Morarji Desai was an Indian independence activist and politician who served as the fourth Prime Minister of India from 1977 to 1979. Morarji Bhai Desai was the Prime Minister of India who led the country's first non-Congress government. Before becoming Prime Minister, he was also the Deputy Prime Minister of India from 1967–1969. Morarji Desai is the only person from India to have received the highest civilian honors of both India and Pakistan, i.e. Nishan-e-Pakistan and Bharat Ratna.
Morarji Desai was born on February 29, 1896 in Bhadeli, a village in Bombay Presidency (now Gujarat, India). This means that he was a politician whose birthday comes only once every four years. His father's name was Ranchhodji Nagarji Desai and mother's name was Vajiyaben Desai.
Morarji Desai Biography
1.
Full Name
Morarji Ranchodji Desai
2.
Birth
29 February 1896
3.
Birth place
Bhadeli village, Gujarat
4.
Wife
Gujaraben (1911)
5.
Children
1 son
6.
Death
10 April 1995 (Delhi)
7.
Political Party
Congress, Janata Dal
Timeline of Morarji Desai
1896: Morarji Desai was born on 29 February 1896 at a place called Bhadeli in Gujarat.
1918: In May 1918, he reached Ahmedabad as Deputy District Magistrate on probation.
1930: Left the job of the British government and became a soldier in the freedom struggle.
1931: In 1931 he became the Secretary of the Congress Committee of Gujarat State.
1932: Morarji had to face 2 years in jail.
Till 1937: He was the Secretary of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee.
1946: He was appointed to the Ministry of Home and Revenue, Bombay.
1952: He became the Chief Minister of Bombay.
1956: Joined the Union Cabinet as Minister of Commerce and Industry.
1967: Minister in-charge of Finance in Indira Gandhi's cabinet and also Deputy Prime Minister.
1977: Sworn in as Prime Minister of India.
1979: Morarji Desai breathed his last on 28 July 1979.
1990: Morarji Desai was awarded Pakistan's highest civilian honor Nishan-e-Pakistan on 19 May 1990.
1991: Awarded Bharat Ratna.
Interesting Facts
He was the First Prime Minister who was from a party other than the Indian National Congress.
Only person from India to receive the highest civilian honor of both India (Bharat Ratna) and Pakistan (Nishan-e-Pakistan).
Morarji Desai was the first Deputy Prime Minister who later also became the Prime Minister.