Baldev Singh

Baldev Singh
Minister of Defence
In office 1947–1952
Prime Minister	Jawaharlal Nehru
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Kailash Nath Katju
Member of Parliament - Lok Sabha
In office 1952–1969
Personal details
Born	11 July 1902 Rupar, Punjab, British Raj (now India)
Died	1961 Delhi, India
Political party	Indian National Congress Shiromani Akali Dal Akali Dal
Alma mater	Khalsa College
Religion	Sikh

Baldev Singh (Punjabi: ਬਲਦੇਵ ਸਿਂਘ,Hindi: बलदेव सिंह) was an Indian Sikh political leader, he was an Indian independence movement leader and the first Defence Minister of India. Moreover, he represented the Punjabi Sikh community in the processes of negotiations that resulted in the independence of India, as well as the Partition of India in 1947.

After independence, Baldev Singh was chosen to become the first Minister of Defence, and served in this post during the first Kashmir war between India and Pakistan. He is addressed often with the title of Sardar, which in Punjabi and Hindi means Leader or Chief.

Baldev Singh was born on 11 July 1902 in village Dumna in the Rupar district of Punjab.His father was Sir Indra Singh,a reputed industrialist, and his mother was Nihal Kaur Singh (of village Manpur).He was educated initially at Kainaur and subsequently at the Khalsa College in Amritsar, and began working in his father's firm in the steel industry. He rose to the position of director of the firm.He was married to Hardev Kaur of village Jallanpur in Punjab.They had two sons, Sarjit Singh and Gurdip Singh.

Baldev Singh won an election to the Punjab provincial assembly under the Government of India Act 1935 in 1937, as a candidate of the Panthic Party. He became closely linked with Master Tara Singh and the Shiromani Akali Dal.

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