Purushottam Das Tandon - Revision history

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Freedom struggle

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	'''Purushottam Das Tandon''' ({{audio\|Purshottamdas Tandon.ogg\|pronunciation}}; 1 August 1882 – 1 July 1962) was a [[Indian independence activist\|freedom fighter]] from [[~~Prayagraj~~]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], India. He is widely remembered for his [[opposition to the partition of India]], as well as efforts in achieving the ''Official Language of India'' status for [[Hindi]].<ref name="Saraf2012"/> He was customarily given the title ''[[Rajarshi]]'' (etymology: Raja + Rishi = Royal Saint). He was popularly known as UP Gandhi. He was awarded the ''[[Bharat Ratna]]'', India's highest civilian award, in 1961.<ref name="bratna">{{cite web\|title=Padma Awards Directory (1954–2007)\|url=http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/PadmaAwards1954-2007.pdf\|publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs\|access-date=26 November 2010}}</ref>		'''Purushottam Das Tandon''' ({{audio\|Purshottamdas Tandon.ogg\|pronunciation}}; 1 August 1882 – 1 July 1962) was a [[Indian independence activist\|freedom fighter]] from [[Allahabad]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], India. He is widely remembered for his [[opposition to the partition of India]], as well as efforts in achieving the ''Official Language of India'' status for [[Hindi]].<ref name="Saraf2012"/> He was customarily given the title ''[[Rajarshi]]'' (etymology: Raja + Rishi = Royal Saint). He was popularly known as UP Gandhi. He was awarded the ''[[Bharat Ratna]]'', India's highest civilian award, in 1961.<ref name="bratna">{{cite web\|title=Padma Awards Directory (1954–2007)\|url=http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/PadmaAwards1954-2007.pdf\|publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs\|access-date=26 November 2010}}</ref>

	==Early life==		==Early life==

	Purushottam Das Tandon was born in [[Allahabad]] in a middle class [[Khatri]] family. <ref>{{Cite book\|last=Puri\|first=Baij Nath\|url=https://books.google.~~co.uk~~/books?id=tXX1MAAACAAJ~~&newbks=0&hl=en&redir_esc=y~~\|title=The Khatris, a Socio-cultural Study\|date=1988\|publisher=M.N. Publishers and Distributors\|pages=137\|language=en}}</ref> After obtaining a degree in law and an [[Master's degree\|MA]] in history, he started practicing in 1906 and joined the bar of Allahabad [[High Courts of India\|High Court]] in 1908 as a junior to [[Tej Bahadur Sapru]]. He gave up practice in 1921 to concentrate on public activities.		Purushottam Das Tandon was born in [[Allahabad]] in a middle class [[Khatri]] family. <ref>{{Cite book\|last=Puri\|first=Baij Nath\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tXX1MAAACAAJ\|title=The Khatris, a Socio-cultural Study\|date=1988\|publisher=M.N. Publishers and Distributors\|pages=137\|language=en}}</ref> After obtaining a degree in law and an [[Master's degree\|MA]] in history, he started practicing in 1906 and joined the bar of Allahabad [[High Courts of India\|High Court]] in 1908 as a junior to [[Tej Bahadur Sapru]]. He gave up practice in 1921 to concentrate on public activities.
	Tandon ji worked as Professor of Hindi at Victoria College, Gwalior.		Tandon ji worked as Professor of Hindi at Victoria College, Gwalior.

