Category:Janata Party politicians]]
[[Category:Janata Dal politicians]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Lok Dal politicians]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Opposition in Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Haryana]]
[[Category:7th Lok Sabha members]]

Latest revision as of 14:52, 9 May 2022


Devi Lal
Chaudhary Devi Lal stamp (cropped).jpg
Chaudhary Devi Lal from a 2001 stamp of India
6th Deputy Prime Minister of India
In office
2 December 1989 – 21 June 1991
Prime MinisterV. P. Singh and Chandra Shekar
Preceded byYashwantrao Chavan (1980)
Succeeded byL. K. Advani (2002)
5th Chief Minister of Haryana
In office
17 July 1987 – 2 December 1989
GovernorMuzaffar Husain Burney
Hara Anand Barari
Preceded byBansi Lal
Succeeded byOm Prakash Chautala
In office
21 June 1977 – 28 June 1979
GovernorJaisukh Lal Hathi
Harcharan Singh Brar
Preceded byBanarsi Das Gupta
Succeeded byBhajan Lal
Personal details
Born
Devi Lal Sihag

(1914-09-25)25 September 1914
Teja Khera, Punjab, British India
(now in Haryana, India)
Died6 April 2001(2001-04-06) (aged 86)
New Delhi, India
Political partyIndian National Lok Dal (1996–2001)
Other political
affiliations		Indian National Congress (before 1971)
Independent (1971–1977)
Janata Party (1977–1987)
Janata Dal (1988–1990)
Samajwadi Janata Party (1990–1996)

Chaudhary Devi Lal (born Devi Lal; 25 September 1914 – 6 April 2001) was an Indian statesman who served as 6th Deputy Prime Minister of India from 1989 to 1991 in the governments of V. P. Singh and Chandra Shekhar.[1][2] Also popularly known as Tau (uncle), Lal emerged as farmer leader from the state of Haryana, and served as the Chief Minister of Haryana first in 1977-79 and then in 1987-89.[2]

Personal life[edit]

Chaudhary Devi Lal was born on 25 September 1914 in Teja Khera village of Sirsa district in present-day Haryana. His mother's name was Shugna Devi and father's name was Lekh Ram Sihag. Lekh Ram was a Jat of Chautala village and he owned 2750 bighas of land. He received education up to middle-school.[3][better source needed] His son Om Prakash Chautala has also served as Haryana's chief minister four times.

Lal's ancestral roots lie in Bikaner, Rajasthan, from where his great-grandfather Tejaram had migrated. His father Lekhram relocated to Chautala village in 1919 when Lal was five years old. In 1928 at the age of 16 Lal participated in demonstration by Lala Lajpat Rai. He was a student of "Dev Samaj Public High School Moga" in Moga during his 10th class, at that time was arrested at Congress office in 1930, he quit studies and joined freedom movement. He also took wrestling lesson at an Akhara in Badal village of Punjab. He was first elected MLA in 1952.[4]

Lal comes from a prolific political dynasty of Haryana. His elder brother Sahib Ram Sihag was the first politician from the family who became Congress MLA from Hisar in 1938 and 1947.[5] Lal had four sons, Partap Singh, Om Prakash Chautala, Ranjit Singh and Jagdish Chander. All joined politics except Jagdish who died at a young age. His eldest son, Partap Singh, was an MLA from Indian National Lok Dal in the 1960s.[6]

Independence movement[edit]

See also: Indian independence movement

Lal was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and was involved in the struggle for India's independence from the British Raj. Both he and his elder brother, Sahib Ram, left their studies unfinished to take part in the freedom movement.[citation needed]

For this, he was sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment and sent to Hissar jail on 8 October 1930. He took part in the movement of 1932 and was kept in Sadar Delhi Thana. In 1938 he was selected delegate of All-India Congress Committee. In March 1938 his elder brother was elected a Member of the Legislative Assembly in a by-election on the Congress party ticket. In January 1940, Sahib Ram courted arrest as a satyagrahi in the presence of Lal and over ten thousand people. He was fined Rs 100 and sentenced to 9 months imprisonment.[citation needed]

