Shankar Dayal Sharma: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|9th President of India}}
{{Short description| President of India from 1992 to 1997}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2019}}  
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Shankar Dayal Sharma
| name                = Shankar Dayal Sharma
| image              = Shankar Dayal Sharma 2000 stamp of India.jpg
| image              = Shri Shankar Dayal Sharma.jpg
| caption            =  
| caption            = Official Portrait, 1992
| office              = 9th [[President of India]]
| office              = 9th [[President of India]]
| primeminister      = [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]<br />[[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]<br />[[H. D. Deve Gowda]]<br />[[I. K. Gujral]]
| primeminister      = {{ubl|[[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]|[[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]|[[H. D. Deve Gowda]]|[[I. K. Gujral]]}}
| vicepresident      = K. R. Narayanan
| vicepresident      = K. R. Narayanan
| term_start          = 25 July 1992
| term_start          = 25 July 1992
Line 16: Line 15:
| office2            = 8th [[Vice President of India]]
| office2            = 8th [[Vice President of India]]
| president2          = [[Ramaswamy Venkataraman|R. Venkataraman]]
| president2          = [[Ramaswamy Venkataraman|R. Venkataraman]]
| primeminister2      = [[Rajiv Gandhi]]<br />[[V. P. Singh]]
| primeminister2      = {{ubl|[[Rajiv Gandhi]]|[[V. P. Singh]]}}
| term_start2        = 3 September 1987
| term_start2        = 3 September 1987
| term_end2          = 25 July 1992
| term_end2          = 25 July 1992
| predecessor2        = R. Venkataraman
| predecessor2        = [[R. Venkataraman]]
| successor2          = [[K. R. Narayanan]]
| successor2          = [[K. R. Narayanan]]
| office3            = [[List of Governors of Maharashtra|Governor of Maharashtra]]
| office3            = [[List of Governors of Maharashtra|Governor of Maharashtra]]
Line 28: Line 27:
| predecessor3        = [[Kona Prabhakar Rao]]
| predecessor3        = [[Kona Prabhakar Rao]]
| successor3          = [[Kasu Brahmananda Reddy]]
| successor3          = [[Kasu Brahmananda Reddy]]
| office4            = [[List of Governors of Punjab (India)|Governor of Punjab]]<br />[[List of Administrators of Chandigarh|Administrator of Chandigarh]]
| office4            = {{ubl|[[List of Governors of Punjab (India)|Governor of Punjab]]|[[List of Administrators of Chandigarh|Administrator of Chandigarh]]}}
| 1blankname4        = Chief Minister
| 1blankname4        = Chief Minister
| 1namedata4          = [[Surjit Singh Barnala]]
| 1namedata4          = [[Surjit Singh Barnala]]
Line 35: Line 34:
| predecessor4        = [[Hokishe Sema]]
| predecessor4        = [[Hokishe Sema]]
| successor4          = [[Siddhartha Shankar Ray]]
| successor4          = [[Siddhartha Shankar Ray]]
| office5            = [[List of governors of Andhra Pradesh|Governor of Andhra Pradesh]]
| office5            = 13th [[List of governors of Andhra Pradesh|Governor of Andhra Pradesh]]
| 1blankname5        = Chief Minister
| 1blankname5        = Chief Minister
| 1namedata5          = [[Nadendla Bhaskara Rao]]<br />[[N. T. Rama Rao]]
| 1namedata5          = {{ubl|[[Nadendla Bhaskara Rao]]|[[N. T. Rama Rao]]}}
| term_start5        = 29 August 1984
| term_start5        = 29 August 1984
| term_end5          = 26 November 1985
| term_end5          = 26 November 1985
Line 43: Line 42:
| successor5          = [[Kumudben Manishankar Joshi]]
| successor5          = [[Kumudben Manishankar Joshi]]
| office6            = 1st [[Bhopal State (1949–56)|Chief Minister of Bhopal]]
| office6            = 1st [[Bhopal State (1949–56)|Chief Minister of Bhopal]]
| term_start6        = 1952
| term_start6        = 31 March 1952
| term_end6          = 1956
| term_end6          = 31 October 1956
| predecessor6        = Position established
| predecessor6        = Position established
| successor6          = Position abolished
| successor6          = Position abolished
Line 58: Line 57:
| successor8          = [[Devakanta Barua]]
| successor8          = [[Devakanta Barua]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1918|8|19|df=y}}
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1918|8|19|df=y}}
| birth_place        = Aamon village, [[Bhopal]], [[Bhopal State]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br/>(now in [[Madhya Pradesh]], India)
| birth_place        = [[Bhopal]], [[Bhopal State]], [[British Raj|British India]] (now [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]])
| death_date          = {{death date and age|1999|12|26|1918|8|19|df=y}}
| death_date          = {{death date and age|1999|12|26|1918|8|19|df=y}}
| death_place        = [[New Delhi]], India
| death_place        = [[New Delhi]], India
| party              = [[Indian National Congress]]
| party              = [[Indian National Congress]]
| spouse              = [[Vimala Sharma]] (?–1999; ''his death'')
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Vimala Sharma]]|1950}}
| children            = 2 sons, 1 daughter
| children            = 2 sons, 2 daughters
| nationality        = [[India]]n
| nationality        = [[India]]n
| alma_mater          = {{nowrap|[[Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University|Agra University]]<br />[[University of Lucknow]]<br />[[University of Cambridge]] ([[PhD]])<br />[[Lincoln's Inn]]<br />[[Harvard University]] }}
| alma_mater          = {{ubl|[[Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University|Agra University]]|[[University of Lucknow]]|[[University of Cambridge]] ([[PhD]])|[[Lincoln's Inn]]|[[Harvard University]]}}
| profession          = [[Lawyer]], [[politician]]
| profession          = [[Lawyer]], [[Politician]]
| signature          = Signature of Shanker Dayal Sharma.svg
| signature          = Signature of Shanker Dayal Sharma.svg
}}
}}
'''Shankar Dayal Sharma''' ({{audio|Sds.ogg|pronunciation}}; 19 August 1918 – 26 December 1999) was the ninth [[president of India]], serving from 1992 to 1997. Prior to his presidency, Sharma had been the eighth [[vice president of India]], serving under [[Ramaswamy Venkataraman|R. Venkataraman]]. He was also the Chief Minister (1952–1956) of [[Bhopal State (1949–56)|Bhopal State]], and Cabinet Minister (1956–1967), holding the portfolios of Education, Law, Public Works, Industry and Commerce, National Resources and Separate Revenue. He was the President of the [[Indian National Congress]] in 1972–1974 and returned to the Government as Union Minister for Communications from 1974 to 1977.


The International Bar Association presented Sharma with the 'Living Legends of Law Award of Recognition for his outstanding contribution to the legal profession internationally and for commitment to the [[rule of law]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gloriousindia.com/biographies/shankar_dayal_sharma.html|title=Shankar Dayal Sharma - President of India|website=www.gloriousindia.com|access-date=2 April 2018}}</ref>
'''Shankar Dayal Sharma''' ({{audio|Sds.ogg|pronunciation}}; 19 August 1918 – 26 December 1999) was an Indian [[lawyer]] and politician from the state of [[Madhya Pradesh]] who served as the ninth [[president of India]], from 1992 to 1997.


==Early life and education==
Born in [[Bhopal]], Sharma studied at [[Agra]], [[Allahabad]] and [[Lucknow]] and received a [[doctorate]] in [[constitutional law]] from the [[University of Cambridge]] and was a [[Barrister|bar-at-law]] from [[Lincoln's Inn]] and a Brandeis Fellow at [[Harvard University]]. During 1948–49, Sharma was one of the leaders of the movement for the merger of [[Bhopal State]] with India, a cause for which he served eight months' [[imprisonment]].


Shankar Dayal Sharma was born on 19 August 1918 in a village named Aamon, which is situated near [[Bhopal]], then the capital of the princely state of Bhopal. A meritorious law student from Fitzwilliam College, Sharma was awarded the Chakravarti Gold Medal for Social Service by Lucknow University. He later worked at the [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]] and Lucknow University. During his tenure in these universities, he was awarded a fellowship at the Harvard law school and was elected Honorary Bencher and master of Lincoln's Inn and Honorary Fellow, Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. While at Cambridge, Sharma was Treasurer of the Tagore Society and the Cambridge Majilis. During his tenure as Vice President of India he was Chancellor of many universities in India. Sharma participated in the struggle for Indian independence and became a member of the [[Indian National Congress]].
A member of the [[Indian National Congress]] party, Sharma was [[Chief minister (India)|chief minister]] (1952–56) of [[Bhopal State (1949–1956)|Bhopal State]] and served as a cabinet minister (1956–1971) in the [[government of Madhya Pradesh]] holding several portfolios. Sharma was president of the Bhopal State Congress Committee (1950–52), [[Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee]] (1966–68) and of the [[All India Congress Committee]] (1972–74). He served as [[Ministry of Communications (India)|Union Minister for Communications]] (1974–77) under Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]]. Twice elected to the [[Lok Sabha]], Sharma served as [[List of governors of Andhra Pradesh|governor of Andhra Pradesh]] (1984–85), [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] (1985–86) and [[Maharashtra]] (1986–87) before being elected unopposed as the eighth [[vice president of India]] in 1987.


==Political initiation==
Sharma was elected president of India in 1992 and served till 1997 during which period he dealt with four [[Prime Minister of India|prime ministers]], three of whom he appointed in the last year of his presidency. He was assertive with the [[P. V. Narasimha Rao ministry]], forcing his government to sack a [[Governor (India)|governor]], instigating a strong response to the [[demolition of the Babri Masjid]] and refusing to sign [[Ordinance (India)|ordinances]] presented to him on the eve of [[1996 Indian general election|elections]]. His appointment of [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] as prime minister on the grounds of him being the leader of the largest party in the [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] attracted widespread criticism especially as Vajpayee was forced to resign in only thirteen days without facing a [[Motion of no confidence|vote of confidence]]. Sharma's appointment of [[H. D. Deve Gowda]] and [[Inder Kumar Gujral|I. K. Gujral]] as prime ministers followed the assurance of support to their candidature by the Congress party but neither government lasted more than a year. Sharma chose not to seek a second term in office and was succeeded to the presidency by [[K. R. Narayanan]].
During the 1940s he was involved in the struggle for Indian independence from the British, and joined the Indian National Congress, a party which he would remain loyal for the rest of his life. After India's independence, the [[Nawab of Bhopal]] expressed his wish to retain the [[Bhopal State|Bhopal princely state]] as a separate unit. Sharma led public agitations against the Nawab in December 1948, leading to his arrest. On 23 January 1949, Sharma was sentenced to eight months imprisonment for violating restrictions on public meetings. Under public pressure, the Nawab later released him, and signed the agreement for merger with the Indian Union on 30 April 1949.<ref name="SRBakshi_OPRalhan_2007">{{cite book | title = Madhya Pradesh Through the Ages | author = S. R. Bakshi and O. P. Ralhan | publisher = Sarup & Sons | year = 2007 | isbn = 978-81-7625-806-7 | page = 360 }}</ref> In 1952, Sharma became the chief minister of the [[Bhopal State (1949–56)|Bhopal state]] and was the youngest chief minister then. He served in that position until the state reorganization of 1956, when Bhopal state merged with several other states to form the state of Madhya Pradesh.


==Active political life==
Sharma died in 1999 and was accorded a [[state funeral]]. His [[Samadhi (shrine)|samadhi]] lies at Karma Bhumi in [[Delhi]].
During the 1960s Sharma supported [[Indira Gandhi]]'s quest for leadership of the Congress Party. He was elected as the President, [[All India Congress Committee]] (AICC), in 1972 and presided over the AICC session in Calcutta. From 1974, he served in the union cabinet as the Minister for Communications from 1974 to 1977. In 1971 and 1980 he won a [[Lok Sabha]] seat from [[Bhopal (Lok Sabha constituency)|Bhopal]]. Later on, he was given a variety of ceremonial posts. In 1984 he began serving as a governor of Indian states, first in [[Andhra Pradesh]]. During this time, his daughter Geetanjali Maken and son-in-law [[Lalit Maken]], a young member of parliament and a promising political leader, were killed by [[Sikhism|Sikh]] [[Terrorist|militants]]. In 1985, he left Andhra Pradesh and became governor of [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] during a time of violence between the Indian government and Sikh militants, many of whom lived in Punjab. He left Punjab in 1986 and took up his final governorship in [[Maharashtra]]. He remained governor of [[Maharashtra]] until 1987 when he was [[1987 Indian vice-presidential election|elected]] for a 5-year term as the [[List of Vice-Presidents of India|eighth]] [[Vice-President of India]] and chairman of the [[Rajya Sabha]].


