Govind Ballabh Pant

28th January, 2021 History

Context: Govind Ballabh Pant statue gets new home.

Govind Ballabh Pant is remembered as one of the country’s most prominent freedom fighters and an administrator who played a key role in shaping modern India.
Right from protesting the zamindari system to passing the Hindu Code Bill (in Uttar Pradesh), which made monogamy compulsory for Hindu men and gave Hindu women the right to divorce and inherit ancestral property, his politics always centred on internal reform.
Pant was not only the first chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in Independent India, but also served as premier of the state’s predecessor, the United Provinces, under the British Raj.
A key player in the drafting of the Constitution, he served as India’s home minister from 1955 to 1961.
It was during his tenure that states were reorganised on linguistic lines.
In 1957, Pant was awarded India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.
In Kashipur, he established an organisation called Prem Sabha that started working towards several reforms and also saved a school from shutting down due to non-payment of taxes to the British government.

His politics centred on reforms

He was elected as a candidate of the Swaraj Party from Nainital.
During his tenure, he raised several important issues like the need to abolish the zamindari system and championed the cause of forest preservation.
He also worked to protect farmers from excessive rents levied by the British government.
He encouraged many cottage industries in the country and raised his voice against the coolie-beggar law, which forced porters to transport the heavy luggage of British officials without any payment.
Following Gandhi’s footsteps, Pant also organised a massive salt movement in the United Provinces. In May 1930, he was arrested and held at Dehradun jail.

Against separate electorate for minorities

Pant was always against a separate electorate for minorities, saying the step would further divide communities.

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