I. K. Gujral Biography

Inder Kumar Gujral, also known as I.K. Gujral, was an Indian politician who served as the thirteenth Prime Minister of India. He was a poetic person who found his true calling in politics during his college days. He belonged to a family of patriots; his father and mother were actively involved in the freedom struggle, and even his sister and brother were known as freedom fighters. Gujral himself followed in their footsteps by taking part in the Quit India Movement. His involvement in college politics led him to join the Communist Party of India, but not for long; he later switched to the Indian National Congress. His brilliance in administration and political duties earned him the special attention of the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, who appointed him as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting during the Emergency in 1975. Besides his love for his country and politics, Gujral spent much of his time writing poetry in Urdu, as he was an admirer of the language and appreciated many Urdu poets and writers. In his book, The Foreign Policies of India, he discussed in depth his aspirations for India, particularly his vision for fostering warm and welcoming relations with neighboring countries.