Sharma was known to be a stickler for parliamentary norms. He is known to have broken down in the Rajya Sabha while witnessing the members of the house create a din on a political issue. His grief brought back some order into the proceedings of the house.
==Early life and education==
Shankar Dayal Sharma was born on 19 August 1918 in [[Bhopal]], then the capital of the [[princely state]] of [[Bhopal State|Bhopal]], in a [[Hindus|Hindu]] [[Brahmin]] family. Sharma completed his schooling in Bhopal and then studied at [[St. John's College, Agra]] and at the [[University of Allahabad|Allahabad]] and [[University of Lucknow|Lucknow]] universities obtaining a [[master's degree]] in [[English literature]], [[Hindi]] and [[Sanskrit]] and an [[Master of Laws|L.L.M.]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thampu |first1=Valson |title=On A Stormy Course: In the Hot Seat at St. Stephen's |date=7 November 2017 |publisher=Hachette India |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-93-5195-211-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6N45DwAAQBAJ&dq=st+johns+college+agra+shankar+dayal+sharma&pg=PT95 |access-date=15 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=DR. SHANKER DAYAL SHARMA: A PROFILE |journal=The Journal of Parliamentary Information |date=September 1992 |volume=XXXVIII |issue=3 |page=339 |url=https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/764749/1/jpi_september_1992.pdf |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref> He topped both the courses, was awarded the Chakravarty Gold Medal for social service, and was a thrice swimming champion at Lucknow University and [[cross country running]] champion at [[Allahabad]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Assam Information |date=1989 |publisher=Directorate of Information & Public Relations. |page=38 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4lFQAQAAMAAJ&dq=biography+shankar+dayal+sharma&pg=RA5-PA38 |access-date=15 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=How successive Indian presidents patronised sports and became champions too |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/how-successive-indian-presidents-patronised-sports-and-became-champions-too-7335717/ |access-date=15 October 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=30 May 2021 |language=en}}</ref>


==Presidential election==
He obtained a [[doctorate]] in [[constitutional law]] from [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]] for his thesis on ''Interpretation of Legislative Powers under Federal Constitutions'' and received a [[diploma]] in [[public administration]] from the [[University of London]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bio-data of Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/CABINATE%20SECRETARIATE/1977%20CABINET%20SECTT%20JAN%20DEC/CAB-1973-02-01_128.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |publisher=Press Information Bureau |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=DR. SHANKER DAYAL SHARMA: A PROFILE |journal=The Journal of Parliamentary Information |date=September 1992 |volume=XXXVIII |issue=3 |page=339 |url=https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/764749/1/jpi_september_1992.pdf |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref>
Sharma served as vice-president until 1992, when he was [[1992 Indian presidential election|elected]] President. He received 66% of the votes in the electoral college, defeating [[George Gilbert Swell]]. During his last year as president, it was his responsibility to swear in three prime ministers. He didn't run for a second term as president.


==Death==
Sharma began practicing law at [[Lucknow]] from 1940 where he taught law at the University and soon joined the [[Indian National Congress]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hoiberg |first1=Dale |title=Students' Britannica India |date=2000 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=978-0-85229-760-5 |page=389 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ISFBJarYX7YC&dq=shankar+dayal+sharma++britannica&pg=PA196 |access-date=15 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref> In 1946, he was admitted to the [[Lincoln's Inn]] and taught at Cambridge University during 1946–47. The following year, he was appointed a Brandeis Fellow at [[Harvard University]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Previous Governors: Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma (03.04.1986 – 02.09.1987) |url=https://rajbhavan-maharashtra.gov.in/en/previous-governors/dr-shanker-dayal-sharma/ |publisher=Raj Bhavan, Maharashtra |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Los Angeles Times 05 Oct 1972, page 21 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/385987898/?terms=shankar%20dayal%20sharma&match=1 |website=Newspapers.com |access-date=15 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Admissions Registers VOL 3 1894-1956 |date=1981 |publisher=The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn |location=London |page=343 |url=https://archive.org/details/VOL318941956/page/n343/mode/2up?q=shanker+dayal |access-date=15 October 2022 |language=English}}</ref>
During the last five years of his life, Sharma suffered from ill health. On 26 December 1999, he suffered a massive heart attack and was admitted to a hospital in New Delhi, where he died. He was cremated at [[Raj Ghat and associated memorials|Karma Bhumi]]. His second wife was Smt. [[Vimala Sharma]]. His daughter Gitanjali was shot dead along with her husband Congress MP [[Lalit Maken]] by [[Khalistan movement|Khalistani terrorists]] [[Harjinder Singh Jinda]], [[Sukhdev Singh Sukha]] and Ranjit Singh Gill alias Kukki outside Maken's Kirti Nagar residence in West Delhi on 31 July 1985.


==Honours==
==Political career in Madhya Pradesh==
===Foreign honours===
During 1948–49, Sharma underwent eight months' imprisonment for his leadership of the popular movement for merging the [[Bhopal State|princely state of Bhopal]] with India.<ref>{{cite web |title=Members Bioprofile: Shankar Dayal Sharma |url=https://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/2246.htm |website=loksabhaph.nic.in |publisher=Lok Sabha, Parliament of India |access-date=14 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bio-data of Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/CABINATE%20SECRETARIATE/1977%20CABINET%20SECTT%20JAN%20DEC/CAB-1973-02-01_128.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |publisher=Press Information Bureau |access-date=14 October 2022}}</ref> Although the [[Nawabs of Bhopal|Nawab of Bhopal]] had acceded his state to the [[Dominion of India]], he had held out against signing the [[Instrument of Accession]]. The popular movement had the support of the [[All India States Peoples' Conference|Praja Mandal]] and an interim government with Chatur Narain Malviya as its head was constituted by the Nawab in 1948. However, as the movement gained support, the Nawab dismissed this government. Public pressure and the intervention of [[V. P. Menon]] led the Nawab to merge his state with the [[Dominion of India|Indian Union]] in 1949 with the princely state reconstituted as [[Bhopal State (1949–1956)|Bhopal State]].{{efn|Upon the [[Indian independence movement|independence of India]] and [[Pakistan Movement|Pakistan]], the [[princely state]]s under the [[British Raj]] had the choice of joining either [[dominion]] or of remaining independent since the [[Indian Independence Act 1947|Indian Independence Act]] only provided for the termination of British suzerainty. With the exceptions of [[Hyderabad State|Hyderabad]] and [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Kashmir]], none of the other princely states opted to be independent owing to geopolitical considerations. The accession of these states to either of the dominions was achieved through an [[Instrument of Accession]] which they signed with the [[Dominion of India|dominion government]] thus surrendering their control over defence, communications and foreign relations to the dominion government. By the Instrument of Merger, the princely states surrendered “full and exclusive authority, jurisdiction and powers in relation to the governance of their States” to the dominion government and settled matters pertaining to their privy purse. The last regnant Nawab of Bhopal, [[Hamidullah Khan]], had signed the Instrument of Accession with the Government of India in August 1947 but not the Instrument of Merger, wanting to retain his state as a separate unit within India. Following the merger agitation, the Nawab signed the Instrument of Merger on 30 April 1949. Thereafter, Bhopal State was formed as a [[Political integration of India|part ‘C' State]] of Indian Union and came under the administration of a [[Chief commissioner|Chief Commissioner]] on June 1, 1949.<ref>{{cite web |title=Iqbal Ahmed vs State Of Bhopal on 23 February, 1953 |url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/792442/ |publisher=India Kanoon |access-date=14 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=H. H. Maharajadhiraja Madhav Rao Jiwaji Raoscindia Bahadur vs Union Of India on 15 December, 1970 |url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/660275/ |publisher=India Kanoon |access-date=14 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Menon |first1=V. P. |title=The Story of the Integration of the Indian States |date=1956 |publisher=Orient BlackSwan |location=Bangalore |pages=253–255 |url=https://sanipanhwar.com/The%20Story%20of%20the%20Integration%20of%20the%20Indian%20States%20-%20V.%20P.%20Menon.pdf |access-date=14 October 2022}}</ref>}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Residents of Bhopal had got real freedom after merger of princely state in 1949 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bhopal/residents-of-bhopal-had-got-real-freedom-after-merger-of-princely-state-in-1949/story-khzVKZBA9Dq2lJviiWD2gL.html |access-date=14 October 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |date=2 June 2015 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Commissioner Period |url=https://governor.mp.gov.in/commis_period.aspx |website=governor.mp.gov.in |publisher=Raj Bhavan, Madhya Pradesh |access-date=14 October 2022}}</ref><ref name="SRBakshi_OPRalhan_2007">{{cite book | title = Madhya Pradesh Through the Ages | author = S. R. Bakshi and O. P. Ralhan | publisher = Sarup & Sons | year = 2007 | isbn = 978-81-7625-806-7 | page = 360 }}</ref>
*{{flag|Oman}}:
**[[File:Civil order Oman GC GO ribbon.svg|70px]] Special Class of the [[Order of Oman]] (1996)


== Legacy ==
Sharma was president of the Bhopal State Congress during 1950 to 1952.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shankar Dayal Sharma |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shankar-Dayal-Sharma |website=www.britannica.com |publisher=Britannica |access-date=15 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref> He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Bhopal from [[Berasia Assembly constituency|Berasia]] in the [[1952 Bhopal Legislative Assembly election|elections of 1952]] and became [[Chief minister (India)|chief minister]] of Bhopal State in 1952.<ref>{{cite book |title=STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1951 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF BHOPAL |date=1951 |publisher=Election Commission of India |location=New Delhi |page=30 |url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/4109-bhopal-1951/ |access-date=14 October 2022 |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Wiener |first1=Myron |title=State Politics in India |date=8 December 2015 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-1-4008-7914-4 |page=149 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VErWCgAAQBAJ&dq=shankar+dayal+sharma+harvard&pg=PA149 |access-date=15 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref> In 1956, following the [[States Reorganisation Act, 1956|reorganization of states]], Bhopal State was merged with the new state of [[Madhya Pradesh]].<ref>{{cite web |title=THE STATES REORGANISATION ACT, 1956 |url=https://legislative.gov.in/sites/default/files/A1956-37.pdf |publisher=Legislative Department, Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref> Sharma played an important role in retaining Bhopal as the capital of this new state.<ref>{{cite news |title=Independence Day 2022: आसानी से नहीं म‍िला था भोपाल को राजधानी का दर्जा, शंकर दयाल शर्मा ने ब‍िछाई थी ब‍िसात |url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/madhya-pradesh-chhattisgarh/mp/bhopal-capital-mp-contribution-shankar-dayal-sharma-azadi-ka-amirt-mahotsav-ssmp/1297529 |access-date=14 October 2022 |work=Zee News |date=15 August 2022 |language=hi}}</ref> In the elections of [[1957 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1957]], [[1962 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1962]] and [[1967 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1967]], Sharma was elected to the [[Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly]] from [[Udaipura Assembly constituency|Udaipura]] as a candidate of the Congress party.<ref>{{cite book |title=STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1957 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MADHYA PRADESH |publisher=Election Commission of India |location=New Delhi |page=95 |url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/3728-madhya-pradesh-1957/ |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1962 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MADHYA PRADESH |publisher=Election Commission of India |location=New Delhi |page=229 |url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/3729-madhya-pradesh-1962/ |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1967 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MADHYA PRADESH |publisher=Election Commission of India |location=New Delhi |page=233 |url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/3730-madhya-pradesh-1967/ |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref> During this time he was a [[Minister (government)|cabinet minister]] in the [[Madhya Pradesh government]] and variously held portfolios of education, law, [[public works]], industry and commerce and revenue.<ref>{{cite web |title=Previous governors: Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma (03.04.1986 – 02.09.1987) |url=https://rajbhavan-maharashtra.gov.in/en/previous-governors/dr-shanker-dayal-sharma/ |website=rajbhavan-maharashtra.gov.in |publisher=Raj Bhavan, Maharashtra |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref> As minister for education, he emphasized [[Secularity|secular]] [[pedagogy]] in schools and textbooks were revised to avoid [[Religious bias in education|religious bias]].<ref>{{cite news |title=जब एमपी में पढ़ाया जाता था 'ग' से 'गधा' |url=https://www.jansatta.com/rajya/former-president-of-india-shankar-dayal-sharma-and-education-minister-of-madhya-pradesh/1796530/ |access-date=15 October 2022 |work=Jansatta |date=9 August 2021 |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=वह शिक्षामंत्री जिसने किताबों में 'ग' से 'गणेश' की जगह 'ग' से 'गधा' कराया |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/madhya-pradesh/bhopal/dr-shankar-dayal-sharma-as-a-mp-education-minister-who-replace-g-for-ganesha-from-g-for-gadha-in-syllabus-books/articleshow/82904697.cms?story=2 |access-date=15 October 2022 |work=Navbharat Times |date=24 May 2021 |language=hi}}</ref>


===Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal===
During 1967–68, he was president of the [[Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee]] and served as general secretary of the party from 1968 to 1972.<ref>{{cite web |title=Previous governors: Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma (03.04.1986 – 02.09.1987) |url=https://rajbhavan-maharashtra.gov.in/en/previous-governors/dr-shanker-dayal-sharma/ |website=rajbhavan-maharashtra.gov.in |publisher=Raj Bhavan, Maharashtra |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref> During the split in 1969, Sharma sided with [[Indira Gandhi]] and was removed from party posts by the President [[S. Nijalingappa]] but reappointed by Gandhi in her faction of the party.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jai |first1=Janak Raj |title=Presidents of India, 1950-2003 |date=2003 |publisher=Regency Publications |isbn=978-81-87498-65-0 |pages=242–243 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r2C2InxI0xAC&dq=shankar+dayal+sharma+1969+nijalingappa&pg=PA243 |access-date=15 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Chand |first1=Attar |title=President Shankar Dayal Sharma The Scholar And The Statesman |date=1962 |publisher=Anmol Publications |location=New Delhi |page=9 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.111299/page/n21/mode/2up?q=general+secretary |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref>
Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal is awarded in selected Indian universities. This award was constituted, in year 1994, by endowments received from Shankar Dayal Sharma. This medal is awarded to a graduating student adjudged to be the best in terms of general proficiency including character, conduct and excellence in academic performance, extra-curricular activities and social service.


