Inder Kumar Gujral: Difference between revisions

| image_size          =  

| caption            = Gujral in 1997

| primeminister2     = Himself

| office5            = 22th [[Leader of the House (Rajya Sabha)|Leader of the House, Rajya Sabha]]

| successor7          = [[Balbir Singh (Jalandhar politician)|Balbir Singh]]

| successor11        = V. K. Ahuja

| birth_date          = {{birth date|df=y|1919|12|04}}<ref>''Matters of Discretion'' – An autobiography by I. K. Gujral</ref>

| birth_place        = [[Sohawa Tehsil|Pari Darveza]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British Raj|British India]] <br /> {{small|(present-day [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], Pakistan)}}

| death_place        = [[Gurugram]], [[Haryana]], India

{{Infobox person|embed=yes|monuments=[[Raj Ghat and associated memorials|Samata Sthal]]}}

| party              = {{bulleted list|[[Indian National Congress]] (1964–1988)|[[Janata Dal]] (1988–1998)|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (1998–2012)}}

| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Sheila Gujral]]|1945| 2011|end=d}}

| relatives          = [[Satish Gujral]] (brother)

Inder Kumar Gujral was born on 4 December 1919 in a [[Punjabi Hindu]] [[Khatri]] family<ref>{{Cite web|title=Contact Us - IndiaInfoline|url=https://www.indiainfoline.com/contactus|access-date=2020-08-06|website=www.indiainfoline.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Ghai|first=Rajat|date=2014-05-07|title=The office of Prime Minister: A largely north Indian upper-caste, Hindu affair|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/the-office-of-prime-minister-a-largely-north-indian-upper-caste-hindu-affair-114050700846_1.html|access-date=2020-08-06}}</ref> to [[Avtar Narain Gujral|Avtar Narain]] and Pushpa Gujral in the village of Pari Darveza in the [[Sohawa Tehsil]] of the [[Jhelum District]] in [[Punjab Province (British India)|undivided Punjab]] in [[British Raj|British India]], which is in present-day [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]]. He studied at [[Dayanand Anglo-Vedic Schools System|D.A.V. College]], [[Hailey College of Commerce]] and [[Forman Christian College University|Forman Christian College]], [[Lahore]], all affiliated with the [[University of the Punjab]]. He was a member of [[All India Students Federation]]. He also participated in the [[Indian independence movement]],<ref name="pioneer">{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121201/main1.htm |title=Ex-Prime Minister IK Gujral dies at 92  |publisher=Tribune India |date=1 December 2012 |access-date=1 December 2012}}</ref> and was jailed in 1942 during the [[Quit India Movement]].<ref name="indep">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/indian-intrigue-on-hold-as-pm-is-sworn-in-1268624.html|title= Indian intrigue on hold as PM is sworn in|last=McGirk|first=Jan|date=22 April 1997|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=25 January 2010|location=India}}</ref> As a student, he became a member of the [[Communist Party of India]].<ref name="dna"/> He also has two sisters, Uma Nanda and Sunita Judge. On 26 May 1945, Inder Kumar Gujral married [[Sheila Gujral]] (24 January 1924 – 11 July 2011)<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/former_pm/shri-inder-kumar-gujral/| title = Shri Inder Kumar Gujral {{!}} Prime Minister of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JhXmEYWHDHYC&q=Shiela+Gujral+1924&pg=PA133 |title = International Who's Who in Poetry 2004|isbn = 9781857431780|last1 = Publications|first1 = Europa|year = 2003}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|others=PTI|date=2011-07-12|title=Sheila Gujral passes away|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sheila-gujral-passes-away/article2219383.ece|access-date=2020-10-31|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> and had two sons, [[Naresh Gujral]] (born 19 May 1948), who is a Rajya Sabha MP, and Vishal Gujral. IK Gujral's younger brother [[Satish Gujral]] was a world-renowned painter and sculptor.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Satish Gujral, renowned artist and architect, dies at 94|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/entertainment/2020/03/27/satish-gujral-renowned-artist-and-architect-dies-at-94.html|access-date=2020-06-13|website=The Week|language=en}}</ref>