	==Freedom struggle==		==Freedom struggle==

	He was a member of [[Indian National Congress]] since his student days in 1899. In 1906, he represented Allahabad in the [[All India Congress Committee]]. He was associated with the Congress Party committee that studied the [[Amritsar Massacre\|Jallianwala Bagh incident]] in 1919. In the 1920s and 1930s he was arrested for participating in the [[Non-Cooperation movement]] and [[Salt Satyagraha]] respectively. He and [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] were among the people arrested even before [[Mohandas K. Gandhi]] returned from the [[Round Table Conferences (India)\|Round Table Conference]] at [[London]] in [[Round Table Conferences (India)#Second Round Table Conference (September 1931 – December 1931)\|1931]]. He was known for his efforts in farmers' movements and he served as the President, [[Bihar]] Provincial Kisan Sabha in 1934. He also remained President of [[Servants of the People Society]] (~~Lok Sevak Mandal~~), a social service organisation founded by [[Lala Lajpat Rai]], in 1921.<ref name="Grover1993">{{cite book\|last=Grover\|first=Verinder\|title=Political Thinkers of Modern India: Lala Lajpat Rai\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pls8YeINi1sC&pg=PA547\|year=1993\|publisher=Deep & Deep Publications\|isbn=978-81-7100-426-3\|pages=547–}}</ref>		He was a member of [[Indian National Congress]] since his student days in 1899. In 1906, he represented Allahabad in the [[All India Congress Committee]]. He was associated with the Congress Party committee that studied the [[Amritsar Massacre\|Jallianwala Bagh incident]] in 1919. In the 1920s and 1930s he was arrested for participating in the [[Non-Cooperation movement]] and [[Salt Satyagraha]] respectively. He and [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] were among the people arrested even before [[Mohandas K. Gandhi]] returned from the [[Round Table Conferences (India)\|Round Table Conference]] at [[London]] in [[Round Table Conferences (India)#Second Round Table Conference (September 1931 – December 1931)\|1931]]. He was known for his efforts in farmers' movements and he served as the President, [[Bihar]] Provincial Kisan Sabha in 1934. He also remained President of [[Servants of the People Society]] ([[Hindi]] <sub>([[ISO 15919\|ISO]])</sub>: Lōka Sēvaka Maṇḍala ), a social service organisation founded by [[Lala Lajpat Rai]], in 1921.<ref name="Grover1993">{{cite book\|last=Grover\|first=Verinder\|title=Political Thinkers of Modern India: Lala Lajpat Rai\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pls8YeINi1sC&pg=PA547\|year=1993\|publisher=Deep & Deep Publications\|isbn=978-81-7100-426-3\|pages=547–}}</ref>

	He worked as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the present-day [[Uttar Pradesh]] for a period of 13 years, from 31 July 1937 to 10 August 1950.{{Citation needed\|reason=Your explanation here\|date=February 2019}} He was elected to the [[Constituent Assembly of India]] in 1946.		He worked as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the present-day [[Uttar Pradesh]] for a period of 13 years, from 31 July 1937 to 10 August 1950.{{Citation needed\|reason=Your explanation here\|date=February 2019}} He was elected to the [[Constituent Assembly of India]] in 1946.
			he is a prominent leader of India

	==Post-Independence==		==Post-Independence==

imported>Cewbot: Fix broken anchor: 2020-01-12 #Second Round Table Conference (September – December 1931)→Round Table Conferences (India)#Second Round Table Conference (September 1931 – December 1931)

2021-08-27T08:41:24Z

Fix broken anchor: 2020-01-12 #Second Round Table Conference (September – December 1931)→Round Table Conferences (India)#Second Round Table Conference (September 1931 – December 1931)

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{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2012}}
{{infobox person
| honorific-prefix = [[Rajarshi]]
| name = Purushottam Das Tandon
| image = Purushottam Das Tandon 1982 stamp of India.jpg
| image_size = 245px
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date |df=yes|1882|08|01|}}
| birth_place = [[Allahabad]], [[North-Western Provinces]], [[British India]] (Present day: [[Prayagraj]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Republic of India]])
| party = [[Indian National Congress]]
| occupation = Politician
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1962|07|01|1882|08|01}}
| awards = [[Bharat Ratna]] (1961)
}}

'''Purushottam Das Tandon''' ({{audio|Purshottamdas Tandon.ogg|pronunciation}}; 1 August 1882 – 1 July 1962) was a [[Indian independence activist|freedom fighter]] from [[Prayagraj]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], India. He is widely remembered for his [[opposition to the partition of India]], as well as efforts in achieving the ''Official Language of India'' status for [[Hindi]].<ref name="Saraf2012"/> He was customarily given the title ''[[Rajarshi]]'' (etymology: Raja + Rishi = Royal Saint). He was popularly known as UP Gandhi. He was awarded the ''[[Bharat Ratna]]'', India's highest civilian award, in 1961.<ref name="bratna">{{cite web|title=Padma Awards Directory (1954–2007)|url=http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/PadmaAwards1954-2007.pdf|publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs|access-date=26 November 2010}}</ref>

==Early life==

Purushottam Das Tandon was born in [[Allahabad]] in a middle class [[Khatri]] family. <ref>{{Cite book|last=Puri|first=Baij Nath|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=tXX1MAAACAAJ&newbks=0&hl=en&redir_esc=y|title=The Khatris, a Socio-cultural Study|date=1988|publisher=M.N. Publishers and Distributors|pages=137|language=en}}</ref> After obtaining a degree in law and an [[Master's degree|MA]] in history, he started practicing in 1906 and joined the bar of Allahabad [[High Courts of India|High Court]] in 1908 as a junior to [[Tej Bahadur Sapru]]. He gave up practice in 1921 to concentrate on public activities.
Tandon ji worked as Professor of Hindi at Victoria College, Gwalior.