=== In popular culture ===
==Parliamentary career==
''Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma'', a 1999 Indian [[Short film|short]] [[Documentary film|documentary feature]] by A. K. Goorha covers his life and presidency. It was produced by the [[Government of India]]'s [[Films Division of India|Films Division]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=DR. SHANKAR DAYAL SHARMA {{!}} Films Division|url=https://filmsdivision.org/shop/dr-shankar-dayal-sharma|access-date=2021-06-11|website=filmsdivision.org}}</ref>
Sharma was elected to the Lok Sabha from [[Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency|Bhopal]] in the [[1971 Indian general election|general elections of 1971]].<ref>{{cite book |title=STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1971 TO THE FIFTH LOK SABHA |date=1973 |publisher=Election Commission of India |location=New Delhi |page=196 |url=http://www.ceo.kerala.gov.in/pdf/LOKSABHA-HISTORY/1971-LS.pdf |access-date=14 October 2022}}</ref> The following year, he was made the [[List of presidents of the Indian National Congress|president of the Indian National Congress]] by Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The Los Angeles Times 05 Oct 1972, page 21 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/385987898/?terms=shankar%20dayal%20sharma&match=1 |access-date=14 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Palmer |first1=Norman D. |title=Elections and the Political System in India: The 1972 State Assembly Elections and After |journal=Pacific Affairs |date=1972 |volume=45 |issue=4 |pages=535–555 |doi=10.2307/2755658 |jstor=2755658 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2755658 |access-date=14 October 2022 |issn=0030-851X}}</ref> Prior to his appointment as president, Sharma had been a member of the [[Congress Working Committee]] since 1967 and general secretary of the Congress party from 1968.<ref>{{cite web |title=Members Bioprofile: Shankar Dayal Sharma |url=https://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/2246.htm |website=loksabhaph.nic.in |publisher=Lok Sabha, Parliament of India |access-date=14 October 2022}}</ref> As president, Sharma launched a public campaign against the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] accusing it of being actively involved in fomenting [[violence in India]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=On Foreigners of All Kinds |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |date=1972 |volume=7 |issue=40 |pages=2000–2001 |jstor=4361866 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4361866 |access-date=15 October 2022 |issn=0012-9976|author1=Nireekshak }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Olympian 29 Sep 1972, page 23 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/802909123/?terms=shankar%20dayal%20sharma&match=1 |access-date=14 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Los Angeles Times 10 Oct 1972, page 4 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/385879741/?terms=shankar%20dayal%20sharma&match=1 |access-date=14 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref>


==Literary contributions==
In October 1974, Sharma was appointed [[Ministry of Communications (India)|Minister of Communications]] in the [[second Indira Gandhi ministry|Indira Gandhi ministry]] and was succeeded as president of the Congress by [[D. K. Barooah]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Change In Portfolios (1974) : 55/1/1/74- CF (11/10/1974) |url=https://www.cabsec.gov.in/writereaddata/changeinportfolio/english/1_Upload_2748.pdf |publisher=Cabinet Secretariat |access-date=14 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Los Angeles Times 11 Oct 1974, page 4 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/385558631/?terms=shankar%20dayal%20sharma&match=1 |access-date=14 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> He remained in that post until his defeat in the [[1977 Indian general election|general election of 1977]] by [[Arif Beg|Arif Baig]].<ref>{{cite news |title=March 21, 1977, Forty Years Ago: Mrs Gandhi Loses |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/march-21-1977-forty-years-ago-mrs-gandhi-loses-4578041/ |access-date=14 October 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=21 March 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Senior BJP leader Arif Baig passes away |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/senior-bjp-leader-arif-baig-passes-away-3014812/ |access-date=14 October 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=5 September 2016 |language=en}}</ref> Sharma was [[Incumbent|reelected]] from Bhopal in the [[1980 Indian general election|general election of 1980]].<ref>{{cite book |title=STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1980 TO THE SEVENTH LOK SABHA |date=1981 |publisher=Election Commission of India |location=New Delhi |page=228 |url=http://www.ceo.kerala.gov.in/pdf/LOKSABHA-HISTORY/1980-LS.pdf |access-date=14 October 2022}}</ref>
Sharma had written a poem on the Quran during the 1970s which is highly regarded among the Hindi/Urdu-speaking Muslims of India and Pakistan.<ref name="poem_pk_today">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/07/14/delusions-of-being-islamic/|title=Delusions of being Islamic|website=www.pakistantoday.com.pk|date=2011-07-04|first=Humayun|last=Gauhar|access-date=2017-11-28}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! Hindi/Urdu text (transliterated) !! English translation<ref name="poem_pk_today"/>
|-
|
''Amal ki kitab thi.''


''Dua ki kitab bana dia.''
== Gubernatorial tenures (1984–1987) ==
=== Governor of Andhra Pradesh (1984–1985) ===
On [[Independence Day (India)|15 August]] 1984, [[N. T. Rama Rao]], the [[List of chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh|chief minister of Andhra Pradesh]] who led the [[Telugu Desam Party]] (TDP) to victory in the [[1983 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|state assembly election of 1983]], was dismissed from that post by the [[List of governors of Andhra Pradesh|Governor of Andhra Pradesh]], [[Thakur Ram Lal]]. He appointed [[N. Bhaskara Rao]], who had been the [[List of finance ministers of Andhra Pradesh|finance minister]] under Rama Rao, as the new chief minister and gave him a month's time to prove his majority in the Assembly despite the ousted chief minister's claim of being able to prove his own majority in two days' time and evidence that he had the support of the majority of legislators in the assembly. Following widespread protests, Ram Lal resigned on 24 August 1984 and was replaced by Sharma.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tummala |first1=Krishna K. |title=Democracy Triumphant in India: The Case of Andhra Pradesh |journal=Asian Survey |date=1986 |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=378–395 |doi=10.2307/2644198 |jstor=2644198 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2644198 |access-date=13 October 2022 |issn=0004-4687}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=In Karnataka's CM race, BJP must not forget how Congress' past came back to haunt it |url=https://www.dailyo.in/politics/karnataka-verdict-karnataka-elections-congress-bjp-jds-horse-trading-narendra-modi-indira-gandhi-24226 |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=daily O |date=17 May 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mondal |first1=Manisha |title=N.T. Rama Rao, the three-time CM of Andhra Pradesh who could serve one full term |url=https://theprint.in/theprint-profile/n-t-rama-rao-the-three-time-cm-of-andhra-pradesh-who-could-serve-one-full-term/179269/ |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=ThePrint |date=18 January 2019}}</ref>


''Samajhne ki kitab thi.''
Sharma convened a session of the Assembly on 11 September 1984 but as Bhaskara Rao failed to prove his majority within the period of one month stipulated by Ram Lal, Sharma suggested that he resign with effect from 16 September. Bhaskar Rao refused to do so seeking the reconvening of the Assembly a few days later. Sharma then dismissed him and reappointed Rama Rao as chief minister. Rama Rao won the vote of confidence when the Assembly reconvened on 20 September 1984. Soon after, the Rama Rao government called for fresh elections and Sharma dissolved the Assembly in November 1984.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=RAO |first1=K. V. NARAYANA |last2=RAM |first2=D. SUNDAR |title=Political Developments in Andhra Pradesh 1978-1989: A Study |journal=The Indian Journal of Political Science |date=1990 |volume=51 |issue=4 |pages=540–564 |jstor=41855522 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41855522 |access-date=13 October 2022 |issn=0019-5510}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Subramanyam |first1=P. |last2=Chalapathi |first2=B. V. |title=Regional Political Party in Andhra Pradesha Study |journal=The Indian Journal of Political Science |date=2006 |volume=67 |issue=3 |pages=499–510 |jstor=41856237 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41856237 |access-date=13 October 2022 |issn=0019-5510}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Andhra CM N.T. Rama Rao recommends Governor to dissolve Assembly |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19841215-andhra-cm-nt-rama-rao-recommends-governor-to-dissolve-assembly-803500-1984-12-14 |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=India Today |date=15 December 1984 |language=en}}</ref>


''Parhne ki kitab bana dia.''
In the [[1985 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|Assembly election of 1985]], TDP was returned to power with a two-thirds majority with Rama Rao returning as the chief minister. A few months later, Sharma refused to [[Promulgation|repromulgate]] three [[Ordinance (India)|ordinances]] sent to him by the [[Second N. T. Rama Rao ministry|Rama Rao's government]] stating that ordinances are required to be ratified by the legislature and that their repromulgation would be a constitutional impropriety. His refusal to repromulgate these ordinances, pertaining to the abolition of offices of part-time village officers, formation of districts and payment of salaries and removal of disqualifications of government employees, a fourth time soured his relation with the state government.<ref>{{cite news |title=Conflict between Andhra CM NTR and Governor S.D. Sharma rapidly comes to a head |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19850215-conflict-between-andhra-cm-ntr-and-governor-sd-sharma-rapidly-comes-to-a-head-769765-2013-11-25 |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=India Today |date=15 February 1985 |language=en}}</ref>


''Zindaon ka dastoor tha.''
On 31 July 1985, Sharma's daughter Gitanjali and his son-in-law, the Congress politician [[Lalit Maken]], were killed by Sikh militants in retaliation for Maken's alleged role in the [[1984 anti-Sikh riots|anti-Sikh riots of 1984]].{{efn| The three men involved in the murder - Ranjit Gill 'Kuki', [[Harjinder Singh Jinda]] and [[Sukhdev Singh Sukha]] were eventually apprehended. Jinda and Sukha were convicted for their involvement in the murder of [[General officer|General]] [[Arun Shridhar Vaidya|A. S. Vaidya]], who had led [[Operation Blue Star]], and were awarded the [[capital punishment]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The quality of mercy: Restorative justice has started to make its impact in India |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/the-quality-of-mercy-restorative-justice-has-started-to-make-its-impact-in-india/ |access-date=15 October 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=23 August 2015 |language=en}}</ref> Article 72 of the Indian Constitution grants the [[President of India]] or the [[Governor (India)|Governor of a state]] the power to [[pardon]], remit or [[Commutation (law)|commute]] sentences.<ref>{{cite web |title=Article 72 in The Constitution Of India 1949 |url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1008926/ |publisher=Indian Kanoon |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref> In a twist of fate, the mercy petitions filed by duo came up before President Sharma in 1992 and were rejected. Consequently, both were [[hanging|hung]].<ref>{{cite news |title=देश का एक राष्ट्रपति जिसके पास पहुंची थी उसी की बेटी-दामाद के हत्यारों की दया याचिका |url=https://www.jansatta.com/crime-news-hindi/when-president-shankar-d-sharma-got-lalit-makan-and-geetanjali-killers-mercy-petition/2189551/ |access-date=15 October 2022 |work=Jansatta |date=26 May 2022 |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=शंकर दयाल शर्मा को अपनी बेटी-दामाद के हत्यारों की दया याचिका सुननी पड़ी, जानिए देश के 9वें राष्ट्रपति का किस्सा |url=https://www.aajtak.in/india/politics/story/presidential-election-2022-shankar-dayal-sharma-9th-president-of-india-reject-mercy-petition-of-daughter-and-son-in-law-killers-ntc-1491885-2022-07-02 |access-date=15 October 2022 |work=आज तक |date=2 July 2022 |language=hi}}</ref> Ranjit Gill was arrested in 2003 and sentenced to [[life imprisonment]], which was later commuted with the consent of Maken's daughter Avantika.<ref>{{cite news |title=The quality of mercy: Restorative justice has started to make its impact in India |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/the-quality-of-mercy-restorative-justice-has-started-to-make-its-impact-in-india/ |access-date=15 October 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=23 August 2015 |language=en}}</ref> During his presidency, Sharma rejected all mercy petitions put for his consideration.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Katakam |first1=Anand |last2=Alluri |first2=Aparna |title=At Death's Door: Part 4 - The Mercy Lottery |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/static/deaths-door/the-mercy-lottery.html |access-date=15 October 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |date=26 May 2016}}</ref>}} Sharma was thereafter transferred to [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] as governor and was succeeded in [[Andhra Pradesh]] by [[Kumudben Joshi]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The quality of mercy: Restorative justice has started to make its impact in India |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/the-quality-of-mercy-restorative-justice-has-started-to-make-its-impact-in-india/ |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=23 August 2015 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Something within has died', laments Tanwar's wife |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/haryana/-something-within-has-died-laments-tanwar-s-wife-844168 |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=The Tribune |date=8 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=GOPAL |first1=B. |title=Dynamics of Centre-State Relations : Experience of Andhra Pradesh Since 1983 |journal=The Indian Journal of Political Science |date=1989 |volume=50 |issue=3 |pages=357–375 |jstor=41855440 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41855440 |access-date=13 October 2022 |issn=0019-5510}}</ref>


''Murdon ka manshoor bana dia.''
===Governor of Punjab (1985–1986)===
Sharma succeeded [[Hokishe Sema]] as [[List of governors of Punjab (India)|governor of Punjab]] in November 1985.<ref>{{cite book |title=Punjab Vidhan Sabha Compendium of Who's Who of Members (1937-2017) |date=2020 |publisher=Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat |location=Chandigarh |page=iii |url=http://punjabassembly.nic.in/images/docs/Vidhan%20Sabha%20Compendium.pdf |access-date=13 October 2022}}</ref> His appointment came after the [[1985 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|assembly elections]] in that state and in the backdrop of the [[Rajiv–Longowal Accord]] which sought to resolve the [[Insurgency in Punjab, India|insurgency in Punjab]].<ref>{{cite news |title=In Pics: Full list of 14 Presidents of India |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/panorama/photo/in-pics-full-list-of-14-presidents-of-india-341862-2022-07-18-9 |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=Business Today |date=18 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Sharma's tenure was characterized by continued violence and he was replaced in April 1986 by [[Siddhartha Shankar Ray]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Star Tribune 28 Nov 1985, page Page 29 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/189745013/?terms=%22shankar%20dayal%20sharma%22&match=1 |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Honolulu Advertiser 02 Apr 1986, page 11 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/263029374/?terms=%22shankar%20dayal%20sharma%22&match=1 |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Around the World; Punjab State gets tough new Governor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/02/world/around-the-world-punjab-state-gets-tough-new-governor.html |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=2 April 1986}}</ref>