Gujral's hobbies included poetry;<ref name="hindu">{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/former-prime-minister-ik-gujral-passes-away/article4150486.ece |title=Business Line: News: Architect of 'Gujral Doctrine' is no more |work=Business Line |date=30 November 2012 |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref> he spoke [[Urdu]] and was, after his death, eulogised as a lover of the language by [[Maulana Azad National Urdu University]], an institution where he held the position of chancellor.<ref name="UrduUni">{{cite web |url=http://www.siasat.com/english/news/urdu-university-pays-tributes-its-first-chancellor-gujral |title=Urdu university pays tributes to its first chancellor Gujral |work=The Siasat Daily |date=30 November 2012 |access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref> His wife [[Sheila Gujral]], an acclaimed poet, died on 11 July 2011 after an illness. The couple had two sons, Naresh, who is a [[Shiromani Akali Dal]] MP in the [[Rajya Sabha]],<ref name=ie-nomore>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/sheila-gujral-no-more/816038/ |title=Sheila Gujral no more |work=The Indian Express |date=11 July 2011|access-date=5 March 2012}}</ref> and Vishal. The couple also have two granddaughters and a grandson.

Gujral resigned from the [[Indian National Congress]] party in the 1980s. Then he joined the [[Janata Dal]].<ref name="hindu"/><ref name=punjabnews>{{cite news|title=Remembering IK Gujral|url=http://punjabnewsexpress.com/news/12319-Remembering-IK-Gujral--.aspx|access-date=1 December 2012|newspaper=Punjab News Express|date=30 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203062843/http://www.punjabnewsexpress.com/news/12319-Remembering-IK-Gujral--.aspx|archive-date=3 December 2012}}</ref> In the [[1989 Indian general election]], Gujral was elected from [[Jalandhar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Jalandhar]] in [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]]. He served as Minister of External Affairs in Prime Minister [[V. P. Singh]]'s [[11th cabinet of India 1989|eleventh cabinet of India]]. In 1989, Singh sent him to [[Srinagar]] to negotiate with the perpetrators of the [[1989 kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed]].<ref name="pioneer"/> He also brought about controversy during the [[Gulf War]] when he hugged [[Saddam Hussein]] as a show-of-good-faith to ensure Indian [[expatriate]]s would be safe.<ref name="et"/> In the [[1991 Indian general election]], Gujral contested from [[Patna (Lok Sabha constituency)|Patna]] in [[Bihar]]. However, the election was countermanded<ref name="pioneer"/> following complaints of 'irregularities'.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sunday-guardian.com/news/lalu-introduced-gujral-as-gujjar-to-the-people-of-patna |title=Lalu introduced Gujral as 'Gujjar' to the people of Patna |access-date=6 December 2012 |archive-date=3 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203062813/http://www.sunday-guardian.com/news/lalu-introduced-gujral-as-gujjar-to-the-people-of-patna |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1992, Gujral was selected to the [[Rajya Sabha]] with the help of [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]].<ref name="pioneer"/>

[[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|left|thumb|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]]]]

