I. K. Gujral Biography

(12th Prime Minister of India)

Birthday: December 4, 1919 (Sagittarius)

Born In: Jhelum, Pakistan

Inder Kumar Gujral, also known as I.K. Gujral, was an Indian politician and served as the thirteenth Prime Minister of India. He was a poetic person who found his true calling in politics from his college days. He belonged to a family of true patriots; his father and mother were actively involved in the freedom struggle and even his sister and brother were known as freedom fighters during that time. Gujral himself followed the footsteps by taking part in the Quit India Movement. His college politics expeditions took him to join the Communist Party of India but not for long, he switched to the Indian National Congress after the Indo-Pak war. His brilliance in administration and other political duties earned him the special attention of the then Prime Minister of India, Smt. 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 most of his time writing poetry in Urdu as he was a big fan of the language and admired many Urdu poets and writers. In his book, ‘The Foreign Policies of India’ he has talked in depth about the aspirations that he had for India, how he wanted India to have warm and welcoming relations with the neighboring countries.

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Quick Facts

Indian Celebrities Born In December

Also Known As: Inder Kumar Gujral

Died At Age: 92

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Sheila Gujra

father: Avtar Narain

mother: Pushpa Gujral

children: Naresh Gujral and Vishal Gujral

Born Country: Pakistan

Prime Ministers Political Leaders

Died on: November 30, 2012

place of death: Gurgaon, Haryana, India

Cause of Death: Lung Infection

Notable Alumni: Forman Christian College University, D.A.V. College, Hailey College Of Commerce

Founder/Co-Founder: Gujral Doctrine

More Facts

education: Panjab University, Forman Christian College University, D.A.V. College, Hailey College Of Commerce

  • 1

    What were some key policies implemented by I. K. Gujral during his tenure as Prime Minister of India?

    I. K. Gujral is known for his "Gujral Doctrine" which emphasized building strong relations with India's neighboring countries without expecting reciprocity.
  • 2

    How did I. K. Gujral contribute to the field of foreign policy in India?

    I. K. Gujral played a crucial role in shaping India's foreign policy by focusing on non-alignment, regional cooperation, and diplomacy with neighboring countries.
  • 3

    What was the significance of I. K. Gujral's tenure as India's Minister of External Affairs?

    As the Minister of External Affairs, I. K. Gujral prioritized building strong diplomatic ties with countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia, contributing to regional stability.
  • 4

    How did I. K. Gujral address challenges related to national security during his political career?

    I. K. Gujral advocated for peaceful resolutions to conflicts and emphasized dialogue and diplomacy as tools to address security challenges, promoting peace in the region.
  • 5

    What was I. K. Gujral's approach to addressing social and economic issues in India?

    I. K. Gujral focused on inclusive growth and social justice, advocating for policies that aimed to uplift marginalized communities and promote equitable development across India.
Childhood & Early Life
Inder Kumar Gujral was born in 1919 in Jhelum, Pakistan, to Avtar Narain and Pushpa Gujral. He was born into the family of freedom fighters - his parents took active part in the freedom struggle. Even his brother and sister, Satish and Uma, joined the freedom struggle.
In 1942, Gujral was sent to jail for taking a part in the Quit India Movement. He finished his studies from D.A.V. College, Hailey College of Commerce and Forman Christian College University, Lahore, Pakistan. He became a member of the Communist Party of India during college days.
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Career
Gujral became the vice-president of the New Delhi Municipal Committee in 1958.
In 1964, he joined the Indian National Congress and became a member of the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of the Parliament in the same year.
During the tough times of Emergency in 1975, he was the Minister of Information and Broadcasting and was put into the important position of taking care of media during a time of censorship in India and was in total control of Doordarshan.
From 1976-1980, Gujral served as the Ambassador of India to the U.S.S.R. Gujral left the Congress party in 1980s and joined Janta Dal.
From 1989-1990, he served as the Minister of External Affairs during the reign of V. P. Singh, and again in 1996, he became the Minister of External Affairs during the rule of H.D. Deve Gowda.
In 1997 Gujral was chosen as the Prime Minister of India, but he held the position only for eleven months.
Major Works
”The Gujral Doctrine” that he developed as an instrument of foreign policy, remains the highlight of his career. It stresses on the importance on maintaining friendly relations with the neighboring countries. This doctrine earned him a great deal of respect.
Personal Life & Legacy
Gujral married Shiela Bhasin in 1945. She was his friend from college and a poet by profession, an acclaimed one at that. The couple had two sons together - Naresh Gujral and Vishal Gujral. Sheila died in 2011.
He was diagnosed with a lung infection in 2012 and was admitted at Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon, Haryana. His condition worsened at the hospital and soon he was declared quite critical. He passed away within a few days.
Facts About I. K. Gujral

I.K Gujral was known for his love of poetry and literature, often reciting verses from his favorite poets during public speeches.

He was a skilled diplomat who served as India's Ambassador to the Soviet Union and later as Minister of External Affairs, where he played a key role in improving India's relations with its neighbors.

Despite his busy political career, Gujral was also an avid gardener and took great pleasure in tending to his plants and flowers in his spare time.
Gujral was a strong advocate for peace and non-violence, and he actively promoted dialogue and diplomacy as a means to resolve conflicts both domestically and internationally.
Known for his humility and down-to-earth personality, Gujral was often seen interacting with people from all walks of life, showing genuine interest in their stories and experiences.

See the events in life of I. K. Gujral in Chronological Order

How To Cite

Article Title
- I. K. Gujral Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
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URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/i-k-gujral-5299.php

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