2017-09-25 Mon

Chaudhary Devi Lal was a great Indian politician and freedom fighter who founded the Indian National Lok Dal and was instrumental in the formation of Haryana as a state separate from Punjab State in north-western India.

He was born on 25th September 1914 in Teja Khera village at Sirsa district in Haryana. He received education up to middle school and at the age 15 years he joined Indian National Congress and its movements to gain India's independence from British rule.

On Mahatma Gandhi's call, both he and his elder brother Chaudhary Sahib Ram, left their studies unfinished to take part in the freedom movement. His participation in acts of Civil Disobedient Movement and Quit India Movement led to his imprisonment.

He became the Chief Minister of Haryana twice first in 1977–79 and then in 1987–89 and also served as a Deputy Prime Minister of India from 1989–91 in the governments of V. P. Singh and Chandra Shekhar. On April 6, 2001, he left all of us but his memories are still fresh in our mind.

India post issued a 400 paisa (4 Rupees) postage stamp in memory of Chaudhary Devi Lal to mark the conclusion of his birth centenary celebration.