Surjit Singh Barnala
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Surjit Singh Barnala (born October 21 1925) is the present governor of Tamil Nadu, India. He has held that position since November 2004,he has had a long career in Indian politics and is also one of the tallest and oldest anti congress leader today. During his eventful career in Indian politics he has been Governor of four states, Chief Minister of Punjab, a Minister in the Union Cabinet twice, a Vice-Presidential candidate .
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[edit] Early life
Barnala was born in Ateli village, which was then part of Nabha, Punjab state, but is now part of Haryana. Born of a well-to-do family (his father was a magistrate), Barnala passed Law from Lucknow University in 1946. In Lucknow, he was involved in the Quit India Movement of 1942. Subsequently he practised law for some years, and became politically active in the late '60s, rising through the ranks of Akali Dal. Though, he first stood for election in 1952 but lost by a meager 4 votes.
[edit] Politics
Barnala served as chief minister of Punjab from September 29 1985 until May 11 1987. Barnala, a Sikh and a member of the Sikh political party Shiromani Akali Dal served as chief minister at a difficult time, this was a period of terrorism in Punjab. The state had been under president's rule from 1983 to 1985, and after nearly two years in office, Barnala was forced out and the state was put under president's rule for another three years.
Since then, Barnala has served as a governor of several states. He first served as governor of Tamil Nadu from 1990 to 1991. Barnala refused to be a rubber stamp governor and agree to the dismissal of the Tamil Nadu government, choosing to instead resign, which has been said to show high moral principles.[1] He was the governor of Uttarakhand from its creation in 2000 until 2003, and governor of Andhra Pradesh from 2003 to 2004 during which he was also the acting Governor of Orissa, when he took up his current post as governor of Tamil-Nadu.
In 1997, Barnala was a candidate to be the vice-president of India but was defeated in Parliament by Krishan Kant. Observers said that Barnala, in spite of being a candidate of the opposition, got the additional support of at least 45-50 members of the ruling United Front and Congress; this demonstrated his popularity cutting across party lines.
Barnala was elected to the Indian Parliament thrice. In 1977 he served as Food, Agriculture & Rural Development minister in Morarji Desai Ministry and in 1998 as Chemical & Fertilizers, Food & Consumer Affairs minister in the Second Vajpayee Ministry.
[edit] Author
He has authored a book "Story of an Escape" which has been translated in several languages. Painting is his hobby and four exhibitions of his works have been held. The proceeds from his recent exhibitions went to charity.[2]
[edit] Family
Surjit Singh Barnala is married to Surjit Kaur Barnala. They have one daughter and three sons. The youngest son was killed in an accident in 1996. They have seven grandchildren.
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