''Jo ilm ki kitab thi.''
===Governor of Maharashtra (1986–1987)===
Sharma was sworn in as [[List of governors of Maharashtra|governor of Maharashtra]] in April 1986 and served until September 1987 when he was elected [[vice president of India]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Shankar Dayal Sharma, News Photo |url=https://www.timescontent.com/tss/showcase/preview-buy/127476/News/Shankar-Dayal-Sharma-S-B-Chavan.html |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=www.timescontent.com |date=3 April 1986}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Previous Governors |url=https://rajbhavan-maharashtra.gov.in/en/previous-governors/ |publisher=Raj Bhavan Maharashtra |access-date=13 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=ELECTION TO THE OFFICE OF VICE-PRESIDENT OF INDIA 2022 |date=2022 |publisher=Election Commission of India |location=New Delhi |page=20 |url=https://ceo.karnataka.gov.in/uploads/media_to_upload1656567853.pdf |access-date=13 October 2022}}</ref>


''Usay la ilmon ke hath thama dia.''
== Vice President of India (1987–1992) ==
Sharma was nominated by the Congress party for the [[1987 Indian vice presidential election|vice-presidential election of 1987]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Pacific Daily News 23 Aug 1987, page 2 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/610356378/?terms=%22shankar%20dayal%20sharma%22&match=1 |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> Although 27 candidates had filed nominations, only the nomination filed by Sharma was found valid by the [[returning officer]]. After the last date of withdrawal of candidates was over, Sharma was declared elected unanimously on 21 August 1987.<ref>{{cite book |title=ELECTION TO THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT OF INDIA 2022 |date=2022 |publisher=Election Commission of India |location=New Delhi |page=20 |url=http://164.100.47.193/VP2022/(X(1)S(ffs50hpsghh1kewkcqmtekw3))/infobulletineng.pdf |access-date=12 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=How four vice-presidents were elected unopposed {{!}} Deep Dive |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/vp-election-four-vice-presidents-elected-unopposed-venkaiah-naidu-sarvepalli-radhakrishnan-shankar-dayal-sharma-mohammad-hidyatullah-1977436-2022-07-19 |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=India Today |date=19 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Sharma was sworn in as the [[Vice President of India|vice president]] on 3 September 1987.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pacific Daily News 04 Sep 1987, page 2 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/610373561/?terms=%22shankar%20dayal%20sharma%22&match=1 |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Daily News 04 Sep 1987, page 4 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/807095064/?terms=%22shankar%20dayal%20sharma%22&match=1 |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> He was only the third person to be elected unopposed to the vice-presidency.<ref>{{cite news |title=Vice President of India Election 2022: Only 3 unopposed winners in the history of seven decades |url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/vice-president-of-india-election-2022-only-3-unopposed-winners-in-the-history-of-seven-decades-2487450.html |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=Zee News |date=20 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref>


''Taskheer-e-kayenaat ka dars denay aayi thi.''
Sharma, who was also the [[Ex officio member|ex-officio]] chairman of the [[Rajya Sabha]], offered to quit in February 1988 after his ruling admitting a discussion in the house of the purported extravagance of the then governor of Andhra Pradesh was vociferously objected to by members of the government. Several ministers of the [[Rajiv Gandhi ministry|council of ministers]] led the protests against Sharma's ruling even as Prime Minister [[Rajiv Gandhi]], who was present in the house, chose not to intervene or restrain the members of his party. Sharma's response chastened the protesting members but their request to have the proceedings expunged from Parliament records was turned down by Sharma.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Narang |first1=A.S. |title=Intimidation by Numbers |journal=The Forum Gazette |date=5 March 1988 |volume=3 |issue=5 |pages=1–4 |url=https://archive.org/details/TheForumGazetteVol.3No.5March5191988 |access-date=13 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gupta |first1=Bhabani Sen |title=How 'Popular' Is Rajiv Gandhi? |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |date=1988 |volume=23 |issue=10 |pages=449–451 |jstor=4378199 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4378199 |access-date=13 October 2022 |issn=0012-9976}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Vice-President Shankar Dayal Sharma courted by PMO - jumbo style |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19880531-vice-president-shankar-dayal-sharma-courted-by-pmo-jumbo-style-797334-1988-05-30 |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=India Today |date=30 May 1988 |language=en}}</ref>


''Sirf madrason ka nisaab bana dia.''
In 1991, following the [[assassination of Rajiv Gandhi]], Sharma was first offered the presidentship of the Congress party and the post of [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] by [[Sonia Gandhi]]. He however refused citing ill health and advanced age. Thereafter, [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]] was chosen to lead the Congress party.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=K. Natwar |title=How PV became PM |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/how-pv-became-pm/article3592050.ece |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=The Hindu |date=1 July 2012 |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Shankar Dayal Sharma was Sonia's PM choice: Cong leader Margaret Alva |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/shankar-dayal-sharma-was-sonia-s-pm-choice-congress-leader-margaret-alva/story-NzEzY1WAssgZQHDYGCVs4O.html |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |date=16 July 2016 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Shankar Dayal Sharma was Sonia's first choice as PM in 1991 (IANS Special) |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/shankar-dayal-sharma-was-sonia-s-first-choice-as-pm-in-1991-ians-special-119052001285_1.html |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=Business Standard India |date=20 May 2019}}</ref>


''Murda mumalik ko zinda karne aayi thi.''
== President of India (1992–1997) ==
[[File:Swearing-in ceremony of Shankar Dayal Sharma.jpg|thumb|Shankar Dayal Sharma being [[Oath|sworn in]] as president by [[Chief Justice of India|Chief Justice]] [[Madhukar Hiralal Kania|M. H. Kania]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Shankar Dayal Sharma, News Photo |url=https://www.timescontent.com/syndication-photos/reprint/news/489575/shankar-dayal-sharma-president-swea.html |access-date=15 June 2023 |work=www.timescontent.com |publisher=The Times Of India Group |date=25 July 1992}}</ref>]]
In June 1992, Sharma was chosen by the Congress party as its candidate for the [[1992 Indian presidential election|presidential election of 1992]] to succeed [[Ramaswamy Venkataraman|R. Venkataraman]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The Daily Telegraph 19 Jun 1992, page 11 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/751481519/?terms=%22shankar%20dayal%20sharma%22&match=1 |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> His nomination was also supported by the [[List of communist parties in India|communist parties]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The Daily Telegraph 17 Jul 1992, page 14 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/751482642/?terms=%22shankar%20dayal%20sharma%22&match=1 |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> The election was held on 13 July 1992 and votes counted three days later. Sharma won 675,804 votes against the 346,485 votes polled by his main opponent [[George Gilbert Swell]], who was the nominee of the opposition [[Bharatiya Janata Party]].<ref>{{cite book |title=ELECTION TO THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF INDIA 2017 |date=2017 |publisher=Election Commission of India |location=New Delhi |page=30 |url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/6925-background-material-related-to-election-to-the-office-of-president-of-india-2017/ |access-date=11 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Fort Worth Star-Telegram 12 Jul 1992, page 20 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/643130073/?terms=%22shankar%20dayal%20sharma%22&match=1 |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chicago Tribune 17 Jul 1992, page 4 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/389769561/?terms=%22shankar%20dayal%20sharma%22&match=1 |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> Two other candidates – [[Ram Jethmalani]] and [[Kaka Joginder Singh]] – won a small number of votes. Sharma was declared elected on 16 July 1992 and was sworn in as president on 25 July 1992.<ref>{{cite book |title=ELECTION TO THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF INDIA 2017 |date=2017 |publisher=Election Commission of India |location=New Delhi |page=30 |url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/6925-background-material-related-to-election-to-the-office-of-president-of-india-2017/ |access-date=11 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The News and Observer 26 Jul 1992, page 12 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/656563874/?terms=%22shankar%20dayal%20sharma%22&match=1 |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> In his inaugural address, Sharma stated that "[[Freedom]] has little meaning without [[Equality before the law|equality]] and equality has little meaning without [[social justice]]" and committed himself to combating [[Terrorism in India|terrorism]], [[Poverty in India|poverty]], [[Health in India|disease]] and [[Communal violence|communalism]] in India.<ref>{{cite news |title=India's 9th president takes oath of office |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/07/25/Indias-9th-president-takes-oath-of-office/1527712036800/ |access-date=17 June 2023 |work=UPI Archives |date=25 July 1992 |language=en}}</ref> The validity of the election [[Election petition|was challenged]] unsuccessfully before the [[Supreme Court of India]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Beyond the numbers: Elections of all but two Presidents were challenged in the Supreme Court |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/legal/beyond-the-numbers-elections-of-all-but-two-presidents-were-challenged-in-the-supreme-court |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=Free Press Journal |date=8 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mithilesh Kumar Sinha & Anr vs Returning Officer |url=https://indiankanoon.org/docfragment/478314/?formInput=shri%20ram%20jethmalani%20 |publisher=Indian Kanoon |access-date=11 October 2022}}</ref>


''Murdon ko bakhshwane per laga dia.''
=== Narasimha Rao government (1992–1996) ===
Sharma's victory was seen as a victory for the Congress party and Prime Minister [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]] who headed a [[minority government]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sun Herald 17 Jul 1992, page 3 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/744004637/?terms=%22shankar%20dayal%20sharma%22&match=1 |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=INDIA: parliamentary elections Lok Sabha, 1991 |url=http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2145_91.htm |website=archive.ipu.org |publisher=Inter-Parliamentary Union |access-date=11 October 2022}}</ref> Although seen as a largely ceremonial post, the office of the president is key since the incumbent gets to nominate a head of government in the event of [[Hung parliament|no party gaining a majority]] in Parliament after national elections or after a government had lost a [[Motion of no confidence|vote of confidence]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The News and Observer 26 Jul 1992, page 12 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/656563874/?terms=%22shankar%20dayal%20sharma%22&match=1 |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Philadelphia Inquirer 17 Jul 1992, page Page 10 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/177959165/?terms=%22shankar%20dayal%20sharma%22&match=1 |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> The Rao ministry faced three no-confidence motions during its tenure the third of which, held in July 1993, was marred by allegations of [[bribery]] and subsequent [[indictment|criminal indictment]] against Rao himself.<ref>{{cite news |title=Indira Gandhi faced 15, Vajpayee two: A lookback at the previous 26 no-trust motions |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/indira-gandhi-faced-15-vajpayee-two-a-lookback-at-the-previous-26-no-trust-motions-5267063/ |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=20 July 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=P.V. Narasimha Rao vs State |url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/690591/ |publisher=India Kanoon |access-date=11 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Narashima Rao becomes butt of 'suitcase' and 'crore' jokes among Congressmen, Opposition |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19930815-narashima-rao-becomes-butt-of-suitcase-and-crore-jokes-among-congressmen-opposition-811395-1993-08-14 |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=India Today |date=15 August 1993 |language=en}}</ref>[[File:President of India Shankar Dayal Sharma.jpg|thumb|Shankar Dayal Sharma addressing the recipients of Press India Award at [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]]|left]]On 6 December 1992, the [[Babri Masjid]] in [[Ayodhya]] was [[Demolition of the Babri Masjid|demolished]] by a fanatic Hindu mob which led to widespread rioting across India. Sharma expressed his deep anguish and pain at the demolition and condemned the action as being contrary to the traditional ethos of India of respecting all religions and as opposed to the precepts of [[Hinduism]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Noorani |first1=A. G. |title=BJP's safe man at Rashtrapati Bhavan |url=https://www.asianage.com/opinion/columnists/010817/bjps-safe-man-at-rashtrapati-bhavan.html |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=The Asian Age |date=1 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Tampa Tribune 07 Dec 1992, page 4 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/339291813/?terms=%22shankar%20dayal%20sharma%22&match=1 |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> Sharma's strong condemnation of the incident forced the Rao government to dismiss the [[State governments of India|state government]] and impose [[President's rule]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]], the state in which Ayodhya is located, the same evening.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tampa Bay Times 07 Dec 1992, page 2 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/323617346/?terms=%22shankar%20dayal%20sharma%22&match=1 |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tyagi |first1=Ruchi |title=The President of India: The Constitutional Head with Discretionary Powers |journal=Indian Journal of Public Administration |date=September 2017 |volume=63 |issue=3 |pages=330–351 |doi=10.1177/0019556117720618 |s2cid=158074425 |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/0019556117720618 |access-date=11 October 2022 |language=en |issn=0019-5561}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='The President, by making his views public, has helped strengthen the reformist trend' |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/editors-note/story/19960515-the-president-by-making-his-views-public-has-helped-strengthen-the-reformist-trend-834869-1996-05-14 |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=India Today |date=14 May 1996 |language=en}}</ref> The following day, the [[Government of India]], by way of a [[Ordinance (India)|presidential ordinance]], acquired {{Convert|67|acre}} of land in and around the spot where the mosque had stood and provided that all litigation relating to the disputed area would stand dissolved following the acquisition.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yamunan |first1=Sruthisagar |title=SC on Ayodhya: Constitution bench not needed, status of mosques in Islam not examined in 1994 |url=https://scroll.in/article/896092/sc-on-ayodhya-constitutional-bench-not-needed-status-of-mosques-in-islam-not-examined-in-1994 |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=Scroll.in |date=27 September 2018}}</ref> In January 1993, a reference was made by Sharma to India's [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] as to whether a [[Hindu temple]] or religious structure had existed prior to the construction of the Babri Masjid at the [[Ram Janmabhoomi|disputed area]] where the mosque stood. In 1994, by a majority decision, the Court refused to answer the reference as it held it to be contrary to the spirit of [[secularism]] and likely to favour a religious community.<ref>{{cite news |title=When a chief justice became president |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/when-a-chief-justice-became-president-7952755/ |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=6 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:The President of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma addressing the Nation on the eve of Independence Day, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on August 14, 1994.jpg|thumb|President Sharma [[Address to the Nation|addressing the nation]] on the eve of [[Independence Day (India)|Independence Day]], 1994]]
In 1995, Sharma dedicated to the [[Indian people]] the reconstructed [[Somnath temple]] in [[Gujarat]]. At the dedication ceremony, Sharma stated that all religions taught the same lesson of unity and placed humanism above all else. The construction of the temple had lasted for fifty years. Questions about its financing, the role of the state in its reconstruction and the presence of constitutional functionaries during the installation of the idol had been marked by debates on secularism in the years following [[Indian independence movement|India's independence]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Hinduism and Modernity |date=1 January 2003 |publisher=Blackwell Publishing Ltd |isbn=978-0-470-77570-7 |pages=181–198 |url=https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470775707.ch12 |access-date=11 October 2022 |language=en |chapter=Modernity and Hindu Nationalism|doi=10.1002/9780470775707.ch12 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Sanjay |title=Yatra 2 Yatra |date=2009 |publisher=ICEM Communications |location=Mumbai |page=82 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kWqPwWpkhg0C&dq=shankar+dayal+sharma+somnath+temple&pg=PA82 |access-date=11 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The same year, even as the Narasimha Rao government dithered on acting against [[Sheila Kaul]], the [[governor of Himachal Pradesh]], after the Supreme Court expressed its concern that she was using her [[Immunity from prosecution (international law)|gubernatorial immunity]] to avoid criminal proceedings, Sharma forced the government to get her to resign immediately.<ref>{{cite news |title='The President, by making his views public, has helped strengthen the reformist trend' |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/editors-note/story/19960515-the-president-by-making-his-views-public-has-helped-strengthen-the-reformist-trend-834869-1996-05-14 |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=India Today |date=14 May 1996 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Rubber stamp">{{cite news |title=The President cannot be a rubber stamp |url=https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/president-cannot-rubber-stamp |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=The Sunday Guardian Live |date=11 June 2022}}</ref>


