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{{Short description|Indian politician}} | {{Short description|Indian politician}} | ||
{{ | {{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=November | {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}} | ||
{{Infobox officeholder | {{Infobox officeholder | ||
|name = Balwantrai Mehta | |name = Balwantrai Mehta | ||
|image =Balwantrai Mehta 2000 stamp of India (cropped).jpg | |image =Balwantrai Mehta 2000 stamp of India (cropped).jpg | ||
|birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1899|2|19}} | |birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1899|2|19}} | ||
|birth_place = [[Bhavnagar]], [[Bhavnagar State]], [[British India]] | |birth_place = [[Bhavnagar]], [[Bhavnagar State]], [[British India]] | ||
|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1965|9|19| | |death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1965|9|19|1900|2|19}} | ||
|death_place = [[Suthari]], [[Gujarat]], [[India]] | |death_place = [[Suthari]], [[Gujarat]], [[India]] | ||
|constituency = | |death_cause = [[Gujarat Beechcraft incident|Assassination]] | ||
| term_start =25 February 1963 | |constituency = | ||
|term_end=19 September 1965 | |term_start = 25 February 1963 | ||
| order= 2nd | |term_end = 19 September 1965 | ||
| office = Chief Minister of Gujarat | |order = 2nd | ||
|predecessor = [[Jivraj Narayan | |office = Chief Minister of Gujarat | ||
|successor = [[Hitendra | |predecessor = [[Jivraj Narayan Mehta]] | ||
|party = [[Indian National Congress]] | |successor = [[Hitendra Kanaiyalal Desai]] | ||
|spouse = Sarojben | |office1 = [[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha]] | ||
|children = | |term_start1 = 17 April 1952 | ||
|footnotes = | |term_end1 = 31 March 1962 | ||
|predecessor1 = ''Constituency established'' | |||
|successor1 = [[Jashvant Mehta]] | |||
|primeminister1 = [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] | |||
|constituency1 = [[Bhavnagar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Gohilwad, Gujarat]] | |||
|party = [[Indian National Congress]] | |||
|spouse = Sarojben | |||
|children = | |||
|footnotes = | |||
|date= | |date= | ||
|| year = | || year = | ||
| Line 25: | Line 34: | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Balwantrai Mehta''' ({{Birth date|df=yes| | '''Balwantrai Gopalji Mehta''' ({{Birth date|df=yes|1900|2|19}} – {{Death date|df=yes|1965|9|19}}) was an Indian politician who served as the second [[Chief Minister]] of [[Gujarat]], [[India]]. Balwantrai Mehta was the only sitting Chief Minister of an Indian state to have been killed by a different country during war. He participated in the [[Indian independence movement]]. After the independence of India, he was elected to the [[Lok Sabha]], the lower house of the [[Parliament of India]] from [[Bhavnagar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Gohilwad]], [[Gujarat]] as a member of the [[Indian National Congress]].<ref name="Singhvi2002">{{cite book|author=Laxmi Mall Singhvi|title=Democracy and Rule of Law|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6qONAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=3 November 2020|year=2002|publisher=Ocean Books|isbn=978-81-88322-02-2|page=103}}</ref><ref name="Sharma1994">{{cite book|author=Dr. Shakuntla Sharma|title=Grass Root Politics and Panchayati Raj|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wOotj52KG9QC&pg=PA131|accessdate=3 November 2020|year=1994|publisher=Deep & Deep Publications|pages=131–}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/846.htm | title=Lok Sabha Profile | publisher=[[Lok Sabha]] | accessdate=3 November 2020}}</ref> | ||
He is considered as the 'Architect of ''[[Panchayati Raj]]'' ' due to his contributions towards democratic decentralisation. | |||
He was assassinated by Pakistan during 1965 war.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Upendra |date=2022-11-28 |title=Podcast: How Pakistan Assassinated Balwantrai Mehta, a Sitting CM{{!}}Siyasat |url=https://www.thequint.com/podcast/balwantrai-mehta-assassination-pakistan-gujarat-chie-minister-podcast |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=TheQuint |language=en}}</ref> | |||
==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
Balwantrai Gopalji Mehta was born on 19 February 1900 in [[Bhavnagar State]] in a middle-class family.{{citation needed|date=October | Balwantrai Gopalji Mehta was born on 19 February 1900 in [[Bhavnagar State]] in a middle-class family.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} He studied up to B.A class, but refused to take the degree from the foreign government.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} | ||
