Dr. Saligram
Dr. Saligram (15 August 1909 - 4 November 1986; also written as Dr. Salig Ram)[1] was a medical doctor, freedom fighter, and politician from Himachal Pradesh, India. He belonged to the Indian National Congress. Over 1966-72, he served as a Member of Parliament from Himachal Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha. Over 1972-77, he served as a Minister with various portfolios in the Government of Himachal Pradesh, principally under the Chief Ministership of Y.S. Parmar and later for a brief period under Thakur Ram Lal. He was known as a dissident of Y.S. Parmar.
Personal life
[edit]He was born in a Brahmin family to Purusottam Ram, at Ustehr in Kangra district, which was back then a part of the Punjab Province of British India. He was educated at the G.A.V. School in Kangra, the D.A.V. College in Lahore, and the King Edward Medical School, Indore. He married Vidya Devi. He had four sons and four daughters.[1][2][3][4]
Political career
[edit]Pre-Independence years
[edit]In 1922, Saligram participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement against British rule in India. His association with the Indian National Congress, which remained his political party throughout his later political career, started in 1937.[4]
Early post-Independence years
[edit]Dr. Saligram was a member of the All India Congress Committee over 1948-51.[4] He was active involved in the early efforts for enlarging Himachal Pradesh, as the President of the District Congress Committee, Kangra.[5]
Rajya Sabha
[edit]Dr. Saligram served as a member of the Rajya Sabha from Himachal Pradesh, from 3 April 1966 till 19 March 1972.[1][2]
Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha
[edit]Dr. Saligram was elected as a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) to the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha in 1972, from the Jaswan assembly constituency. He was made the Minister of Agriculture. In March 1973, he along with another minister Sarla Sharma, failed to oust the then Chief Minister Y.S. Parmar.[6] On the advice of the Chief Minister, Dr. Saligram was dismissed from his ministership by the Lt. Governor of Himachal Pradesh on October 18, 1973 under Article 164(1) of the Constitution of India.[7][8][9][10] But he continued to be an MLA till early 1977.[4]
After Y.S. Parmar resigned as Chief Minister on 24 January 1977, Thakur Ram Lal was sworn as Chief Minister on 28 January 1977, and on the same day Dr. Saligram was sworn in as Minister of Public Works. On March 4, Dr. Saligram was additionally given the portfolios of multi-purpose projects, power, health and family planning, animal husbandry, fisheries, revenue, rehabilitation, food and supplies, elections, panchayats, housing and welfare.[11] This government ended on 30 April 1977, followed by President's Rule for 53 days, and then the first Shanta Kumar ministry.[12]
Others
[edit]- Over 1960-66, he served as the President of the Punjab PWD Worker's Union in Kangra.[4]
- Over 1962-67, he served as the President of the Harijan Sevak Sangh in Kangra. [4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c India Parliament Rajya Sabha (2003). Rajya Sabha Members: Biographical Sketches, 1952-2003. Rajya Sabha Secretariat. p. 309.
- ^ a b Sabha, India Parliament Lok (1966). Who's who. Parliament Secretariat. p. 264.
- ^ Grover, Verinder; Arora, Ranjana (1996). Encyclopaedia of India and Her States: Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab. Deep & Deep. p. 42. ISBN 978-81-7100-730-1.
- ^ a b c d e f India Who's who. INFA Publications. 1982. p. 49.
- ^ Verma, V. (1995). The Emergence of Himachal Pradesh: A Survey of Constitutional Developments. Indus Publishing. p. 254. ISBN 978-81-7387-035-4.
- ^ Gupta, Dharam Chand (1978). Indian Government and Politics. Vikas Publishing House. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-7069-0521-2.
- ^ De, Jatindra Ranjan (1991). The Growth of Parliamentary Government in India. Bijan Publishers. p. 271.
- ^ Journal of Parliamentary Information. Lok Sabha Secretariat. 1974. p. 378.
- ^ Socialist India. Indian National Congress. All India Congress Committee. 1972.
- ^ Indian Recorder and Digest. 1973. p. 22.
- ^ Data India. Press Institute of India. 1977. pp. 77, 157.
- ^ "List of chief ministers of Himachal Pradesh", Wikipedia, 2024-08-13, retrieved 2024-10-16