''Aye Muslimeen ye tum nay kia kiya?''
Sharma largely enjoyed cordial ties with Narasimha Rao government. In 1996, however, two ordinances sent to him by the Rao government seeking to extend the benefits of [[Reservation in India|reservations]] in state employment and education for [[Dalit Christian|Christian]] and [[Dalit Muslim|Muslim Dalits]] and to reduce the time allowed for campaigning in elections, were returned by Sharma on the grounds that elections were imminent and therefore such decisions should be left to the incoming government.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Hoshiar |title=Indian Administration |date=2011 |publisher=Dorling Kindersley (India) |location=New Delhi |page=42 |isbn=9788131761199 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rBcciYfcNQIC&dq=narasimha+rao+shankar+dayal+sharma+cordial&pg=PA42 |access-date=11 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Something's been happening that is bound to affect attitude of voters towards their leaders |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/editors-note/story/19960415-something-is-been-happening-that-is-bound-to-affect-attitude-of-voters-towards-their-leaders-834693-1996-04-14 |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=India Today |date=14 April 1996 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Rubber stamp"/>
||  
It was a command for action.


You turned it into a book of prayer.
=== Vajpayee government (16 May 1996 – 28 May 1996) ===
In the [[1996 Indian general election|general elections of 1996]], no party got a majority in Parliament but the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] emerged the largest party winning 160 seats out of 543.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Eleventh Lok Sabha: A Momentous Beginning |journal=The Journal Parliamentary Information |date=June 1996 |volume=XLII |issue=2 |pages=170–174 |url=https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/764738/1/jpi_june_1996.pdf |access-date=12 October 2022}}</ref> The ruling Congress party came second with 139 seats.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Eleventh Lok Sabha: A Momentous Beginning |journal=The Journal Parliamentary Information |date=June 1996 |volume=XLII |issue=2 |pages=170–174 |url=https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/764738/1/jpi_june_1996.pdf |access-date=12 October 2022}}</ref> On 15 May 1996, Sharma invited Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as the leader of the single largest party, to be the prime minister on the condition that he prove his majority on the floor of the house before 31 May. Vajpayee and a cabinet of 11 ministers were sworn in the following day.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Eleventh Lok Sabha: A Momentous Beginning |journal=The Journal Parliamentary Information |date=June 1996 |volume=XLII |issue=2 |pages=170–174 |url=https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/764738/1/jpi_june_1996.pdf |access-date=12 October 2022}}</ref> President Sharma addressed the new parliament on 24 May.{{efn|Article 87 of India's constitution provides for the President to address both houses of [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] in a [[Joint session|joint sitting]] at the commencement of the first [[Legislative session|session]] of each year and at the commencement of the first session after each [[general election]]. The speech is a statement of the government's policy and plans for the  year ahead and the government of the day is responsible for its contents.<ref>{{cite web |title=Article 87 in The Constitution Of India 1949 |url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/41655/ |publisher=Indian Kanoon |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref> The speech is then put to a motion of thanks which allows the [[parliamentary opposition|opposition]] to critique it and also to suggest amendments.<ref>{{cite web |title=President Address |url=https://prsindia.org/policy/president-address |publisher=PRS Legislative Research |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS AND MOTION OF THANKS |date=2019 |publisher=Lok Sabha Secretariat. |location=New Delhi |pages=1–7 |url=https://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/Abstract/president.pdf |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref> In 1996, the Vajpayee government resigned before it could propose a motion of thanks to the [[Speech from the throne|president's address]] and the Deve Gowda ministry disagreed with the contents of the address. In the event it was decided by consensus that no motion of thanks would be moved on the president's address of 1996 to avoid a political crisis.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Prasad |first1=Shiw Balak |title=Working of Indian Parliament: Theory and Practice |date=5 January 2021 |publisher=Walnut Publication |isbn=978-1-954399-43-3 |page=57 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sSMwEAAAQBAJ&dq=shankar+dayal+sharma+joint+session+of+parliament+1996&pg=PA57 |access-date=15 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref>}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Eleventh Lok Sabha: A Momentous Beginning |journal=The Journal Parliamentary Information |date=June 1996 |volume=XLII |issue=2 |pages=170–174 |url=https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/764738/1/jpi_june_1996.pdf |access-date=12 October 2022}}</ref> The motion for vote of confidence was taken up and discussed on 27 and 28 May.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Roy |first1=Meenu |title=India Votes, Elections 1996: A Critical Analysis |date=1996 |publisher=Deep & Deep Publications |isbn=978-81-7100-900-8 |page=253 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wm2dVWi-2I4C&dq=shankar+dayal+sharma+joint+session+of+parliament+1996&pg=PA253 |access-date=12 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref> However, before the motion could be put to vote, Vajpayee announced his resignation.<ref>{{cite news |title=HT This Day: May 29, 1996 -- Vajpayee quits, Gowda invited |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/htthis-day-may-29-1996-vajpayee-quits-gowda-invited-101653477746979.html |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |date=25 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The government lasted only 13 days, the shortest in India's history.<ref>{{cite news |title=When NDA's first PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee lost no-confidence motion by 1 vote |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/when-nda-s-first-pm-atal-bihari-vajpayee-lost-no-confidence-motion-by-1-vote/story-wIzcIvDLfNv7kbuNFmoHxI.html |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |date=20 July 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 13-day rule: The shortest PM stint in India's history |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/atal-bihari-vajpayees-13-day-rule-the-shortest-pm-stint-in-indias-history-2849261.html |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=Moneycontrol |date=17 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref>


It was a Book to understand.
President Sharma's decision of selecting Vajpayee as prime minister drew criticism from several quarters. Unlike presidents [[Ramaswamy Venkataraman]] or [[Neelam Sanjiva Reddy]] who had asked prime ministerial candidates to produce lists of their supporting [[Member of Parliament (India)|MPs]], thus satisfying themselves that the prime ministers appointed would be able to win a vote of confidence, Sharma had made no such demands of Vajpayee and had appointed him solely by the principle of inviting the leader of the largest party in Parliament. Also, unlike President Venkataraman, Sharma issued no [[Press release|press communiqués]] outlining the rationale for his decision.<ref>{{cite news |title=President Shankar Dayal Sharma comes under criticism for inviting BJP to form govt |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19960531-president-shankar-dayal-sharma-comes-under-criticism-for-inviting-bjp-to-form-govt-833004-1996-05-30 |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=India Today |date=30 May 1996 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='The farcical BJP interlude has subjected the nation to needless uncertainty' |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/editors-note/story/19960615-the-farcical-bjp-interlude-has-subjected-the-nation-to-needless-uncertainty-834583-1996-06-29 |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=India Today |date=29 June 1996 |language=en}}</ref> The Communist parties criticized Sharma's decision as he had been elected president with their backing but had chosen to invite their ideological opponent to be the prime minister.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Srinivasaraju |first1=Sugata |title='Our tenure won't be long. We'll go with one suitcase': HD Deve Gowda on becoming Prime Minister |url=https://scroll.in/article/1012208/our-tenure-wont-be-long-well-go-with-one-suitcase-hd-deve-gowda-on-becoming-prime-minister |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=Scroll.in |date=7 December 2021}}</ref>


You read it without understanding.
Sharma's decision to invite Vajpayee has been attributed to the fact that no party had staked their claim to form the government and the [[United Front (India)|United Front]], a coalition of thirteen parties, took time to decide on their leader and in getting the Congress party to extend its support to them.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rear view: An end and a beginning |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/rear-view-an-end-and-a-beginning/ |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=20 April 2015 |language=en}}</ref> Sharma's deadline of two weeks given to Vajpayee to prove his majority was much shorter than the time given to prime ministers in previous instances and was a move to discourage [[horse trading]].<ref>{{cite news |title=President Shankar Dayal Sharma comes under criticism for inviting BJP to form govt |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19960531-president-shankar-dayal-sharma-comes-under-criticism-for-inviting-bjp-to-form-govt-833004-1996-05-30 |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=India Today |date=30 May 1996 |language=en}}</ref>


It was a code for the living.
=== Deve Gowda government (1996–1997) ===
Following Vajpayee's resignation, Sharma asked him to continue as [[Caretaker government|caretaker prime minister]] and appointed [[H. D. Deve Gowda]] as prime minister on 28 May 1996 after being assured of the support of the Congress party for his candidature.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Los Angeles Times 29 May 1996, page Page 46 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/158784327/?terms=shankar%20dayal%20sharma&match=1 |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> Gowda and a 21 member [[Deve Gowda ministry|council of ministers]] sworn in on 1 June and won a vote of confidence within the deadline of twelve days set by Sharma.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Eleventh Lok Sabha: A Momentous Beginning |journal=The Journal Parliamentary Information |date=June 1996 |volume=XLII |issue=2 |pages=170–174 |url=https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/764738/1/jpi_june_1996.pdf |access-date=12 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=New PM steps up as BJP accepts defeat |url=https://www.scmp.com/article/161605/new-pm-steps-bjp-accepts-defeat |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=South China Morning Post |date=29 May 1996 |language=en}}</ref> Gowda, a former [[chief minister of Karnataka]], was India's third prime minister in as many weeks and headed a diverse coalition comprising [[Regionalism (politics)|regional parties]], leftists and [[Other Backward Class|lower caste]] Hindu politicians. He was also India's first prime minister not conversant in its [[Languages with official status in India|official language]], [[Hindi]].<ref>{{cite news |title=India's Deve Gowda becomes PM |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/06/01/Indias-Deve-Gowda-becomes-PM/3301833601600/ |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=UPI |date=1 June 1996 |language=en}}</ref> The government lasted ten months and was dependent on the Congress party which, under its new President [[Sitaram Kesri]], withdrew support in April 1997 alleging failure on the part of the prime minister in preventing the growth of [[List of Hindu nationalist political parties|Hindu nationalist political parties]] in [[North India]].<ref>{{cite news |title=India's Deve Gowda becomes PM |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/06/01/Indias-Deve-Gowda-becomes-PM/3301833601600/ |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=UPI |date=1 June 1996 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Karp |first1=Jonathan |last2=Sharma |first2=Sumit |title=India's Congress Party Retracts Its Support for Ruling Coalition |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB859751984854135000 |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=31 March 1997}}</ref> Sharma then directed Gowda to seek a vote of confidence in Parliament.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Andhyarujina |first1=T. R. |title=The President's Action: Constitutional Proprieties |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |date=1999 |volume=34 |issue=22 |page=1314 |jstor=4408007 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4408007 |access-date=13 June 2023 |issn=0012-9976}}</ref> Gowda lost the vote of confidence on 11 April 1997 and continued to head a caretaker government as President Sharma considered a further course of action.<ref>{{cite news |title=April 11, 1997: Deve Gowda loses confidence vote |url=https://gulfnews.com/today-history/april-11-1997-deve-gowda-loses-confidence-vote-1.2009205 |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=gulfnews.com |date=11 April 1997 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Losing Vote of Confidence, India Premier Resigns; New Elections Expected |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-04-12-mn-48016-story.html |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=12 April 1997}}</ref>


You turned it into a manifesto of the dead.
=== I. K. Gujral government ===
[[File:President of India Shankar Dayal Sharma administering the oath of office of Prime Minister of India to Shri I. K. Gujral at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.jpg|thumb| I. K. Gujral was sworn in as Prime Minister on April 21, 1997.<ref>{{cite news |title=Down memory lane: When India got new Prime Ministers |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/galleries/nation/2019/may/21/down-memory-lane-when-india-got-new-prime-ministers-102288--9.html |access-date=15 June 2023 |work=The New Indian Express |date=21 May 2019}}</ref>]]
On 21 April 1997, [[Inder Kumar Gujral]], who had been the [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|foreign minister]] under Deve Gowda, was sworn in as prime minister and was given two days time win a vote of confidence in Parliament.<ref>{{cite news |title=Business Line Twenty Years Ago Today |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/business-line-twenty-years-ago-today/article21979477.ece1 |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=www.thehindubusinessline.com |date=20 April 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Gujral to be new Indian PM |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/gujral-to-be-new-indian-pm-1.64477 |access-date=13 October 2022 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=21 April 1997 |language=en}}</ref> He was the third prime minister to be sworn in by Sharma and his government would last 322 days when the Congress party again withdrew support to the United Front ministry.<ref>{{cite news |title=Inder Kumar Gujral, 13th Prime Minister renowned for neighbourhood doctrine |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/inder-kumar-gujral-13th-prime-minister-neighbourhood-doctrine-7944425/ |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=30 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Los Angeles Times 21 Apr 1997, page Page 4 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/158170119/?terms=shankar%20dayal%20sharma&match=1 |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ratna |first1=Anurag |title=Impact of Coalition Politics on Constitutional Development of India |journal=The Indian Journal of Political Science |date=2007 |volume=68 |issue=2 |pages=337–354 |jstor=41856331 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41856331 |access-date=13 October 2022 |issn=0019-5510}}</ref>