== Political career == | == Political career == | ||
He joined the national movement of non-co-operation in 1920. He founded Bhavanagar [[Praja Mandal]] in 1921 for carrying on the freedom movement in that state. He participated in the Civil Disobedience movement from 1930 to 1932. He also participated in [[Bardoli Satyagraha]]. He was sentenced for three years imprisonment in [[Quit India Movement]] of 1942. He spent total seven years in prison during British colony. On [[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s suggestion, he accepted membership of the Congress Working Committee. When [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] became president of All India Congress Committee, he was elected its general secretary. He was twice elected, in | He joined the national movement of non-co-operation in 1920. He founded Bhavanagar [[Praja Mandal]] in 1921 for carrying on the freedom movement in that state. He participated in the Civil Disobedience movement from 1930 to 1932. He also participated in [[Bardoli Satyagraha]]. He was sentenced for three years imprisonment in [[Quit India Movement]] of 1942. He spent total seven years in prison during British colony. On [[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s suggestion, he accepted membership of the Congress Working Committee. When [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] became president of All India Congress Committee, he was elected its general secretary. He was twice elected, in [[1951–52 Indian general election|1952 Indian general Election]] {{citation needed|date=January 2014}} and was again elected in [[1957 Indian general election]] to the [[2nd Lok Sabha]] from [[Bhavnagar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Gohilwad (Bhavnagar) Constituency]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Statistical Report on General Elections, 1957 to the Second Lok Sabha, (Vol. I)| url = http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1957/Vol_I_57_LS.pdf |publisher=Election Commission of India|page=65| access-date = 27 May 2014 }}</ref> | ||
He was the Chairman of Estimate committee of Parliament. He chaired the [[Balwant Rai Mehta Committee|committee]] set up by [[Government of India]] in January 1957 to examine the working of the Community Development Programme and the National Extension Service and to suggest measures for their better working. The committee submitted its report in November 1957 and recommended the establishment of the scheme of 'democratic decentralisation' which finally came to be known as ''Panchayati Raj''.<ref name="Mathew1995">{{cite book|last=Mathew|first=George|title=Status of Panchayati Raj in the States of India, 1994|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H6DQEoh0EJ8C&pg=PA5|year=1995|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-7022-553-9|pages=5–}}</ref><ref name="MisraDhaka2004">{{cite book|last1=Misra|first1=Suresh|last2=Dhaka|first2=Rajvir S.|title=Grassroots Democracy in Action: A Study of Working of PRIs in Haryana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3MbwdXsDLT8C&pg=PA11|date=1 January 2004|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-8069-107-2|pages=11–}}</ref> | He was the Chairman of Estimate committee of Parliament. He chaired the [[Balwant Rai Mehta Committee|committee]] set up by [[Government of India]] in January 1957 to examine the working of the Community Development Programme and the National Extension Service and to suggest measures for their better working. The committee submitted its report in November 1957 and recommended the establishment of the scheme of 'democratic decentralisation' which finally came to be known as ''Panchayati Raj''.<ref name="Mathew1995">{{cite book|last=Mathew|first=George|title=Status of Panchayati Raj in the States of India, 1994|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H6DQEoh0EJ8C&pg=PA5|year=1995|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-7022-553-9|pages=5–}}</ref><ref name="MisraDhaka2004">{{cite book|last1=Misra|first1=Suresh|last2=Dhaka|first2=Rajvir S.|title=Grassroots Democracy in Action: A Study of Working of PRIs in Haryana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3MbwdXsDLT8C&pg=PA11|date=1 January 2004|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-8069-107-2|pages=11–}}</ref> | ||
| Line 41: | Line 53: | ||
==Death== | ==Death== | ||
{{Main|Gujarat Beechcraft incident}} | {{Main|Gujarat Beechcraft incident}} | ||
