Devi Lal

Devi Lal (25 September 1914 – 6 April 2001), also known as Chaudhary Devi Lal, was an Indian statesman, Independence activist, and peasant leader who served as the Deputy Prime Minister of India. He was a well known face in the Indian politics, and was known for championing the rights of farmers and rural communities, earning him the title “Tau” (elder uncle). In a political career spanned over six decades, Lal played a pivotal role in the formation of Haryana as a separate state in 1966, and later served as its chief minister for two terms (1977–1979, 1987–1989). He was associated with multiple political parties in India, including the Indian National Congress, Janata Party, Lokdal, and later his own Indian National Lok Dal.

Born in Teja Khera village, Sirsa (now in Haryana), he joined the Indian independence movement in his youth and was imprisoned for participating in civil disobedience campaigns. A advocate of farmers’ rights, he emerged as a mass leader in Punjab and played a decisive role in the creation of Haryana in 1966.

He later on served as the chief minister of Haryana from 1977 to 1979, and again from 1987 to 1989. He then transitioned to the central politics. Following the 1989 Indian general election, Lal refused the prime ministerial post and became deputy prime minister of India. He held the deputy prime minister position under the V. P. Singh government and again in Chandra Shekhar government. He held various cabinet ministerial portfolios including the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1998 from Haryana as a member of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).

Many memorials were named after him including the Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Chaudhary Devi Lal Memorial Government Engineering College and Chaudhary Devi Lal Herbal Nature Park. Provided by Wikipedia