Govind Ballabh Pant - UPSCwithNikhil

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2. GOVIND BALLABH PANT Govind Ballabh Pant was born in Almora, Uttarakhand, on September 10, 1887. He studied at Allahabad's Muir Central College and Law College. He went on to practise law at the Allahabad High Court and Naini Tal later in his career. He became actively involved in the workings of the Indian National Congress after joining in 1921; in 1926, he was President of the United Province Provincial Congress Committee, and in 1946, he became a member of the National Working Committee. Pant's focus prior to independence was primarily on the United Province's provincial politics. He was a member of the United Province Assembly and the Legislative Council from 1923 to 1930. He went on to become the United Province's Prime Minister in 1937. He founded the Prem Sabha organisation in Kashipur, which began working on several reforms and also saved a school from closure due to non- payment of taxes to the British government. HIS POLITICS CENTRED ON REFORMS Pant began his political career in December 1921, when he was elected to the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh Legislative Assembly, which he later renamed Uttar Pradesh. He was elected as a Swaraj Party candidate in Nainital. He preservation and raised several important issues during his tenure, including the need to abolish the zamindari system. He also worked to protect farmers from the British government's excessive rents. championed the cause of forest He promoted a number of cottage industries in the country and spoke out against the coolie-beggar law, which required porters to transport the heavy luggage of British officials for no pay. Pant organised a massive salt movement in the United Provinces, following Gandhi's lead. He was arrested and imprisoned in Dehradun in May 1930. Pant was arrested and imprisoned in Almora in 1940 on charges of aiding the satyagraha movement. All prominent Indian leaders, including Pant, were arrested when the "Quit India" resolution was launched in 1942. Pant was arrested and taken to the Ahmednagar Jail. From prison, he wrote to his children and continued to write about politics. Pant's health deteriorated, and Nehru was forced to plead for his release. In March of 1945, Pant was released. UPSC WITH NIKHIL - NAGPUR

3. FIRST CHIEF MINISTER OF UTTAR PRADESH IN INDEPENDENT INDIA Pant was elected premier of India in the 1937 provincial elections held under the Government of India Act, 1935. He held the position until 1939, when all Congress ministers resigned after the British unilaterally drew India into the Second World War. In 1945, the new British Labour government ordered new provincial legislature elections. Pant was re- appointed premier after the Indian National Congress won a majority in the United Provinces election in 1946. Pant became ill in February 1961 while serving as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and died on March 7th. Jawaharlal Nehru mentions Pant in his autobiography, Toward Freedom, as a man who has always stood by him. Pant was severely injured while protesting against the Simon Commission, which arrived in India in 1928; this incident is also mentioned in Nehru's autobiography. “Govind Ballabh Pant, who stood by me, offered a much bigger target, being six foot odd in height, and the injuries he received then have resulted in a painful and persistent malady which prevented him for a long time from straightening his back or leading an active life.” On the occasion of his birth anniversary, Uttarakhand residents pay tribute to Pant, whom they remember as a "legendary freedom fighter." AFTER INDEPENDENCE Following the death of Sardar Patel, Nehru asked Pant to become Home Minister. He is best known for making Hindi the official language of India while serving as Home Minister. Pant was awarded the Bharat Ratna award by the Indian government in 1957. Pant died of a heart attack in 1960. He became ill while still in office in February 1961 and died on March 7, 1961, after slipping into a coma for several days. UPSC WITH NIKHIL - NAGPUR