Beant Singh (chief minister)

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For other people called Beant Singh see Beant Singh

Beant Singh (February 19, 1922 - August 31, 1995) was Chief Minister of Punjab from 1992 to 1995. Born in the village of Bilaspur of Ludhiana district. Beant Singh graduated from the prestigious government college Lahore. At the age of 23 he joined the army but after two years of service, discovered his real call in life in social work and public affairs.

After the 1947 partition, Beant Singh delved into the political arena of the then anguished state. In 1960 he was elected chairman of block samiti of Doraha, in Ludhiana district. After serving for some time as Director of the Central cooperative bank in Ludhiana, Beant Singh finally entered the portals of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha as an independent candidate in 1969.

With the support of the congress he was re-elected successfully in 1972 and 1977. Elected as Chief Minister of Punjab Sardar Beant Singh in the time of turmoil he was credited with wiping out entrenched militancy from Punjab finally falling prey to its ghastly machinations, but not before making a mark on the states march towards progress and touching the hearts of the grateful population.

Extracts from Indian newspapers on September 1995.

- 'Punjab loses Kohinooor a second time' - 'Tearful farewell to Sardar Beant Singh' - Chants from the mourning crowds 'Jab tak suraj chand rahega, Shere-e-Punjab tera naam rahega'

Sardar Beant Singh was assassinated by militants at the secretariat complex in Chandigarh on August 31, 1995. This was a result of a serious security lapse or a possible collusion between militants and someone from the inner security system. The blast claimed the lives of 14 others including 3 of the countries most experienced commandos.

Sardar Beant Singh was widely claimed to have brought peace back into Punjab in 1992 after crushing the separatist movements.