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Basappa Danappa Jatti
Basappa Danappa Jatti was born on 10th September 1912. He was elected as the fifth Vice President of the country. For the period from 11th February to 25th July 1977, he was the Acting President of the country.
He took his last breathe on 7th June 2002. He is always remembered as the person who has practiced the ethical and decent political practices. He has been considered a man who is a common person with unusual contemplations. He named his autobiography as “I’m My Own Model”.
Early Life
Basappa Danappa Jatti was born in Savalgi in Jamkhandi Taluk of district Bagalkot to the Kannadiga Lingayat family. His father’s occupation was that of a grocer. There were many financial difficulties which they have to face but all of these factors never hampered the educational qualifications of Jatti. He studied law from Rajaram Law College of Kolhapur. After completing his law graduation, he started his practice as advocate but for a very short duration. His first practice was in his home town in Jamkhandi.
Early Political Career
He started his political career in 1940 by being the member of the Municipality at Jamkhandi and further in 1945, he was elected as the President of Jamkhandi Municipality. He also became the member of Jamkhandi State Legislature and was selected to be the minister of Jamkhandi government. In 1948, he was appointed as the Chief Minister of Jamkhandi. During his tenure as the Chief Minister of Jamkhandi, he kept up affable relations with the Maharaja Shankar Rao Patwardhan and also brought the concept of Indian union to this state. After Jamkhandi was merged with Bombay since 8th March 1948, he started his legal practice again and practiced law for a period of 20 months.
He was later selected to be the member of Bombay State Legislative Assembly and within a week after he was nominated, he was elected as the Parliamentary Secretary to assist the Chief Minister of Bombay, B.G. Kher. For a couple of years, he worked at this rank. After general elections held in 1952, he was elected as the Health and Labour Minister of Bombay government and served this position until the reorganisation of Bombay state happened.
In 1968, he was elected as the Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry. Subsequently, he was elected as the Governor of Odisha in 1972. After this tenure, he was elected as the fifth Vice President of the Country in 1974. For a short span of time, he was also elected as an Acting President of the country after the sudden demise of Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed in 1977.
The tenure during which he was the Acting President of India, he had to face many challenges. In 1977, in month of April, he broke the general practice of President of India accepting the advice of the cabinet of not signing the order of dissolving the Assemblies of nine states of the country. The order was issued by Charan Singh, Union Home Minister. But, later he signed the order and also mentioned that the Centre held the responsibility of passing the orders that are politically and constitutionally ethical. In 1979, even after he left the position as the Vice President of the country, he actively was involved as an eyewitness of the countries political conditions.
After the reorganization, he was elected as the member of Mysore Legislative Assembly. He was selected as the Chairman for the Land Reforms Committee that helped in passing the Mysore Land Reform Act in 1961. He was elected as Chief Minister of Mysore in 1958.
Religious Beliefs
He was a religious man and was also the founder of “Basava Samithi” and was also the president of this committee. This group spread the knowledge and philosophy of the saints of 12th century who belonged to the Lingayat religion that was Basaveshwara. Since 1964, this group has published many books that preached about Veerashaivism and Sharanas. These books have been published in many languages. He was also the part of many groups who were involved in the social activities.
Other Positions Held
1967–72 | Deputy Minister, Public Health, Prohibition, Tourism, Housing & Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Maharashtra |
1972–74 | Cabinet Minister, Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra |
1974–75 | Cabinet Minister, Public Health & Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra |
1975–76 | Cabinet Minister, Prohibition, Rehabilitation and Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra |
1977–78 | Cabinet Minister, Education, Government of Maharashtra |
1979–1980 | Leader of the Opposition, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly |
1982–85 | Cabinet Minister, Urban Development and Housing, Government of Maharashtra |
1983–85 | Cabinet Minister, Civil Supplies and Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra |
1986–1988 | Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha |
1986–88 | Chairman, Committee of Privileges, Rajya Sabha; Member, Business Advisory Committee, Rajya Sabha |
1991–1996 | Chairman, House Committee, Lok Sabha |
8 November 2004 – 23 June 2007 | Governor of Rajasthan |
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