During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]], on 19 September 1965, then serving chief minister Mehta flew in a [[Beechcraft]] commuter aircraft from Tata Chemicals, Mithapur to the Kutch border between India and Pakistan. The plane was piloted by Jahangir Engineer, a former [[Indian Air Force]] pilot. It was shot down by [[Pakistan Air Force]] pilot Qais Hussain, who assumed it to be a reconnaissance mission. Mehta | During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]], on 19 September 1965, then serving chief minister Mehta flew in a [[Beechcraft]] commuter aircraft from Tata Chemicals, Mithapur to the Kutch border between India and Pakistan. The plane was piloted by Jahangir Engineer, a former [[Indian Air Force]] pilot. It was shot down by [[Pakistan Air Force]] pilot Qais Hussain, who assumed it to be a reconnaissance mission. Mehta died in the crash along with his wife, three members of his staff, a journalist and two crew members.<ref name="OI20110810">{{cite web|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?730835 |title=Pak Pilot's Remorse for 1965 Shooting of Indian Plane |last=Laskar |first=Rezaul |date=10 August 2011 |work=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |access-date=11 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812231400/http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?730835 |archive-date=12 August 2011 }}</ref><ref name="BBC20110810">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-14481483|title=Pakistan pilot's 'remorse' for 1965 shooting down|date=10 August 2011|work=BBC|access-date=11 August 2011}}</ref> | ||
==Commemoration== | ==Commemoration== | ||
| Line 55: | Line 63: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
==External links== | |||
*[http://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/846.htm Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website] | |||
{{Chief Ministers of Gujarat}} | {{Chief Ministers of Gujarat}} | ||
| Line 64: | Line 75: | ||
[[Category:People from Bhavnagar]] | [[Category:People from Bhavnagar]] | ||
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Gujarat]] | [[Category:Indian independence activists from Gujarat]] | ||
[[Category:Chief | [[Category:Chief ministers of Gujarat]] | ||
[[Category:People of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] | [[Category:People of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] | ||
[[Category:People murdered in Gujarat]] | [[Category:People murdered in Gujarat]] | ||
[[Category:Victims of aircraft shootdowns]] | [[Category:Victims of aircraft shootdowns]] | ||
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in India]] | [[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in India]] | ||
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1965]] | |||
[[Category:Members of the Constituent Assembly of India]] | [[Category:Members of the Constituent Assembly of India]] | ||
[[Category:India MPs 1957–1962]] | [[Category:India MPs 1957–1962]] | ||
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Gujarat]] | [[Category:Lok Sabha members from Gujarat]] | ||
[[Category:Chief ministers from Indian National Congress]] | [[Category:Chief ministers from Indian National Congress]] | ||
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians]] | [[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Gujarat]] | ||
[[Category:1965 | [[Category:Politicians assassinated in 1965]] | ||
[[Category:Indian politicians assassinated in the 20th century]] | |||
[[Category:Assassinated subnational legislators]] | |||
Latest revision as of 16:55, 27 December 2025
Balwantrai Mehta | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| 2nd Chief Minister of Gujarat | |
| In office 25 February 1963 – 19 September 1965 | |
| Preceded by | Jivraj Narayan Mehta |
| Succeeded by | Hitendra Kanaiyalal Desai |
| Member of parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 17 April 1952 – 31 March 1962 | |
| Prime Minister | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Jashvant Mehta |
| Constituency | Gohilwad, Gujarat |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 February 1899 Bhavnagar, Bhavnagar State, British India |
| Died | 19 September 1965 (aged 65) Suthari, Gujarat, India |
| Cause of death | Assassination |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse(s) | Sarojben |
Balwantrai Gopalji Mehta (19 February 1900 – 19 September 1965) was an Indian politician who served as the second Chief Minister of Gujarat, India. Balwantrai Mehta was the only sitting Chief Minister of an Indian state to have been killed by a different country during war. He participated in the Indian independence movement. After the independence of India, he was elected to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India from Gohilwad, Gujarat as a member of the Indian National Congress.[1][2][3] He is considered as the 'Architect of Panchayati Raj ' due to his contributions towards democratic decentralisation.