On 28 August 1997, the [[Jain Commission]] report was submitted to the government<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/sep/08jain.htm |title=Panel to study Jain commission report on Rajiv killing |publisher=Rediff |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref> and was leaked on 16 November.<ref name="Jai1999">{{cite book |author=Rajiv Jai |title=Political Trends: Revival of Two Party System in India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fNVfuDxIO0EC&pg=PA21 |access-date=2 December 2012 |date=1 January 1999 |publisher=Regency Publ |isbn=978-81-86030-16-5 |pages=21}}</ref> The commission had inquired into the conspiracy aspects of the [[Rajiv Gandhi]] assassination and reportedly criticised the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/audience.nsf/(docid)/CAB2A53CCB05F9A065256942002E3D21 |title=Jain Commission Revelations: Damning The Dmk The Inquiry Into Rajiv Gandhi's Killing Indicts The Dmk For Colluding With The Ltte |publisher=CSCS Archive |access-date=2 December 2012}}{{dead link |date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> amongst others such as the [[P. V. Narasimha Rao|Narasimha Rao]] government, for tacitly supporting Tamil militants accused in Gandhi's assassination. The DMK was part of the ruling coalition at the center and had ministers in the Union Cabinet. The Congress first demanded the tabling of the report on the floor of the parliament, which was refused by Gujral, who feared a battle between the DMK and the [[Tamil Maanila Congress]] would lead to the DMK's withdrawal from the government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/aug/30jain.htm |title=Jain Commission report may upset UF applecart |publisher=Rediff |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref> Gujral later formed a Joint Parliamentary Committee to study the report after informing Sitaram Keshri of the decision, to which Keshri acceded. INC parliamentary party leader [[Sharad Pawar]] said they would call for the resignation of anyone implicated in the report. Gujral convened the government to inform them of the updates and said it supported the DMK. The DMK's Industry Minister [[Murasoli Maran]] said: "We are part of the United Front. We will stand and fall together. I am hundred per cent confident of that. If it were so easy to break the United Front, then it will be called the disunited front. No one is going to ditch their colleagues for a few loaves of power. We have no reason to quit at all. The report is full of recycled news. There is nothing startling about it, everybody already knows what the report is saying. A Madras court is expected to give its verdict on a criminal case on the assassination on January 28. Let us wait till then to know who was involved in the dastardly act. Until then, all this is disinformation." However, the Tamil Maanila Congress called for the DMK, which was in a coalition government in [[Tamil Nadu]], to share all actions it would undertake.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.in/news/nov/18cong.htm|title=Joint Parliamentary Committee on Jain panel report to bail out Gujral|publisher=Rediff|date=17 November 1997|access-date=2 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218061715/http://www.rediff.in/news/nov/18cong.htm |archive-date=18 February 2013 }}</ref> The report was tabled on 20 November 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1424/14240140.htm |title=Karunanidhi hits back |publisher=Front Line |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref> On the same day there were angry scenes in parliament, as the INC then called for the DMK's removal from the cabinet and refused to partake in any parliamentary debate until that happened. Speaker [[P.A. Sangma]] then adjourned the house.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.in/news/nov/20cong.htm|title=Only a miracle will save Gujral |publisher=Rediff |date=20 November 1997 |access-date=2 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218072551/http://www.rediff.in/news/nov/20cong.htm |archive-date=18 February 2013 }}</ref> The INC finally withdrew support from his government on 28 November<ref name="nytquit">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/29/world/premier-of-india-quits-deepening-political-bedlam.html |title=Premier of India quits, deepening political bedlam |last=Burns |first=John F |date=29 November 1997 |work=The New York Times |access-date=25 January 2010}}</ref> after Gujral sent Kesri a letter saying he would not dismiss any DMK leaders. Gujral resigned following the withdrawal, and sent a letter to President [[K. R. Narayanan]] that read: "My government has lost its majority and does not want to continue in office on moral grounds", but did not call for the dissolution of parliament. The president accepted the resignation, but asked for Gujral to stay on in an interim capacity. INC General Secretary [[Oscar Fernandes]] then said: "All the secular parties are welcome to support a government which will be attempted by the Congress." The United Front's leader Chandrababu Naidu got the support of all the constituents saying they would neither support the INC nor the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], as did the TMC, saying they would not allow a "U.P.-like situation to happen in the centre." In similar measure, BJP leader [[M. Venkaiah Naidu]] said the party would "throttle" INC attempts to form a new government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/nov/28uf.htm |title=Congress withdraws support to UF govt; PM resigns |publisher=Rediff |date=29 November 1997 |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref> The president then dissolved parliament on 4 December,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fNVfuDxIO0EC&q=jain+commission+congress+resign&pg=PA21|title=Political Trends: Revival of Two Party System in India – Rajiv Jai|access-date=2 December 2012|isbn=9788186030165|last1=Jai|first1=Rajiv|year=1999}}</ref> triggering a [[snap election]].

