IK Gujral(4th Dec 1919 – 30th Nov 2012)

Earlier Days

Born to family of freedom fighters

Educated in DAV college, Haily college of Commerce and

Forman Christian college, Lahore

Was active in student politics

Political Career

Political career began Quit India movement in 1942, when he was jailed as a 23 year old

His perseverance, resilience and never say die attitude , he became VP of the New Delhi Municipal committee in 1958

Indira Gandhi – he said he owed every thing- gave him ticket to Rajya Sabha in 1964

Was a part of Coterie ‘that helped Indira Gandhi become prime minister in 1966

With Indira he became the minister for communication, parliamentary affairs and housing

Political Career

Indian Emergency Period

When emergency was imposed on June 25, 1975 he was the minister for Information and broadcasting

Since he refused to kowtow to the powers that-be and arbitrary press

censorship, he was sent as ambassador to Moscow.

Turning Point

In 1980 he left congress and joined the newly formed Janata Dal

When the national front came to power he was made the external affairs minister

After the fall of VP Singh govt. In late 1990 UF government made the surprise choice to

replace Gowda as PM 

Stint as PM April 1997 – May 1998.

Legacy

Gujral resisted signing the comprehensive Test Ban Treaty,

which helped the next government conducting the Pokhran nuclear tests

without a hitch

Legacy

Gujral doctrine to foreign policy. It was a five point road

map which sought to build trust between India and neighbours, of solution to bilateral issues through bilateral talks and to remove immediate quid pro

quos in diplomatic relationship between India and her

neighbours.

Controversy

When Gujral govt recommended presidents rule in UP, then president KR Narayanan refused to sign and

sent it back