Krishan Kant
Encyclopedia
Krishan Kant was the tenth Vice President of India from 1997 until his death.
Kant's first brush with politics came when he plunged into the Quit India movement
, while he was still a student in Lahore
. He took part in the Indian Independence Movement
as a youth and continued to be involved in politics, eventually being elected to Parliament of India
. He was part of the "Young Turk" brigade of Indian National Congress
party during the time of Indira Gandhi
. He held prominent offices in the Parliamentary and Organisational wings of Indian National Congress
and later the Janata Party
and the Janata Dal
.
He was a member of the Executive Council, for several years, of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.
Krishan Kant was the founding general secretary of the People's Union for Civil Liberties
and Democratic Rights, of which Jayprakash Narayan was the President in 1976. He was expelled from the Indian National Congress
in 1975 for his opposition to the Emergency. He was later a member of Lok Sabha
till 1980. He was the chairman of Committee on Railway Reservations and Bookings from 1972 -1976.
He with Madhu Limaye
was also responsible for the collapse of the Morarji Desai
government installed by that coalition, by insisting that no member of the Janata Party
could be the member of RSS
. This attack on dual membership was directed specifically at members of the Janata Party
who had been members of the Jan Sangh, and continued to be members of the right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
, the Jan Sangh's ideological parent. The issue led to fall of Morarji Desai
government in 1979, and the destruction of the Janata coalition
A strong protagonist of India going nuclear, Krishan Kant was a member of the executive council of the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis.
Kant was appointed governor
of Andhra Pradesh
by the V.P. Singh government in 1989 and served in that position for seven years, becoming one of India's longest-serving governors. He stayed at that post till he was elevated as Vice-President of India.
He was elected vice-president by Parliament as the joint candidate of the Indian National Congress
and United Front
. He died in New Delhi
. He is the only Indian Vice President to die in office.
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Kant's first brush with politics came when he plunged into the Quit India movement
Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement , or the August Movement was a civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in response to Mohandas Gandhi's call for immediate independence. Gandhi hoped to bring the British government to the negotiating table...
, while he was still a student in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
. He took part in the Indian Independence Movement
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
as a youth and continued to be involved in politics, eventually being elected to Parliament of India
Parliament of India
The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body in India. Founded in 1919, the Parliament alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all political bodies in India. The Parliament of India comprises the President and the two Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha...
. He was part of the "Young Turk" brigade of Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
party during the time of Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
. He held prominent offices in the Parliamentary and Organisational wings of Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
and later the Janata Party
Janata Party
The Janata Party was an amalgam of Indian political parties opposed to the state of emergency imposed by the government of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her Indian National Congress...
and the Janata Dal
Janata Dal
Janata Dal is an Indian political party which was formed through the merger of Janata Party factions, the Lok Dal, Congress, and the Jan Morcha led by V. P...
.
He was a member of the Executive Council, for several years, of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.
Krishan Kant was the founding general secretary of the People's Union for Civil Liberties
People's Union for Civil Liberties
People's Union for Civil Liberties is a human rights body formed in India in 1976 by socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan, as the People's Union for Civil Liberties and Democratic Rights .-The indian emergency:...
and Democratic Rights, of which Jayprakash Narayan was the President in 1976. He was expelled from the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
in 1975 for his opposition to the Emergency. He was later a member of Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
till 1980. He was the chairman of Committee on Railway Reservations and Bookings from 1972 -1976.
He with Madhu Limaye
Madhu Limaye
Madhu Limaye was an Indian Socialist essayist and activist, particularly active in the 1970s. A follower of Ram Manohar Lohia and a fellow-traveller of George Fernandes, he was active in the Janata coalition that gained power at the Centre following the Emergency; he, with Raj Narain and Krishan...
was also responsible for the collapse of the Morarji Desai
Morarji Desai
Morarji Ranchhodji Desai was an Indian independence activist and the fourth Prime Minister of India from 1977–79. He was the first Indian Prime Minister who did not belong to the Indian National Congress...
government installed by that coalition, by insisting that no member of the Janata Party
Janata Party
The Janata Party was an amalgam of Indian political parties opposed to the state of emergency imposed by the government of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her Indian National Congress...
could be the member of RSS
RSS
-Mathematics:* Root-sum-square, the square root of the sum of the squares of the elements of a data set* Residual sum of squares in statistics-Technology:* RSS , "Really Simple Syndication" or "Rich Site Summary", a family of web feed formats...
. This attack on dual membership was directed specifically at members of the Janata Party
Janata Party
The Janata Party was an amalgam of Indian political parties opposed to the state of emergency imposed by the government of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her Indian National Congress...
who had been members of the Jan Sangh, and continued to be members of the right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or National Patriotic Organization), also known the Sangh, is a right-wing Hindu nationalist, paramilitary, volunteer, and allegedly militant organization for Hindu males in India...
, the Jan Sangh's ideological parent. The issue led to fall of Morarji Desai
Morarji Desai
Morarji Ranchhodji Desai was an Indian independence activist and the fourth Prime Minister of India from 1977–79. He was the first Indian Prime Minister who did not belong to the Indian National Congress...
government in 1979, and the destruction of the Janata coalition
A strong protagonist of India going nuclear, Krishan Kant was a member of the executive council of the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis.
Kant was appointed governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
by the V.P. Singh government in 1989 and served in that position for seven years, becoming one of India's longest-serving governors. He stayed at that post till he was elevated as Vice-President of India.
He was elected vice-president by Parliament as the joint candidate of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
and United Front
United Front (India)
The United Front was a coalition government of 13 political parties formed in India after the 1996 general elections. The coalition formed two governments in India between 1996 and 1998. The government was headed by two Prime Ministers from Janata Dal - H. D. Deve Gowda, and I. K. Gujral...
. He died in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
. He is the only Indian Vice President to die in office.
External links
- Profile on Embassy of India in WashingtonEmbassy of India in WashingtonThe Embassy of India in Washington, D.C. is the embassy of the Republic of India to the United States in Washington, D.C.. The building is located at 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, in the Embassy Row neighborhood....
website
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