That which was a book of knowledge;
=== State visits ===
[[File:The President of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma being received by the Sultan of Oman, H.M. Sultan Qaboos Bin Said at Muscat airport, in Oman on October 03, 1996.jpg|thumb|President Sharma being received at the [[Muscat International Airport|Muscat Airport]] by the [[List of rulers of Oman|Sultan of Oman]], [[Qaboos bin Said]] during his state visit in 1996.<ref>{{cite news |title=Oman's Sultan Qaboos passes away: A modern-day monarch's rich legacy |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/omans-sultan-qaboos-passes-away-a-modern-day-monarchs-rich-legacy/1821593/ |access-date=15 June 2023 |work=Financialexpress |date=13 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref>]]
As president, Sharma led state visits to [[Bulgaria–India relations|Bulgaria]], [[Chile–India relations|Chile]], the [[Czech Republic–India relations|Czech Republic]], [[Greece–India relations|Greece]], [[Hungary–India relations|Hungary]], [[India–Italy relations|Italy]], [[India–Namibia relations|Namibia]], [[India–Oman relations|Oman]],{{efn|On his visit to [[Oman]], [[Qaboos bin Said|Sultan Qaboos]] personally received Sharma at the [[Muscat International Airport|airport]] setting aside [[Protocol (diplomacy)|protocol]]. Qaboos silenced critics stating that he had only come to receive his [[guru]]. Qaboos had received his [[secondary education]] in [[Pune]] where he had been tutored privately by Sharma.<ref>{{cite news |title=Smooth transition in Oman good for the region |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/smooth-transition-in-oman-good-for-the-region/cid/1734985 |access-date=15 October 2022 |work=The Telegraph |date=11 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Ramachandran |first1=P. A. |title=Reach Out To The Stars: Celebrities I met in my life journey |date=12 July 2022 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=979-8-88684-604-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_M51EAAAQBAJ&dq=order+of+oman+shankar+dayal+sharma&pg=PT24 |access-date=15 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref>{{Self-published inline|date=June 2023|certain=yes}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Today, PM Modi meets Oman's Sultan who once studied in India |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/today-pm-modi-meets-omans-sultan-who-once-studied-in-india-5059079/ |access-date=15 October 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=11 February 2018 |language=en}}</ref>}} [[India–Poland relations|Poland]], [[India–Romania relations|Romania]], [[India–Slovakia relations|Slovakia]], [[India–Trinidad and Tobago relations|Trinidad and Tobago]], [[India–Turkey relations|Turkey]], [[India–Ukraine relations|Ukraine]], the [[India–United Kingdom relations|United Kingdom]], and [[India–Zimbabwe relations|Zimbabwe]].{{efn|In 1996, [[Zimbabwe]] made the [[diplomatic gift]] of a pair of [[African elephant]]s which arrived in [[India]] in 1998. The male, named Shankar in honour of President Sharma, lived alone in the [[National Zoological Park Delhi|Delhi Zoo]] after its companion Bombai, named after the wife of the then [[High commissioner (Commonwealth)|ambassador]] of Zimbabwe to India, died in 2005. After the elephant's plight was taken up by [[animal rights]] activists, the [[Delhi High Court]] ordered the zoo to explore the possibility of getting Shankar a mate. As of October 2022, the Delhi Zoo had shortlisted [[South Africa]] as a source for procuring a female companion for Shankar.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lonely jumbo to get South African mate |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2022/state-editions/lonely-jumbo-to-get-south-african-mate.html |access-date=15 October 2022 |work=The Pioneer |date=9 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=HC asks authorities for stand on release, rehab of zoo's lone African elephant |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/delhi-hc-asks-authorities-for-stand-on-release-rehab-of-delhi-zoo-s-lone-african-elephant-101641234392081.html |access-date=15 October 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |date=3 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Focus on giving company to lonely jumbo Shankar in Delhi Zoo |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2022/india/focus-on-giving-company-to-lonely-jumbo-shankar-in-delhi-zoo.html |access-date=15 October 2022 |work=The Pioneer |date=5 September 2022}}</ref>}}<ref>{{cite web |title=State Visits of Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma |url=https://rashtrapatisachivalaya.gov.in/sites/default/files/formerpresident_visit/sdn_statevisit.pdf |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref> At the end of his tenure, he chose not to seek a second term in office and was succeeded to the presidency by Vice President [[K. R. Narayanan]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Rediff On The NeT: Rajiv Shukla on all the presidential candidates |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/mar/21rajiv.htm |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=www.rediff.com |date=21 March 1997}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=In an era of hung parliaments, every party keen to have its nominee in Rashtrapati Bhavan |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19970430-in-an-era-of-hung-parliaments-every-party-keen-to-have-its-nominee-in-rashtrapati-bhavan-831334-1997-04-29 |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=India Today |date=29 April 1997 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Droupadi Murmu's oath-taking: 10 successive presidents sworn in on 25 July |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/droupadi-murmu-s-swearing-in-10-successive-indian-presidents-have-taken-oath-on-25-july-11658667491521.html |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=mint |date=24 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref>


You abdicated to the ignoramus.
== Death ==
Sharma died of a [[heart attack]] at the Escorts Heart Institute, Delhi on 26 December 1999. He was married to Vimala and had two sons and a daughter. The Government of India declared seven days of [[National day of mourning|national mourning]] in his honour.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pace |first1=Eric |title=Shankar Dayal Sharma, 81, Former President of India |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/03/world/shankar-dayal-sharma-81-former-president-of-india.html |access-date=15 October 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=3 January 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SEVEN DAYS STATE MOURNING ON THE DEMISE OF FORMER PRESIDENT SHRI SHANKAR DAYAL SHARMA |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/HOME%20AFFAIR/1999-JAN-DEC-HOME-AFFAIRS/PDF/HOM-1999-12-27_227.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |publisher=Press Information Bureau |access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref> A [[state funeral]] was accorded to him and he was [[Cremation|cremated]] on 27 December 1999.<ref>{{cite web |title=Former President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma passes away |url=https://www.indianembassyusa.gov.in/ArchivesDetails?id=231 |website=www.indianembassyusa.gov.in |publisher=Embassy of India, Washington D C, USA |access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=S. D. Sharma's cremation today |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99dec28/nation.htm#1 |access-date=10 October 2022 |work=www.tribuneindia.com |date=27 December 1999}}</ref> His [[Samadhi (shrine)|samadhi]] lies at [[Raj Ghat and associated memorials|Karma Bhumi]], Delhi.<ref>{{cite news |title=Crematoriums and samadhi sthals or memorials of famous people in India and the world |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-&-current-affairs/story/crematoriums-and-samadhi-sthals-or-memorials-of-famous-people-in-india-and-the-world-1580118-2019-08-12 |access-date=10 October 2022 |work=India Today |date=12 August 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=No separate samadhis; VVIPs now to have common memorial place |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/no-separate-samadhis-vvips-now-to-have-common-memorial-place-522430 |access-date=10 October 2022 |work=NDTV.com |date=16 May 2013}}</ref>


It came to give knowledge of Creation.
==Honours==
Sharma was made an [[Bencher|honorary bencher]] and Master of [[Lincoln's Inn]] in 1993.<ref>{{cite book |title=Summary of World Broadcasts: Asia, Pacific |date=1993 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |page=4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RdUqAAAAMAAJ&q=Honorary+Bencher+shankar+dayal+sharma |access-date=15 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Encyclopaedia Indica: Freedom fighters |date=1996 |publisher=Anmol Publications |isbn=978-81-7041-859-7 |page=51 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cfwvAQAAIAAJ&q=Honorary+Bencher+shankar+dayal+sharma |access-date=15 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref> He was conferred an honorary degree of [[Doctor of Law|doctor of law]] by the [[University of Cambridge]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Honour for leading Indian chemist |url=https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/honour-for-leading-indian-chemist |publisher=University of Cambridge |access-date=15 October 2022 |language=en |date=9 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cambridge Evening News 26 Jul 1993, page 3 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/818624759/?terms=%22shanker%20dayal%20sharma%22&match=1 |access-date=16 October 2022 |work=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> He was also conferred with [[Honorary degree|honorary doctorates]] from the [[Sofia University]], [[University of Bucharest]], the [[Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv]] and several Indian universities.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sharma |first1=Shankar Dayal |title=President Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma: July 1992-December 1994 |date=1996 |publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India |isbn=978-81-230-0510-2 |page=275 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2TEJAAAAIAAJ&q=university+of+sofia+shankar+dayal+sharma |access-date=15 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Sharma |first1=Shankar Dayal |title=President Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma: July 1992-December 1994 |date=1996 |publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India |isbn=978-81-230-0510-2 |page=278 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2TEJAAAAIAAJ&q=university+of+bucharest+shankar+dayal+sharma |access-date=15 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Agrawal |first1=M. G. |title=Freedom Fighters of India (in Four Volumes) |date=2008 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |isbn=978-81-8205-468-4 |pages=111–113 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vnJ0MwbAsEAC&q=biography+shankar+dayal+sharma |access-date=15 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref>


You abandoned it to the school.
== Bibliography ==
Sharma was the author of several books in English and Hindi. These include ''The Congress Approach to International Affairs'', ''Studies in Indo-Soviet cooperation'', ''Rule of Law and Role of Police'', ''Jawaharlal Nehru: The Maker of Modern Commonwealth'', ''Eminent Indians'', ''Chetna Ke Strot'' and ''Hindi Bhasha Aur Sanskriti''. He was also editor of the ''Lucknow Law Journal'', ''Socialist India'', ''Jyoti'' and the ''Ilm-o-Nur''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Agrawal |first1=M. G. |title=Freedom Fighters of India (in Four Volumes) |date=2008 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |isbn=978-81-8205-468-4 |pages=112–113 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vnJ0MwbAsEAC&q=books+by+shankar+dayal+sharma |access-date=16 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma |url=https://rajyasabha.nic.in/Home/FormerChairmanDetails/8 |publisher=Rajya Sabha, Parliament of India |access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref>


It came to give life to dead nations.
== Commemoration ==
[[File:Shankar Dayal Sharma 2000 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|A commemorative postage stamp of India featuring President Sharma]]
''Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma'', a 1999 [[Short film|short]] [[Documentary film|documentary feature]] by A. K. Goorha covers his life and presidency. It was produced by the [[Government of India]]'s [[Films Division of India|Films Division]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=DR. SHANKAR DAYAL SHARMA {{!}} Films Division|url=https://filmsdivision.org/shop/dr-shankar-dayal-sharma|access-date=2021-06-11|website=filmsdivision.org}}</ref> In 2000, a [[commemorative postage stamp]] was issued in his honour by [[India Post]].<ref>{{cite web |title=PRESIDENT TO RELEASE COMMEMORATWE POSTAGE STAMP ON DR. SHANKER DAYAL SHARMA |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/COMMUNICATION/2000-JULY-DEC-COMMUNICATION-II/COM-2000-10-13_101.pdf |publisher=Press Information Bureau |access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref> In Bhopal, the Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma Ayurvedic College & Hospital and the Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma College are named after him.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma Smriti Mahavidyalaya |url=http://drsdscollegebhopal.com/index.php |website=drsdscollegebhopal.com |access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma Ayurvedic College & Hospital |url=http://www.drsdsach.in/index.php |website=www.drsdsach.in |access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref> Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma Institute of Democracy under the University of Lucknow was inaugurated in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=University of Lucknow / Dr Shanker Dayal Sharma Institute of Democracy (SDSID) |url=https://www.lkouniv.ac.in/en/article/dr-shanker-dayal-sharma-institute |website=www.lkouniv.ac.in |access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref>


You used it for seeking mercy for the dead.
The Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal, awarded annually at several universities in India, was instituted in 1994 from endowments made by Sharma.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kumar |first1=Rajendra |title=President and Prime Minister of India |date=1 January 2021 |publisher=Prabhat Prakashan |page=1987 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kmj3DAAAQBAJ&dq=shankar+dayal+sharma+gold+medal&pg=PA1987 |access-date=16 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal 2021 |url=https://aryabhattacollege.ac.in/notices/gceyle552g2rly45w1j0wujfPorforma%20for%20Dr.%20Shankar%20Dayal%20Sharma%20(Gold%20Medal)-2021.pdf |publisher=Aryabhatta College, University of Delhi |access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Description of Awards |url=https://www.iitb.ac.in/newacadhome/medaldetails.jsp#:~:text=Shankar%20Dayal%20Sharma%20Gold%20Medal,Shankar%20Dayal%20Sharma%20Gold%20Medal. |website=www.iitb.ac.in |publisher=Indian Institute of Technology Bombay |access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref>


O' Muslims! What have you done?
== Notes ==
|}
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
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Latest revision as of 11:52, 16 August 2023


Shankar Dayal Sharma
Official Portrait, 1992
9th President of India
In office
25 July 1992 – 25 July 1997
Prime Minister
Vice PresidentK. R. Narayanan
Preceded byR. Venkataraman
Succeeded byK. R. Narayanan
8th Vice President of India
In office
3 September 1987 – 25 July 1992
PresidentR. Venkataraman
Prime Minister
Preceded byR. Venkataraman
Succeeded byK. R. Narayanan
Governor of Maharashtra
In office
3 April 1986 – 2 September 1987
Chief MinisterShankarrao Chavan
Preceded byKona Prabhakar Rao
Succeeded byKasu Brahmananda Reddy
In office
26 November 1985 – 2 April 1986
Chief MinisterSurjit Singh Barnala
Preceded byHokishe Sema
Succeeded bySiddhartha Shankar Ray
13th Governor of Andhra Pradesh
In office
29 August 1984 – 26 November 1985
Chief Minister
Preceded byThakur Ram Lal
Succeeded byKumudben Manishankar Joshi
1st Chief Minister of Bhopal
In office
31 March 1952 – 31 October 1956
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Cabinet Minister, Government of Madhya Pradesh
In office
1956–1967
DepartmentsEducation, Law, Public Works, Revenue, Industry and Commerce.
President of Indian National Congress
In office
1972–1974
Preceded byJagjivan Ram
Succeeded byDevakanta Barua
Personal details
Born(1918-08-19)19 August 1918
Bhopal, Bhopal State, British India (now Madhya Pradesh, India)
Died26 December 1999(1999-12-26) (aged 81)
New Delhi, India
NationalityIndian
Political partyIndian National Congress
Spouse(s)
(
m. 1950)
Children2 sons, 2 daughters
Alma mater
ProfessionLawyer, Politician
Signature

Shankar Dayal Sharma (About this soundpronunciation (help·info); 19 August 1918 – 26 December 1999) was an Indian lawyer and politician from the state of Madhya Pradesh who served as the ninth president of India, from 1992 to 1997.

