Bhagat Singh Koshyari is a well-known Indian politician who has held many important positions in his long political career. He has served as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, a Member of Parliament (MP), and the Governor of Maharashtra. His journey from a teacher and journalist to a senior leader in Indian politics is inspiring.
Early Life and Education
Bhagat Singh Koshyari was born on June 17, 1942, in Bageshwar, Uttarakhand (then part of British India). His father was Gopal Singh Koshyari, and his mother was Motima Devi. He completed his Master’s degree in English from Agra University. During his college years, he was active in student politics and served as the General Secretary of Almora College.
Career as a Teacher and Journalist
Before entering politics, Koshyari worked as a teacher at Raja Inter College in Uttar Pradesh. He was also passionate about journalism and started a weekly newspaper named Parvat Piyush in 1975. Through his writings, he focused on issues related to Uttarakhand and its people. He also authored books like “Uttaranchal Pradesh Kyun?” and “Uttaranchal Sangharsh Evam Samadhan”.
Political Journey
Koshyari started his political career as a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He played an active role in opposing the Emergency (1975-1977) and was imprisoned for several months.
Important Political Positions:
- Chief Minister of Uttarakhand (2001-2002): He became the 2nd Chief Minister of Uttarakhand after replacing Nityanand Swami. However, he had to step down in 2002 after his party lost the elections.
- Leader of Opposition (2002-2007): After stepping down as CM, he continued to serve as the Leader of Opposition in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly.
- Member of Rajya Sabha (2008-2014): He represented Uttarakhand in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
- Member of Lok Sabha (2014-2019): He was elected as an MP from Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar in the 2014 General Elections.
- Governor of Maharashtra (2019-2023): In 2019, he was appointed as the Governor of Maharashtra. During his tenure, he also took additional charge as the Governor of Goa in 2020.
Social Work and Contributions
Koshyari has been active in social work and has established many schools in Uttarakhand. He played an important role in promoting education and was the Chancellor of Mumbai University during his time as the Governor of Maharashtra.
Controversies
Despite his long career, Koshyari has faced some controversies:
- Political Crisis in Maharashtra (2019): He administered the oath of office to Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar in a late-night swearing-in ceremony, which was later ruled as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
- Remarks on Mumbai’s Economy (2022): He made a statement suggesting that Mumbai’s economy is dependent on Gujarati and Marwari businessmen, which led to backlash.
- Comment on Shivaji Maharaj: He referred to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as an ‘olden days idol’, which created a huge controversy in Maharashtra.
Bhagat Singh Koshyari has had a long and eventful career in Indian politics. From being a teacher and journalist to holding high-ranking positions in the government, his journey is remarkable. Despite facing controversies, he remains an important figure in Uttarakhand and Indian politics.
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