Sardar Parkash Singh Badal: A foot soldier all his life, he knew all party workers by first name | From archieve
PTC Web Desk: In the death of Sardar Parkash Singh Badal, SAD patriarch, an era of politics has also come to an end. Born on December 8, 1927, he breathed his last at Mohali's Fortis Hospital on April 25.
Sardar Parkash Singh Badal wanted to become a patwari in his young days, but he served as the Chief Minister of Punjab five times. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had once referred Sardar Parkash Singh Badal as Nelson Mandela of India. He also remained sarpanch 5 times.
Parkash Singh Badal is credited with being part of almost every movement and decision post Independence. He also faced jails on several occasions. Even at the time of the wedding of his daugher, Sardar Parkash Singh Badal was in jail. The SAD patriarch spent over 17 years in jail because of several movements.
A foot soldier
Parkash Singh Badal remained a foot soldier throughout his life. He led every morcha he participated in. His memory was so sharp and he would keep every one in his mind. Party workers and others in remote villages would often left amazed when he would call them from their first name.
During his tenure, he introduced 'Sangat Darshan', a public outreach programme. He remained active till the end. Sardar Parkash Singh Badal infact never retired. He would advise young leaders to remain in touch with rival politicians or those who were sidelined.
He made the Shiromani Akali Dal as a party for all communities on the Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat model.
His political career
At the age of 20, Sardar Parkash Singh Badal served as a sarpanch of his village in 1952. he also became the youngest Chief Minister at the age of 43 in 1970. He also held the record of being the oldest Chief Minister in 2012.
Sardar Parkash Singh Badal was the only Chief Minister of Punjab, who won two consecutive Assembly elections in 2007 and 2012. However, the only elections he lost in his life was in 2022 when he suffered defeat at the hands of AAP leader Gurmeet Singh Khuddian.
Sardal Parkash Singh Badal led many morchas such as the movement for Punjabi Suba (statehood), and was also imprisoned during the Emergency.
He also got a chance to play his stint in national politics during the Janata Dal government, but returned to Punjab politics soon.
Alas, there there were many lessons that one could learn from him, but he never agreed for a biography.
Tributes pour in
Defence Minister Rajnah Singh said Parkash Singh Badal played a vital role in Punjab politics for many decades. He made several noteworthy contributions to the welfare of farmers and weaker sections of society during his career.
Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit described him as true son of Punjab. Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar termed it as irreparable loss to Indian politics.
Former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh said Sardar Parkash Singh Badal's absence would be felt for a long time.
Quick look at his career
Sardar Parkash Singh Badal was conferred with Panth Rattan Faqr-e-Qaum (Jewel of the Panth Pride of the Community) in 2011
He was conferred with Padma Vibhushan in 2015. However, he returned it in 2020
Sardar Parkash Singh Badal started his political career as a sarpanch of Badal village in 1952
He contested his first Assembly elections from Malout on INC ticket in 1952 and won
He became the Chief Minister for the first time in 1970, youngest CM in the country at that time
In a record of sorts, Sardar Parkash Singh Badal became the Chief Minister for five times from 1970-71, 1977-80, 1997-2002, 2007-12 and 2012-17
He also won Assembly elections five times in a row from Gidderbaha — 1969, 1972, 1977, 1980 and 1985
Won the Lambi seat five times in a row — 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017
Was the SAD president from 1995 to 2008
- PTC NEWS