Born in Bhopal, Sharma studied at Agra, Allahabad and Lucknow and received a doctorate in constitutional law from the University of Cambridge and was a bar-at-law from Lincoln's Inn and a Brandeis Fellow at Harvard University. During 1948–49, Sharma was one of the leaders of the movement for the merger of Bhopal State with India, a cause for which he served eight months' imprisonment.

A member of the Indian National Congress party, Sharma was chief minister (1952–56) of Bhopal State and served as a cabinet minister (1956–1971) in the government of Madhya Pradesh holding several portfolios. Sharma was president of the Bhopal State Congress Committee (1950–52), Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (1966–68) and of the All India Congress Committee (1972–74). He served as Union Minister for Communications (1974–77) under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Twice elected to the Lok Sabha, Sharma served as governor of Andhra Pradesh (1984–85), Punjab (1985–86) and Maharashtra (1986–87) before being elected unopposed as the eighth vice president of India in 1987.

Sharma was elected president of India in 1992 and served till 1997 during which period he dealt with four prime ministers, three of whom he appointed in the last year of his presidency. He was assertive with the P. V. Narasimha Rao ministry, forcing his government to sack a governor, instigating a strong response to the demolition of the Babri Masjid and refusing to sign ordinances presented to him on the eve of elections. His appointment of Atal Bihari Vajpayee as prime minister on the grounds of him being the leader of the largest party in the Parliament attracted widespread criticism especially as Vajpayee was forced to resign in only thirteen days without facing a vote of confidence. Sharma's appointment of H. D. Deve Gowda and I. K. Gujral as prime ministers followed the assurance of support to their candidature by the Congress party but neither government lasted more than a year. Sharma chose not to seek a second term in office and was succeeded to the presidency by K. R. Narayanan.

Sharma died in 1999 and was accorded a state funeral. His samadhi lies at Karma Bhumi in Delhi.

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

Shankar Dayal Sharma was born on 19 August 1918 in Bhopal, then the capital of the princely state of Bhopal, in a Hindu Brahmin family. Sharma completed his schooling in Bhopal and then studied at St. John's College, Agra and at the Allahabad and Lucknow universities obtaining a master's degree in English literature, Hindi and Sanskrit and an L.L.M.[1][2] He topped both the courses, was awarded the Chakravarty Gold Medal for social service, and was a thrice swimming champion at Lucknow University and cross country running champion at Allahabad.[3][4]

He obtained a doctorate in constitutional law from Cambridge University for his thesis on Interpretation of Legislative Powers under Federal Constitutions and received a diploma in public administration from the University of London.[5][6]

Sharma began practicing law at Lucknow from 1940 where he taught law at the University and soon joined the Indian National Congress.[7] In 1946, he was admitted to the Lincoln's Inn and taught at Cambridge University during 1946–47. The following year, he was appointed a Brandeis Fellow at Harvard University.[8][9][10]

Political career in Madhya Pradesh[edit | edit source]

During 1948–49, Sharma underwent eight months' imprisonment for his leadership of the popular movement for merging the princely state of Bhopal with India.[11][12] Although the Nawab of Bhopal had acceded his state to the Dominion of India, he had held out against signing the Instrument of Accession. The popular movement had the support of the Praja Mandal and an interim government with Chatur Narain Malviya as its head was constituted by the Nawab in 1948. However, as the movement gained support, the Nawab dismissed this government. Public pressure and the intervention of V. P. Menon led the Nawab to merge his state with the Indian Union in 1949 with the princely state reconstituted as Bhopal State.[lower-alpha 1][16][17][18]

Sharma was president of the Bhopal State Congress during 1950 to 1952.[19] He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Bhopal from Berasia in the elections of 1952 and became chief minister of Bhopal State in 1952.[20][21] In 1956, following the reorganization of states, Bhopal State was merged with the new state of Madhya Pradesh.[22] Sharma played an important role in retaining Bhopal as the capital of this new state.[23] In the elections of 1957, 1962 and 1967, Sharma was elected to the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Udaipura as a candidate of the Congress party.[24][25][26] During this time he was a cabinet minister in the Madhya Pradesh government and variously held portfolios of education, law, public works, industry and commerce and revenue.[27] As minister for education, he emphasized secular pedagogy in schools and textbooks were revised to avoid religious bias.[28][29]

During 1967–68, he was president of the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee and served as general secretary of the party from 1968 to 1972.[30] During the split in 1969, Sharma sided with Indira Gandhi and was removed from party posts by the President S. Nijalingappa but reappointed by Gandhi in her faction of the party.[31][32]

Parliamentary career[edit | edit source]

Sharma was elected to the Lok Sabha from Bhopal in the general elections of 1971.[33] The following year, he was made the president of the Indian National Congress by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.[34][35] Prior to his appointment as president, Sharma had been a member of the Congress Working Committee since 1967 and general secretary of the Congress party from 1968.[36] As president, Sharma launched a public campaign against the CIA accusing it of being actively involved in fomenting violence in India.[37][38][39]

In October 1974, Sharma was appointed Minister of Communications in the Indira Gandhi ministry and was succeeded as president of the Congress by D. K. Barooah.[40][41] He remained in that post until his defeat in the general election of 1977 by Arif Baig.[42][43] Sharma was reelected from Bhopal in the general election of 1980.[44]

Gubernatorial tenures (1984–1987)[edit | edit source]

Governor of Andhra Pradesh (1984–1985)[edit | edit source]

On 15 August 1984, N. T. Rama Rao, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh who led the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to victory in the state assembly election of 1983, was dismissed from that post by the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Thakur Ram Lal. He appointed N. Bhaskara Rao, who had been the finance minister under Rama Rao, as the new chief minister and gave him a month's time to prove his majority in the Assembly despite the ousted chief minister's claim of being able to prove his own majority in two days' time and evidence that he had the support of the majority of legislators in the assembly. Following widespread protests, Ram Lal resigned on 24 August 1984 and was replaced by Sharma.[45][46][47]

Sharma convened a session of the Assembly on 11 September 1984 but as Bhaskara Rao failed to prove his majority within the period of one month stipulated by Ram Lal, Sharma suggested that he resign with effect from 16 September. Bhaskar Rao refused to do so seeking the reconvening of the Assembly a few days later. Sharma then dismissed him and reappointed Rama Rao as chief minister. Rama Rao won the vote of confidence when the Assembly reconvened on 20 September 1984. Soon after, the Rama Rao government called for fresh elections and Sharma dissolved the Assembly in November 1984.[48][49][50]

In the Assembly election of 1985, TDP was returned to power with a two-thirds majority with Rama Rao returning as the chief minister. A few months later, Sharma refused to repromulgate three ordinances sent to him by the Rama Rao's government stating that ordinances are required to be ratified by the legislature and that their repromulgation would be a constitutional impropriety. His refusal to repromulgate these ordinances, pertaining to the abolition of offices of part-time village officers, formation of districts and payment of salaries and removal of disqualifications of government employees, a fourth time soured his relation with the state government.[51]

On 31 July 1985, Sharma's daughter Gitanjali and his son-in-law, the Congress politician Lalit Maken, were killed by Sikh militants in retaliation for Maken's alleged role in the anti-Sikh riots of 1984.[lower-alpha 2] Sharma was thereafter transferred to Punjab as governor and was succeeded in Andhra Pradesh by Kumudben Joshi.[58][59][60]

Governor of Punjab (1985–1986)[edit | edit source]

Sharma succeeded Hokishe Sema as governor of Punjab in November 1985.[61] His appointment came after the assembly elections in that state and in the backdrop of the Rajiv–Longowal Accord which sought to resolve the insurgency in Punjab.[62] Sharma's tenure was characterized by continued violence and he was replaced in April 1986 by Siddhartha Shankar Ray.[63][64][65]

Governor of Maharashtra (1986–1987)[edit | edit source]

Sharma was sworn in as governor of Maharashtra in April 1986 and served until September 1987 when he was elected vice president of India.[66][67][68]

Vice President of India (1987–1992)[edit | edit source]

Sharma was nominated by the Congress party for the vice-presidential election of 1987.[69] Although 27 candidates had filed nominations, only the nomination filed by Sharma was found valid by the returning officer. After the last date of withdrawal of candidates was over, Sharma was declared elected unanimously on 21 August 1987.[70][71] Sharma was sworn in as the vice president on 3 September 1987.[72][73] He was only the third person to be elected unopposed to the vice-presidency.[74]

Sharma, who was also the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha, offered to quit in February 1988 after his ruling admitting a discussion in the house of the purported extravagance of the then governor of Andhra Pradesh was vociferously objected to by members of the government. Several ministers of the council of ministers led the protests against Sharma's ruling even as Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was present in the house, chose not to intervene or restrain the members of his party. Sharma's response chastened the protesting members but their request to have the proceedings expunged from Parliament records was turned down by Sharma.[75][76][77]

In 1991, following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, Sharma was first offered the presidentship of the Congress party and the post of Prime Minister by Sonia Gandhi. He however refused citing ill health and advanced age. Thereafter, P. V. Narasimha Rao was chosen to lead the Congress party.[78][79][80]

President of India (1992–1997)[edit | edit source]

Shankar Dayal Sharma being sworn in as president by Chief Justice M. H. Kania[81]

In June 1992, Sharma was chosen by the Congress party as its candidate for the presidential election of 1992 to succeed R. Venkataraman.[82] His nomination was also supported by the communist parties.[83] The election was held on 13 July 1992 and votes counted three days later. Sharma won 675,804 votes against the 346,485 votes polled by his main opponent George Gilbert Swell, who was the nominee of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.[84][85][86] Two other candidates – Ram Jethmalani and Kaka Joginder Singh – won a small number of votes. Sharma was declared elected on 16 July 1992 and was sworn in as president on 25 July 1992.[87][88] In his inaugural address, Sharma stated that "Freedom has little meaning without equality and equality has little meaning without social justice" and committed himself to combating terrorism, poverty, disease and communalism in India.[89] The validity of the election was challenged unsuccessfully before the Supreme Court of India.[90][91]

Narasimha Rao government (1992–1996)[edit | edit source]

Sharma's victory was seen as a victory for the Congress party and Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao who headed a minority government.[92][93] Although seen as a largely ceremonial post, the office of the president is key since the incumbent gets to nominate a head of government in the event of no party gaining a majority in Parliament after national elections or after a government had lost a vote of confidence.[94][95] The Rao ministry faced three no-confidence motions during its tenure the third of which, held in July 1993, was marred by allegations of bribery and subsequent criminal indictment against Rao himself.[96][97][98]

Shankar Dayal Sharma addressing the recipients of Press India Award at Rashtrapati Bhavan

On 6 December 1992, the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished by a fanatic Hindu mob which led to widespread rioting across India. Sharma expressed his deep anguish and pain at the demolition and condemned the action as being contrary to the traditional ethos of India of respecting all religions and as opposed to the precepts of Hinduism.[99][100] Sharma's strong condemnation of the incident forced the Rao government to dismiss the state government and impose President's rule in Uttar Pradesh, the state in which Ayodhya is located, the same evening.[101][102][103] The following day, the Government of India, by way of a presidential ordinance, acquired 67 acres (27 ha) of land in and around the spot where the mosque had stood and provided that all litigation relating to the disputed area would stand dissolved following the acquisition.[104] In January 1993, a reference was made by Sharma to India's Supreme Court as to whether a Hindu temple or religious structure had existed prior to the construction of the Babri Masjid at the disputed area where the mosque stood. In 1994, by a majority decision, the Court refused to answer the reference as it held it to be contrary to the spirit of secularism and likely to favour a religious community.[105]

President Sharma addressing the nation on the eve of Independence Day, 1994

In 1995, Sharma dedicated to the Indian people the reconstructed Somnath temple in Gujarat. At the dedication ceremony, Sharma stated that all religions taught the same lesson of unity and placed humanism above all else. The construction of the temple had lasted for fifty years. Questions about its financing, the role of the state in its reconstruction and the presence of constitutional functionaries during the installation of the idol had been marked by debates on secularism in the years following India's independence.[106][107] The same year, even as the Narasimha Rao government dithered on acting against Sheila Kaul, the governor of Himachal Pradesh, after the Supreme Court expressed its concern that she was using her gubernatorial immunity to avoid criminal proceedings, Sharma forced the government to get her to resign immediately.[108][109]