==Freedom struggle==

He was a member of [[Indian National Congress]] since his student days in 1899. In 1906, he represented Allahabad in the [[All India Congress Committee]]. He was associated with the Congress Party committee that studied the [[Amritsar Massacre|Jallianwala Bagh incident]] in 1919. In the 1920s and 1930s he was arrested for participating in the [[Non-Cooperation movement]] and [[Salt Satyagraha]] respectively. He and [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] were among the people arrested even before [[Mohandas K. Gandhi]] returned from the [[Round Table Conferences (India)|Round Table Conference]] at [[London]] in [[Round Table Conferences (India)#Second Round Table Conference (September 1931 – December 1931)|1931]]. He was known for his efforts in farmers' movements and he served as the President, [[Bihar]] Provincial Kisan Sabha in 1934. He also remained President of [[Servants of the People Society]] (Lok Sevak Mandal), a social service organisation founded by [[Lala Lajpat Rai]], in 1921.<ref name="Grover1993">{{cite book|last=Grover|first=Verinder|title=Political Thinkers of Modern India: Lala Lajpat Rai|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pls8YeINi1sC&pg=PA547|year=1993|publisher=Deep & Deep Publications|isbn=978-81-7100-426-3|pages=547–}}</ref>

He worked as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the present-day [[Uttar Pradesh]] for a period of 13 years, from 31 July 1937 to 10 August 1950.{{Citation needed|reason=Your explanation here|date=February 2019}} He was elected to the [[Constituent Assembly of India]] in 1946.

==Post-Independence==

He tried for the position of the President of the Congress Party unsuccessfully against [[Pattabhi Sitaramayya]] in 1948 but contested successfully against [[Acharya Kriplani]] in the controversial and difficult 1950 election to head the [[Nagpur]] session. He soon resigned from Congress's president post because of differences with Nehru and as Nehru's popularity was needed for winning elections. Nehru, while being the PM, also became the president of Congress for 1951 and 1952.<ref name="indianexpress1">Varshney, Ashutosh (updated 28 March 2015) [http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/faults-and-lines/99/ Faults and lines]. Indianexpress.com. Retrieved on 12 December 2018.</ref>
He was elected to the [[Lok Sabha]] in 1952 and the [[Rajya Sabha]] in 1956. He retired from active public life after that due to indifferent health. He was awarded the [[Bharat Ratna]], India's highest civilian award in 1961.

==Controversies==

===Religious tolerance===
{{Further|Hindu-Muslim unity}}
Several controversies and contradictions abound in the life of Purushottam Das Tandon. While he emphasised the similarities between [[Hindu]] and [[Muslim]] cultures, he is regarded to have carried the image of a ''soft'' [[Hindu nationalist]] leader. He was not as successful as Gandhi in summoning religious ideals to aspects of Public Service despite being associated with the moderate [[Radha Soami]] sect. He and [[KM Munshi]] were among those who strongly opposed religious propagation and conversion of a people of one religion to another; they strongly argued in the [[Constituent Assembly of India|constituent assembly]] for a condemnation in the [[Constitution of India|constitution]] of religious conversion.

===Opposition to the partition of India===
{{Further|Opposition to the partition of India}}
On 12 June 1947, the [[Congress Working Committee]] met and passed a resolution accepting the [[partition of India]]. When the same had to be ratified on 14 June by the AICC, one of the dissenting voices came from Tandon. On that occasion, he said, "Acceptance of the resolution will be an abject surrender to the British and the Muslim League. The admission of the Working Committee was an admission of weakness and the result of a sense of despair. The Partition would not benefit either community – the Hindus in Pakistan and the Muslims in India would both live in fear."<ref name="Reddy2003">{{cite book |last1=Reddy |first1=Kittu |title=History of India: a new approach |date=2003 |publisher=Standard Publishers |isbn=978-81-87471-14-1 |page=453 |language=en}}</ref> Thus, he was strongly [[opposition to the partition of India|opposed to the partition of India]].<ref name="Saraf2012">{{cite book |last1=Saraf |first1=Nandini |title=The Life and Times of Lokmanya Tilak |date=2012 |publisher=Prabhat Prakashan |isbn=978-81-8430-152-6 |page=279 |language=en}}</ref>