He was assassinated by Pakistan during 1965 war.[4]
Early life[edit | edit source]
Balwantrai Gopalji Mehta was born on 19 February 1900 in Bhavnagar State in a middle-class family.[citation needed] He studied up to B.A class, but refused to take the degree from the foreign government.[citation needed]
Political career[edit | edit source]
He joined the national movement of non-co-operation in 1920. He founded Bhavanagar Praja Mandal in 1921 for carrying on the freedom movement in that state. He participated in the Civil Disobedience movement from 1930 to 1932. He also participated in Bardoli Satyagraha. He was sentenced for three years imprisonment in Quit India Movement of 1942. He spent total seven years in prison during British colony. On Mahatma Gandhi's suggestion, he accepted membership of the Congress Working Committee. When Jawaharlal Nehru became president of All India Congress Committee, he was elected its general secretary. He was twice elected, in 1952 Indian general Election [citation needed] and was again elected in 1957 Indian general election to the 2nd Lok Sabha from Gohilwad (Bhavnagar) Constituency.[5]
He was the Chairman of Estimate committee of Parliament. He chaired the committee set up by Government of India in January 1957 to examine the working of the Community Development Programme and the National Extension Service and to suggest measures for their better working. The committee submitted its report in November 1957 and recommended the establishment of the scheme of 'democratic decentralisation' which finally came to be known as Panchayati Raj.[6][7]
He also remained President of Servants of the People Society (Lok Sevak Mandal), a social service organisation founded by Lala Lajpat Rai, in 1921.[8]
He succeeded Jivraj Narayan Mehta as the Chief Minister of Gujarat on 25 February 1963.
Death[edit | edit source]
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, on 19 September 1965, then serving chief minister Mehta flew in a Beechcraft commuter aircraft from Tata Chemicals, Mithapur to the Kutch border between India and Pakistan. The plane was piloted by Jahangir Engineer, a former Indian Air Force pilot. It was shot down by Pakistan Air Force pilot Qais Hussain, who assumed it to be a reconnaissance mission. Mehta died in the crash along with his wife, three members of his staff, a journalist and two crew members.[9][10]
Commemoration[edit | edit source]
The Department of Post, Government of India has issued a special postage stamp of face value INR 3.00 to commemorate his 100th birth anniversary on 17 February 2000.[11][12]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Laxmi Mall Singhvi (2002). Democracy and Rule of Law. Ocean Books. p. 103. ISBN 978-81-88322-02-2. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ↑ Dr. Shakuntla Sharma (1994). Grass Root Politics and Panchayati Raj. Deep & Deep Publications. pp. 131–. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ↑ "Lok Sabha Profile". Lok Sabha. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ↑ Kumar, Upendra (28 November 2022). "Podcast: How Pakistan Assassinated Balwantrai Mehta, a Sitting CM|Siyasat". TheQuint. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
- ↑ "Statistical Report on General Elections, 1957 to the Second Lok Sabha, (Vol. I)" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 65. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
- ↑ Mathew, George (1995). Status of Panchayati Raj in the States of India, 1994. Concept Publishing Company. pp. 5–. ISBN 978-81-7022-553-9.
- ↑ Misra, Suresh; Dhaka, Rajvir S. (1 January 2004). Grassroots Democracy in Action: A Study of Working of PRIs in Haryana. Concept Publishing Company. pp. 11–. ISBN 978-81-8069-107-2.
- ↑ Grover, Verinder (1993). Political Thinkers of Modern India: Lala Lajpat Rai. Deep & Deep Publications. pp. 547–. ISBN 978-81-7100-426-3.
- ↑ Laskar, Rezaul (10 August 2011). "Pak Pilot's Remorse for 1965 Shooting of Indian Plane". Outlook. Archived from the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
- ↑ "Pakistan pilot's 'remorse' for 1965 shooting down". BBC. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
- ↑ Jain, Manik (2008). Phila India Guide Book. Philatelia. p. 166.
- ↑ "Postage Stamps:: Postage Stamps,Stamp issue calendar 2014, Paper postage, Commemorative and definitive stamps, Service Postage Stamps, Philately Offices, Philatelic Bureaux and counters, Mint stamps (unused stamps)". postagestamps.gov.in. Archived from the original on 5 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.