Two separate 13-day tenures as acting Prime Minister of India defined the political record of Gulzarilal Nanda. Following the deaths of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964 and Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1966, he stepped into the role during periods of national transition. His service spanned the era of the British Raj through the formation of the Dominion of India.
Academic Background and Early Career
Born in Sialkot in 1898, Nanda received his education across Lahore, Amritsar, Agra, and Allahabad. He attended the University of Allahabad, where he served as a research scholar focusing on labour economics between 1920 and 1921. He later moved to Bombay to work as a professor of economics at the National College. His commitment to labour issues intensified in 1922 when he became the secretary of the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association, a position he maintained for over two decades.
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Nanda joined the Indian Non-Cooperation Movement in 1921 after meeting Mahatma Gandhi. This involvement led to multiple periods of imprisonment, specifically in 1932 and again from 1942 to 1944 for his participation in Satyagraha. In the post-independence era, he served as a Member of the Lok Sabha, representing the Sabarkantha constituency in Gujarat and later the Kaithal constituency in Haryana. His government portfolio included serving as the Minister of Home Affairs from 1963 to 1966 and as the Minister of External Affairs in 1964.
Governance and Public Service
During his time as Minister of Home Affairs, Nanda was designated to serve as acting Prime Minister due to his seniority. These terms were necessitated by the sudden deaths of his predecessors. During his career, he also functioned as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission and established the Congress Forum for Socialist Action in 1962. He resigned from the Indian National Congress in 1971, citing dissatisfaction with contemporary political practices.
Life and Death
Nanda maintained a simple lifestyle, adhering to his Hindu faith. Upon his death in New Delhi on 15 January 1998, he was noted for being the last surviving state leader born in the 19th century and the longest-lived Prime Minister in Indian history. In 1997, the government awarded him the Bharat Ratna, the nation's highest civilian honour. He also held the Padma Vibhushan in Public Affairs.
Fast facts
- Born: 4 July 1898, Sialkot
- Died: 15 January 1998, New Delhi
- Education: University of Allahabad
- Political Party: Indian National Congress
- Bharat Ratna: 1997
- Minister of Home Affairs: 1963–1966
- Religion: Hinduism
Questions readers ask
Why was Gulzarilal Nanda appointed acting Prime Minister twice?
As the sitting Minister of Home Affairs during the deaths of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964 and Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1966, he was chosen to fill the vacancy for 13-day periods until the parliamentary party selected a successor.
What was his professional background before entering politics?
He was an economist and university teacher who specialised in labour issues and served as the secretary of the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association.