Sharma largely enjoyed cordial ties with Narasimha Rao government. In 1996, however, two ordinances sent to him by the Rao government seeking to extend the benefits of reservations in state employment and education for Christian and Muslim Dalits and to reduce the time allowed for campaigning in elections, were returned by Sharma on the grounds that elections were imminent and therefore such decisions should be left to the incoming government.[110][111][109]

Vajpayee government (16 May 1996 – 28 May 1996)[edit | edit source]

In the general elections of 1996, no party got a majority in Parliament but the Bharatiya Janata Party emerged the largest party winning 160 seats out of 543.[112] The ruling Congress party came second with 139 seats.[113] On 15 May 1996, Sharma invited Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as the leader of the single largest party, to be the prime minister on the condition that he prove his majority on the floor of the house before 31 May. Vajpayee and a cabinet of 11 ministers were sworn in the following day.[114] President Sharma addressed the new parliament on 24 May.[lower-alpha 3][119] The motion for vote of confidence was taken up and discussed on 27 and 28 May.[120] However, before the motion could be put to vote, Vajpayee announced his resignation.[121] The government lasted only 13 days, the shortest in India's history.[122][123]

President Sharma's decision of selecting Vajpayee as prime minister drew criticism from several quarters. Unlike presidents Ramaswamy Venkataraman or Neelam Sanjiva Reddy who had asked prime ministerial candidates to produce lists of their supporting MPs, thus satisfying themselves that the prime ministers appointed would be able to win a vote of confidence, Sharma had made no such demands of Vajpayee and had appointed him solely by the principle of inviting the leader of the largest party in Parliament. Also, unlike President Venkataraman, Sharma issued no press communiqués outlining the rationale for his decision.[124][125] The Communist parties criticized Sharma's decision as he had been elected president with their backing but had chosen to invite their ideological opponent to be the prime minister.[126]

Sharma's decision to invite Vajpayee has been attributed to the fact that no party had staked their claim to form the government and the United Front, a coalition of thirteen parties, took time to decide on their leader and in getting the Congress party to extend its support to them.[127] Sharma's deadline of two weeks given to Vajpayee to prove his majority was much shorter than the time given to prime ministers in previous instances and was a move to discourage horse trading.[128]

Deve Gowda government (1996–1997)[edit | edit source]

Following Vajpayee's resignation, Sharma asked him to continue as caretaker prime minister and appointed H. D. Deve Gowda as prime minister on 28 May 1996 after being assured of the support of the Congress party for his candidature.[129] Gowda and a 21 member council of ministers sworn in on 1 June and won a vote of confidence within the deadline of twelve days set by Sharma.[130][131] Gowda, a former chief minister of Karnataka, was India's third prime minister in as many weeks and headed a diverse coalition comprising regional parties, leftists and lower caste Hindu politicians. He was also India's first prime minister not conversant in its official language, Hindi.[132] The government lasted ten months and was dependent on the Congress party which, under its new President Sitaram Kesri, withdrew support in April 1997 alleging failure on the part of the prime minister in preventing the growth of Hindu nationalist political parties in North India.[133][134] Sharma then directed Gowda to seek a vote of confidence in Parliament.[135] Gowda lost the vote of confidence on 11 April 1997 and continued to head a caretaker government as President Sharma considered a further course of action.[136][137]

I. K. Gujral government[edit | edit source]

I. K. Gujral was sworn in as Prime Minister on April 21, 1997.[138]

On 21 April 1997, Inder Kumar Gujral, who had been the foreign minister under Deve Gowda, was sworn in as prime minister and was given two days time win a vote of confidence in Parliament.[139][140] He was the third prime minister to be sworn in by Sharma and his government would last 322 days when the Congress party again withdrew support to the United Front ministry.[141][142][143]

State visits[edit | edit source]

President Sharma being received at the Muscat Airport by the Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said during his state visit in 1996.[144]

As president, Sharma led state visits to Bulgaria, Chile, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Namibia, Oman,[lower-alpha 4] Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe.[lower-alpha 5][151] At the end of his tenure, he chose not to seek a second term in office and was succeeded to the presidency by Vice President K. R. Narayanan.[152][153][154]

Death[edit | edit source]

Sharma died of a heart attack at the Escorts Heart Institute, Delhi on 26 December 1999. He was married to Vimala and had two sons and a daughter. The Government of India declared seven days of national mourning in his honour.[155][156] A state funeral was accorded to him and he was cremated on 27 December 1999.[157][158] His samadhi lies at Karma Bhumi, Delhi.[159][160]

Honours[edit | edit source]

Sharma was made an honorary bencher and Master of Lincoln's Inn in 1993.[161][162] He was conferred an honorary degree of doctor of law by the University of Cambridge.[163][164] He was also conferred with honorary doctorates from the Sofia University, University of Bucharest, the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and several Indian universities.[165][166][167]

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

Sharma was the author of several books in English and Hindi. These include The Congress Approach to International Affairs, Studies in Indo-Soviet cooperation, Rule of Law and Role of Police, Jawaharlal Nehru: The Maker of Modern Commonwealth, Eminent Indians, Chetna Ke Strot and Hindi Bhasha Aur Sanskriti. He was also editor of the Lucknow Law Journal, Socialist India, Jyoti and the Ilm-o-Nur.[168][169]

Commemoration[edit | edit source]

A commemorative postage stamp of India featuring President Sharma

Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, a 1999 short documentary feature by A. K. Goorha covers his life and presidency. It was produced by the Government of India's Films Division.[170] In 2000, a commemorative postage stamp was issued in his honour by India Post.[171] In Bhopal, the Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma Ayurvedic College & Hospital and the Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma College are named after him.[172][173] Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma Institute of Democracy under the University of Lucknow was inaugurated in 2009.[174]

The Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal, awarded annually at several universities in India, was instituted in 1994 from endowments made by Sharma.[175][176][177]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Upon the independence of India and Pakistan, the princely states under the British Raj had the choice of joining either dominion or of remaining independent since the Indian Independence Act only provided for the termination of British suzerainty. With the exceptions of Hyderabad and Kashmir, none of the other princely states opted to be independent owing to geopolitical considerations. The accession of these states to either of the dominions was achieved through an Instrument of Accession which they signed with the dominion government thus surrendering their control over defence, communications and foreign relations to the dominion government. By the Instrument of Merger, the princely states surrendered “full and exclusive authority, jurisdiction and powers in relation to the governance of their States” to the dominion government and settled matters pertaining to their privy purse. The last regnant Nawab of Bhopal, Hamidullah Khan, had signed the Instrument of Accession with the Government of India in August 1947 but not the Instrument of Merger, wanting to retain his state as a separate unit within India. Following the merger agitation, the Nawab signed the Instrument of Merger on 30 April 1949. Thereafter, Bhopal State was formed as a part ‘C' State of Indian Union and came under the administration of a Chief Commissioner on June 1, 1949.[13][14][15]
  2. ↑ The three men involved in the murder - Ranjit Gill 'Kuki', Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha were eventually apprehended. Jinda and Sukha were convicted for their involvement in the murder of General A. S. Vaidya, who had led Operation Blue Star, and were awarded the capital punishment.[52] Article 72 of the Indian Constitution grants the President of India or the Governor of a state the power to pardon, remit or commute sentences.[53] In a twist of fate, the mercy petitions filed by duo came up before President Sharma in 1992 and were rejected. Consequently, both were hung.[54][55] Ranjit Gill was arrested in 2003 and sentenced to life imprisonment, which was later commuted with the consent of Maken's daughter Avantika.[56] During his presidency, Sharma rejected all mercy petitions put for his consideration.[57]
  3. ↑ Article 87 of India's constitution provides for the President to address both houses of Parliament in a joint sitting at the commencement of the first session of each year and at the commencement of the first session after each general election. The speech is a statement of the government's policy and plans for the year ahead and the government of the day is responsible for its contents.[115] The speech is then put to a motion of thanks which allows the opposition to critique it and also to suggest amendments.[116][117] In 1996, the Vajpayee government resigned before it could propose a motion of thanks to the president's address and the Deve Gowda ministry disagreed with the contents of the address. In the event it was decided by consensus that no motion of thanks would be moved on the president's address of 1996 to avoid a political crisis.[118]
  4. ↑ On his visit to Oman, Sultan Qaboos personally received Sharma at the airport setting aside protocol. Qaboos silenced critics stating that he had only come to receive his guru. Qaboos had received his secondary education in Pune where he had been tutored privately by Sharma.[145][146][self-published source][147]
  5. ↑ In 1996, Zimbabwe made the diplomatic gift of a pair of African elephants which arrived in India in 1998. The male, named Shankar in honour of President Sharma, lived alone in the Delhi Zoo after its companion Bombai, named after the wife of the then ambassador of Zimbabwe to India, died in 2005. After the elephant's plight was taken up by animal rights activists, the Delhi High Court ordered the zoo to explore the possibility of getting Shankar a mate. As of October 2022, the Delhi Zoo had shortlisted South Africa as a source for procuring a female companion for Shankar.[148][149][150]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Thampu, Valson (7 November 2017). On A Stormy Course: In the Hot Seat at St. Stephen's. New Delhi: Hachette India. ISBN 978-93-5195-211-4. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  2. ↑ "DR. SHANKER DAYAL SHARMA: A PROFILE" (PDF). The Journal of Parliamentary Information. XXXVIII (3): 339. September 1992. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  3. ↑ Assam Information. Directorate of Information & Public Relations. 1989. p. 38. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  4. ↑ "How successive Indian presidents patronised sports and became champions too". The Indian Express. 30 May 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  5. ↑ "Bio-data of Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma" (PDF). archive.pib.gov.in. Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  6. ↑ "DR. SHANKER DAYAL SHARMA: A PROFILE" (PDF). The Journal of Parliamentary Information. XXXVIII (3): 339. September 1992. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  7. ↑ Hoiberg, Dale (2000). Students' Britannica India. Popular Prakashan. p. 389. ISBN 978-0-85229-760-5. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  8. ↑ "Previous Governors: Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma (03.04.1986 – 02.09.1987)". Raj Bhavan, Maharashtra. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  9. ↑ "The Los Angeles Times 05 Oct 1972, page 21". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  10. ↑ Admissions Registers VOL 3 1894-1956. London: The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn. 1981. p. 343. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  11. ↑ "Members Bioprofile: Shankar Dayal Sharma". loksabhaph.nic.in. Lok Sabha, Parliament of India. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  12. ↑ "Bio-data of Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma" (PDF). archive.pib.gov.in. Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  13. ↑ "Iqbal Ahmed vs State Of Bhopal on 23 February, 1953". India Kanoon. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  14. ↑ "H. H. Maharajadhiraja Madhav Rao Jiwaji Raoscindia Bahadur vs Union Of India on 15 December, 1970". India Kanoon. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  15. ↑ Menon, V. P. (1956). The Story of the Integration of the Indian States (PDF). Bangalore: Orient BlackSwan. pp. 253–255. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  16. ↑ "Residents of Bhopal had got real freedom after merger of princely state in 1949". Hindustan Times. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  17. ↑ "Commissioner Period". governor.mp.gov.in. Raj Bhavan, Madhya Pradesh. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  18. ↑ S. R. Bakshi and O. P. Ralhan (2007). Madhya Pradesh Through the Ages. Sarup & Sons. p. 360. ISBN 978-81-7625-806-7.
  19. ↑ "Shankar Dayal Sharma". www.britannica.com. Britannica. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  20. ↑ STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1951 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF BHOPAL. New Delhi: Election Commission of India. 1951. p. 30. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  21. ↑ Wiener, Myron (8 December 2015). State Politics in India. Princeton University Press. p. 149. ISBN 978-1-4008-7914-4. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  22. ↑ "THE STATES REORGANISATION ACT, 1956" (PDF). Legislative Department, Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  23. ↑ "Independence Day 2022: आसानी से नहीं म‍िला था भोपाल को राजधानी का दर्जा, शंकर दयाल शर्मा ने ब‍िछाई थी ब‍िसात". Zee News (in हिन्दी). 15 August 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  24. ↑ STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1957 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MADHYA PRADESH. New Delhi: Election Commission of India. p. 95. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  25. ↑ STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1962 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MADHYA PRADESH. New Delhi: Election Commission of India. p. 229. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  26. ↑ STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1967 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MADHYA PRADESH. New Delhi: Election Commission of India. p. 233. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  27. ↑ "Previous governors: Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma (03.04.1986 – 02.09.1987)". rajbhavan-maharashtra.gov.in. Raj Bhavan, Maharashtra. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  28. ↑ "जब एमपी में पढ़ाया जाता था 'ग' से 'गधा'". Jansatta (in हिन्दी). 9 August 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  29. ↑ "वह शिक्षामंत्री जिसने किताबों में 'ग' से 'गणेश' की जगह 'ग' से 'गधा' कराया". Navbharat Times (in हिन्दी). 24 May 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  30. ↑ "Previous governors: Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma (03.04.1986 – 02.09.1987)". rajbhavan-maharashtra.gov.in. Raj Bhavan, Maharashtra. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  31. ↑ Jai, Janak Raj (2003). Presidents of India, 1950-2003. Regency Publications. pp. 242–243. ISBN 978-81-87498-65-0. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  32. ↑ Chand, Attar (1962). President Shankar Dayal Sharma The Scholar And The Statesman. New Delhi: Anmol Publications. p. 9. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  33. ↑ STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1971 TO THE FIFTH LOK SABHA (PDF). New Delhi: Election Commission of India. 1973. p. 196. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  34. ↑ "The Los Angeles Times 05 Oct 1972, page 21". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  35. ↑ Palmer, Norman D. (1972). "Elections and the Political System in India: The 1972 State Assembly Elections and After". Pacific Affairs. 45 (4): 535–555. doi:10.2307/2755658. ISSN 0030-851X. JSTOR 2755658. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  36. ↑ "Members Bioprofile: Shankar Dayal Sharma". loksabhaph.nic.in. Lok Sabha, Parliament of India. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
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