Lal was arrested on 5 October 1942 and kept in jail for two years for taking part in the 1942 Quit India movement. He was released from prison in October 1943 and he negotiated parole for his elder brother. In August 1944, Chhotu Ram, the then Revenue Minister, visited Chautala village. He, along with Lajpat Rai Alakhpura, made efforts to woo both Sahib Ram and Lal to desert Congress and join the Unionist Party. But both workers, being dedicated freedom fighters, refused to leave the Congress Party.[citation needed]

Post independence[edit]

See also: V. P. Singh Ministry and Chandra Shekhar Ministry

Pre-1960: Punjab Assembly politics[edit]

After independence, Lal emerged as a popular farmer leader in the 1950s and started a farmers' movement, for which he was arrested along with his 500 workers. After some time, then chief minister, Gopi Chand Bhargava, made an agreement and the Muzzara Act was amended. He was elected a member of the Punjab Assembly in 1952 and President of the Punjab Congress in 1956.[citation needed] In 1958, he was elected from Sirsa.

Pre-1980: Haryana Assembly politics[edit]

He played an active and decisive role in the formation of Haryana as a separate state. In 1971 he left Congress. In 1972 vidhan sabha elections, he contested unsuccessfully against the two Congress heavyweights, Bansi Lal in Tosham constituency and Bhajan Lal in Adampur seat.[7] In 1974 he successfully contested in the Rori constituency. In 1975, Indira Gandhi declared the Emergency and Lal along with all opposition leaders were jailed for 19 months. In 1977, the emergency ended and general elections were held. He was elected on the Janata Party ticket from Bhattu Kalan and became the Chief Minister of Haryana.[2]

Post-1980: national and state politics[edit]

He remained a Member of Parliament from 1980 to 1982 and was a member of State assembly between 1982 and 1987. He formed Lok Dal and started Nyaya Yuddh (en. battle for justice), under the banner of Haryana Sangharsh Samiti, and became hugely popular among masses. In the 1987 state elections, the alliance led by Lal won a record victory winning 85 seats in the 90 member house. Congress won the other five seats. Lal became the chief minister of Haryana for the second time. In the 1989 parliamentary election, he was simultaneously elected, both from Sikar, Rajasthan and Rohtak, Haryana. He became deputy prime minister of the country from 1989 to 1991 in the non-Congress governments of VP Singh and Chandra Shekhar[2] He was elected to Rajya Sabha in August 1998. Later, his son Om Prakash Chautala also became the chief minister of Haryana.[8]

Lal died on 6 April 2001 at the age of 85. He was cremated at Sangarsh Sthal on the banks of the river Yamuna in New Delhi. "Kisan Ghat" is the samadhi of another popular leader of the farmers, Charan Singh, the fifth Prime Minister of India.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Lewis, Paul (16 April 2001). "Devi Lal, 86, Expert in Weaving His Way Through Indian Politics". NY Times. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Devi Lal: Original Tau of Indian politics, popular farmer leader". Times of India. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  3. ↑ History of Sirsa Town. Atlantic Publishers & Distri. 1991. p. 241.
  4. ↑ "Om Prakash Chautala's ancestors came from Rajasthan". The Times of India. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  5. ↑ "Bahu Naina broke glass ceiling of Chautala family politics]". The Indian Express. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  6. ↑ "In Chautala, villagers say family feud no surprise". The Indian Express. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  7. ↑ "Haryana 1972". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  8. ↑ Sukumar Muralidharan (April 2001). "The Jat patriarch". Frontline. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2021.

External links[edit]

Political offices
Preceded by
Banarsi Das Gupta 		Chief Minister of Haryana
1977–1979 		Succeeded by
Bhajan Lal
Preceded by
Bansi Lal 		Chief Minister of Haryana
1987–1989 		Succeeded by
Om Prakash Chautala
Preceded by
Yashwantrao Chavan 		Deputy Prime Minister of India
1989–1991 		Succeeded by
Lal Krishna Advani
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/index.php?title=Devi_Lal&oldid=337809"