Gujral was the third PM to be from the [[Rajya Sabha]], following [[Indira Gandhi]] (January 1966 - March 1969)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/inder-kumar-gujral-pm-who-governed-from-rajya-sabha/1/235422.html|title=Inder Kumar Gujral: PM who governed from the Rajya Sabha|publisher=India Today|access-date=10 December 2012}}</ref> and [[H. D. Deve Gowda]] (June 1996 - April 1997). They were followed by [[Manmohan Singh]] (May 2004 - May 2014).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/former_pm/dr-manmohan-singh-2/|title=Dr. Manmohan Singh {{!}} Prime Minister of India|website=www.pmindia.gov.in|language=en|access-date=7 June 2018}}</ref>

 

As a Prime minister, Gujral had a practice of reserving Friday mornings for meeting the general public.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rediff On The NeT: Gujral shakes a weary head: Distressing, most distressing... |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/jul/18gujral.htm |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=www.rediff.com}}</ref>

| quote = The United Front Government's neighbourhood policy now stands on five basic principles: First, with the neighbours like Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka, India does not ask for reciprocity but gives all that it can in good faith and trust. Secondly, no South Asian country will allow its territory to be used against the interest of another country of the region. Thirdly, none will interfere in the internal affairs of another. Fourthly, all South Asian countries must respect each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty. And finally, they will settle all their disputes through peaceful bilateral negotiations. These five principles, scrupulously observed, will, I am sure, recast South Asia's regional relationship, including the tormented relationship between India and Pakistan, in a friendly, cooperative mould.

He wrote in his autobiography of the doctrine: "The logic behind the Gujral Doctrine was that since we had to face two hostile neighbours in the north and the west, we had to be at 'total peace' with all other immediate neighbours in order to contain Pakistan's and China's influence in the region."<ref name="dna">{{cite web |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_gujral-the-man-behind-the-raw-doctrine-that-set-india-behind_1771985 |title=Gujral, the man behind the raw doctrine that set India behind – India – DNA |date=December 2012 |publisher=Dnaindia.com |access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref>

Gujral was admitted at [[Medanta]] Hospital in Gurgaon, Haryana (part of the [[National Capital Region]]), on 19 November 2012, after being diagnosed with a [[lung infection]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/former-pm-ik-gujral-admitted-to-gurgaon-hospital-for-lung-infection-534644.html|title=Former PM, IK Gujral admitted to Gurgaon hospital for lung infection|date=25 November 2012|access-date=25 November 2012}}</ref> He had had a serious chest infection a few days before being admitted to the hospital<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/294296/i-k-gujral-stable-critical.html|title=I. K. Gujral stable but critical|access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref> following more than a year of [[Kidney dialysis|dialysis]].<ref name="dp" /> His health deteriorated in the hospital and was reported to be "very critical". On 27 November, he fell unconscious and his urine output system stopped working. Gujral died on 30 November 2012, four days before his 93rd birthday.<ref name="deathfirstpost">{{cite news|title=Firstpost Politics India's diplomatic politician and former PM IK Gujral passes away|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/indias-diplomatic-politician-and-former-pm-ik-gujral-passes-away-540767.html|newspaper=[[First Post (India)]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiatimes.com/india/former-pm-i-k-gujral-passes-away-48871.html|title=Former Prime Minister I.K.Gujral Passes Away|work=The Times of India|date=30 November 2012|access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/former-pm-ik-gujral-passes-away/20121130.htm|title=Former PM I K Gujral passes away|access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref> His body [[Lying in state|lay in state]] at his official residence, 5 Janpath, until noon the next day. The [[Government of India]] declared a seven-day period of state mourning and cancelled official functions until 6 December. He was given a state funeral at 15:00 on 1 December<ref name="pioneer" /> near [[Samta sthal|Samata Sthal]]. His death was announced to parliament by Home Minister [[Sushil Kumar Shinde]], following which both houses adjourned. On 3 December, condolence references were held for him.<ref name="dp" />

 