===Relations with Nehru===

He and [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] had good relations in the beginning; Nehru who commended the "No Tax" campaign started by Tandon in 1930. In the 1940s, the differences between them increased. While Tandon was not perceived to be power-hungry, his relation with Nehru was not on good terms and he was believed to be a protégé of [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel]]. In 1950, his successful election to the post of Congress President against [[Acharya Kriplani]], who was widely believed to be backed by Nehru, put the latter in a tight spot. The relations between the party and the government suffered during that period. Subsequently, it became a sort of unwritten norm for the leader of the government to also be the party president or at the least, have a pliable candidate in the post.

After Partition, Patel and Nehru developed differences over how to deal with the Muslim minority of India, especially as anti-Hindu violence reigned in Pakistan. Nehru argued that India's constitutional commitment to the security of its Muslim minority did not depend on how Pakistan treated its Hindu minority. Tandon, being close to Patel, differed with Nehru on this. So, Nehru launched an internal political battle against his own party's elected President and got the party's organisation to support his idea of secularism. Subsequently, it became clear that the nation's prime minister cannot be opposed by his party's elected president and Tandon resigned from the post of Congress' president to give way for Nehru. Tandon was elected president in 1950 and then Nehru was elected twice in 1951 and 1952.<ref name="indianexpress1"/>

===Advocacy for Hindi===
Despite Gandhi and other leaders advocating the adoption of [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]], a mixture of Hindi and Urdu, as the National language, he insisted on the usage of [[Devanagari]] script and the rejection of the [[Nastaʿlīq script|Urdu script]] as well as words with Arabic-Persian roots. This led to him being called a political reactionary by Nehru. His attitude towards the [[Standard Hindi#Sanskritization|Sanskritisation]] or making the language more formal was also controversial. His insistence on the usage of numerals of Devanagari script over the international system and his debates in the [[Constituent Assembly of India|constituent assembly]] on adoption of Hindi as the official language irked [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] leaders.

==Anecdotes==
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2019}}
* A Speaker is supposed to be impartial and hence, speakers generally do not participate in their party meetings. Tandon, however, used to participate actively in his party meetings, as he was clear in his conscience that since he could separate these into different compartments, there should not be any issue. When he was questioned on this stand on the floor of the house, he offered to step down if any of the members of the house lacked confidence in him. No member pressed the issue.
* As a staunch believer in [[ahimsa]], he started using rubber [[chappal]]s to avoid usage of leather.
* Rajarshi Purushottam Das Tandon was at the time a member of parliament. Once, when he went to collect his salary cheque in the Parliament Office, he asked the clerk there to transfer the amount directly to a "Public Service Fund". The officials over there were pleasantly surprised by his generosity. One of his colleagues standing nearby said: "There are hardly four hundred rupees as your allowance for the whole month. And you are donating the entire amount for social service?" Tandon ji humbly replied – "You see, I have seven sons and all are earning sufficiently to raise their families; each one sends me one hundred rupees per month. I spend only about rupees three to four hundred from that and the rest goes to some philanthropic causes. This allowance as a Member-of-Parliament is again extra for some one like me. Why should I save it for myself or my family? It was because of this natural austerity and detachment from selfish possessions that he was called a "Rajarishi".
*He was fondly called Rajarishi by Mahatma Gandhi.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Purushottam Das Tandon}}
* [http://indianpost.com/viewstamp.php/Alpha/P/PURUSHOTTAM%20DAS%20TANDON An article on Purushottam Das Tandon]

{{Indian National Congress Presidents}}
{{Indian independence movement}}
{{Bharat Ratna}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tandon, Purushottam Das}}
[[Category:Presidents of the Indian National Congress]]
[[Category:1882 births]]
[[Category:1962 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Indian Hindus]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Bharat Ratna]]
[[Category:Politicians from Allahabad]]
[[Category:Members of the Constituent Assembly of India]]
[[Category:Speakers of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:1st Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:State funerals in India]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of British India]]