Giani Zail Singh
Zail Singh
In office
July 25, 1982 – July 25, 1987
Vice President Muhammad Hidayat Ullah (1982-1984)
R. Venkataraman (1984-1987)
Preceded by Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Succeeded by R. Venkataraman
In office
March 12, 1983 – September 6, 1986
Preceded by Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Succeeded by Robert Mugabe
Born May 5, 1916
Died December 25, 1994
Religion Sikhism

Giani Zail Singh (Punjabi: ਜ਼ੈਲ ਸਿੰਘ, May 5, 1916 – December 25, 1994) was an Indian politician and member of the Congress Party. He served as the seventh President of India between 1982 and 1987.

Sardar Zail Singh, a Sikh by religion, was given the title of Giani, as he was educated and learned about Guru Granth Sahib however he did not have formal education. He had a humble start in life and his father was a carpenter who was killed in an automobile accident.

Zail Singh's public life was long and varied - freedom fighter, state Congress leader, Chief Minister, Union Home Minister,and the president of India. A fighter against princedom, feudalism and foreign domination in the pre-independence days, he is also remembered for his crusade against communalism, economic disparities and social injustice in the republic. He also served as Chief Minister of Punjab. He was the President of India when the 1984 anti-Sikh riots took place in New Delhi.

President of India

Giani Zail Singh was elected to the highest office of the President of India on July 15, 1982 and took the oath of office on July 25, 1982. He was criticised for his subservient attitude to the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He was always thankful to the people who had been helpful to him and people still remember him as a man who returned milk for the water offered to him during his days of struggle.Politically his detractors and opponents also praise his human qualities. He was President, when Indira Gandhi launched Operation Blue Star. Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister after the assassination of his mother by two of her Sikh bodyguards. Even though Zail Singh had strained relations with Rajiv Gandhi, he declined to embarrass his government by seeking re-election as President of India with the support of non-Congress parties. Giani Zail Singh died coincidently in a road accident on December 25, 1994, near Kiratpur Sahib in Ropar district. Following his very coincidental accidental death, Zail Singh was cremated at EKTA STHAL in the vicinity of the Raj Ghat.

Important positions

1951 Agriculture minister, PEPSU

1956 Member of Indian parliament (Rajya Sabha)

1972-1977 Chief minister of Punjab

1980-1982 Union Home Minister

1982-1987 President Of India

Giani Zail Singh the President of India at Award giving Ceremony at Durbar Hall Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi

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External links

Preceded by
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy		 President of India
July 25, 1982-July 25, 1987		 Succeeded by
R. Venkataraman
Preceded by
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy		 Secretary General of Non-Aligned Movement
1983-1986		 Succeeded by
Robert Mugabe
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Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zail_Singh"


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