sikhpride

Buta Singh, a well known name in Indian Politics, was born on 21st March 1934 at Mustafapur, Jalandhar Dist. Punjab. He did his B.A. (Hon.) from Lyallpur Khalsa College Jalandhar. After doing his post graduation from Guru Nanak Khalsa College in Bombay, he gained a P.H.D. Degree from Bundelkhand University. He worked as journalist before joining politics. He fought his first elections as an Akali Dal member and joined the Indian National Congress in the late 1960s at the time when that party was split. After that, he remained associated with Congress and was very close to Prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. He has been elected eight times as a Member of the Lok Sabha in 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 12th and 13th Lok Sabha. He became General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary (1978-1980), Home Minister of India and later Governor of Bihar (2004-2006). Other portfolios that he has held include those for railways, commerce, parliamentary affairs, sports, shipping, agriculture, communications and housing. He was chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (ranked as Cabinet Minister) from 2007-2010. It is not only that he held so many high political positions, he was also the chairperson of Asian Games organizing committee when the competition was held in India in 1982. Although, sometimes he remained in controversy and incidentally he was also a part of the Government, when Operation Blue Star took place, but he never did anything which was contrary to the interest of Sikhs. On the other hand he worked for weaker sections and has also contributed by writing a collection of articles on Punjabi Literature and Sikh history. He will be remembered as being one of the few Sikhs (Like S. Swaran Singh) who held so many portfolios in the government and also other notable positions including the Governor of a state.