Reactions came from President [[Pranab Mukherjee]],<ref name="pioneer" /> Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/former-prime-minister-i-k-gujral-was-a-scholar-statesman-pm-299573|title=Former Prime Minister I K Gujral was a "scholar-statesman": PM|newspaper=NDTV.com |publisher=NDTV|access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref> Bihar Chief Minister [[Nitish Kumar]] and RJD chairman [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/bihar-government-declares-three-day-mourning-on-i-k-gujral-s-death-299597|title= Bihar government declares three-day mourning on I K Gujral's death|access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref> Other immediate reactions came from MPs: Law Minister [[Ashwani Kumar (politician)|Ashwani Kumar]], [[Veerappa Moily]], [[Ghulam Nabi Azad]]. Minister for New and Renewable Energy [[Farooq Abdullah]] offered his condolences and said Gujral was "a politician, a diplomat and a humanist who would be remembered for his many accomplishments in the diplomatic and political arena;" while Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers [[Srikant Kumar Jena]] said Gujral had an "exceptional personality, courage and intellect" and that: "Today we feel extremely saddened on the demise of former Prime Minister Shri Inder Kumar Gujral, who was a man of exceptional courage and intellect."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.in.msn.com/national/farooq-abdullah-srikant-jena-give-tributes-to-gujral-recall-gujral-doctrine |title=Farooq Abdullah, Srikant Jena give tributes to Gujral, recall ''Gujral doctrine'' |publisher=MSN |date=31 December 1999 |access-date=2 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203200113/http://news.in.msn.com/national/farooq-abdullah-srikant-jena-give-tributes-to-gujral-recall-gujral-doctrine |archive-date=3 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Union Cabinet issued a statement that read: "In his death, India has lost a great patriot, a visionary leader and a freedom fighter." INC chairperson [[Sonia Gandhi]] wrote to Gujral's son, MP [[Naresh Gujral]]: "...the late leader had the ability to win goodwill and friendship across the political spectrum. It is these qualities and the genuine warmth of his personality that made him such a widely admired and respected Prime Minister of India, MP and ambassador."<ref name="thehindu1" /> Sri Lankan President [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]] sent a message to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in which he wrote: "Shri Gujral was ahead of his times in a rapidly globalising world. Sri Lanka will always remember with gratitude, Shri I K Gujral's contribution towards strengthening India-Sri Lanka relations and regional cooperation." Pakistani Prime Minister [[Raja Parvez Ashraf]] mentioned Gujral's "admirable role" in boosting [[India-Pakistan relations]], while he also said South Asia had lost a noble and distinguished politician. Bangladesh Prime Minister [[Sheikh Hasina]] sent an unnamed senior leader of her [[Awami League]] party for the funeral.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news24online.com/gujral-was-ahead-of-his-times-rajapaksa_LatestNews24_6572.aspx |title=Gujral was ahead of his times: Rajapaksa |publisher=News24online.com |access-date=2 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129090008/http://news24online.com/gujral-was-ahead-of-his-times-rajapaksa_LatestNews24_6572.aspx |archive-date=29 November 2014  }}</ref> [[Salman Khurshid]] and [[Lal Krishna Advani]] were amongst the dignitaries at his funeral.<!--NDTV-->

Along with his brother [[Satish Gujral]], he was one of the signatories of the Agreement to convene a convention for drafting a [[world constitution]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Letters from Thane Read asking Helen Keller to sign the World Constitution for world peace. 1961 |url=https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive?a=d&d=A-HK01-07-B149-F04-022.1.10 |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=www.afb.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Letter from World Constitution Coordinating Committee to Helen, enclosing current materials |url=https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive?a=d&d=A-HK01-07-B154-F05-028.1.6 |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=www.afb.org}}</ref> As a result, for the first time in human history, a [[World Constituent Assembly]] convened to draft and adopt the [[Constitution for the Federation of Earth]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Preparing earth constitution {{!}} Global Strategies & Solutions {{!}} The Encyclopedia of World Problems |url=http://encyclopedia.uia.org/en/strategy/193465 |url-status= |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=The Encyclopedia of World Problems {{!}} Union of International Associations (UIA)}}</ref>

===State honours===

| '''[[Awards and decorations of the Bangladesh Liberation War|Bangladesh Liberation War Honour]]'''

| The second-highest honour of Bangladesh awarded to foreign dignitaries.

|<ref>[http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=254652 Grateful to you all: PM tells 61 friends of Liberation War from abroad] ''The Daily Star''.</ref>

[[File:Prime Minister I. K. Gujral presenting a book to President K. R. Narayanan, 1998.jpg|thumb]]

* ''[[Matters of Discretion]]'', I. K. Gujral, Hay House, India, 519 pages, Feb. 2011. {{ISBN|978-93-8048-080-0}}. Distributors: [http://www.penguinbooksindia.com/category/Autobiography_Biography_Memoir/Matters_of_Discretion_9789380480800.aspx Penguin books, India].

{{Reflist|2}}

[[Category:India MPs 1989–1991]]

[[Category:India MPs 1998–1999]]