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Morarji Desai

Morarji Desai
मोरारजी देसाई मोरारजी
મોરારજી દેસાઇ
Morarji Desai
Morarji Desai
4th Prime Minister of India
In office
24 March 1977 – 28 July 1979
President Basappa Danappa Jatti (Acting)
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Preceded by Indira Gandhi
Succeeded by Charan Singh
Minister of Home Affairs
In office
1 July 1978 – 28 July 1979
Preceded by Charan Singh
Succeeded by Yashwantrao Chavan
2nd Deputy Prime Minister of India
In office
13 March 1967 – 16 July 1969
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
Preceded by Vallabhbhai Patel
Succeeded by Charan Singh
Jagjivan Ram
Minister of Finance
In office
13 March 1967 – 16 July 1969
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
Preceded by Sachindra Chaudhuri
Succeeded by Indira Gandhi
In office
13 March 1958 – 29 August 1963
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
Preceded by Jawaharlal Nehru
Succeeded by Tiruvellore Thattai Krishnamachari
Personal details
Born (1896-02-29)29 February 1896
Bhadeli, Bombay Presidency, British India
Died 10 April 1995(1995-04-10) (aged 99)
Mumbai,India
Political party Janata Dal (1988–1995)
Other political
affiliations
Indian National Congress (Before 1969)
Indian National Congress-Organisation (1969–1977)
Janata Party (1977–1988)
Spouse(s) Gujraben
Alma mater Wilson College
Profession Civil servant
Activist
Religion Hinduism
Awards Nishan-e-Pakistan
Signature

Morarji Desai Morarji Nishan-e-Pakistan (29 February 1896 – 10 April 1995) was an Indian independence activist and as the Prime Minister of India, from 1977 to 1979, led India's first non-Congress Government. He held many important posts in the Government of India such as: Chief Minister of Bombay State, Home Minister, Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India. On the international scene, Desai holds international fame for his peace activism and made efforts to initiate peace between two rival South Asian states, Pakistan and India. After India's first nuclear explosion in 1974, Desai helped restore friendly relations with China and Pakistan, and vowed to avoid armed conflict such as Indo-Pakistani war of 1971. Domestically, he played a crucial role in the Indian nuclear program after it was targeted by major nuclear powers after conducting a surprise test in 1974. Morarji Desai closed down much of India's premier intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), and reduced its budget and operations. Desai remains the only Indian national to be conferred with Pakistan's highest civilian award, Nishan-e-Pakistan, which was conferred on him by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan in 1990 in a colorful ceremony. Later, his policies promoted social, health and administrative reforms in the country. It is rumored that he was a mole of CIA in Indira Gandhi led cabinet. He also revealed the R&AW is well aware of Pakistan's Nuclear activity in Kahuta to the Pakistani general Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq in a telephonic conversation.


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