Daulatram Saran

Daulatram Saran (Hindi: दौलतराम सारण) (born 13 January 1924) is a parliamentarian and popular former leader of Rajasthan in India. The Veteran leader for his belief and practice of Gandhian principles resulted in him being also known as Thar Ka Gandhi. He is former Federal Minister and a Gandhian Veteran leader. His contribution towards the welfare of the farmers has earned him the title of Kisano Ka Messiah. He was born in village Dhani-Panchera of district Churu in Rajasthan in the family of Dularam of Saran clan Hindu Jat. His mother’s name is Bhuri Devi and wife’s name is Jadav Devi.

Freedom fighter

Daulatram Saran got his education from government high school Sardarshahar. He is a strong follower of Mahatma Gandhi. He jumped into the Indian independence movement on the call given by Mahatma Gandhi. He decided to wear Gandhi cap in the year 1942 that continued throughout the life.

1945-48: He was connected with “Bikaner Rajya Praja Parishad” as a member of Pratinidhi Sabha. He took part in the formation of popular government in the princely state of Bikaner. He played an important role in the awakening of farmers of princely state Bikaner and united them against the exploitation by Jagirdars. He always had problems of farmers in his mind and struggled for them, due to which he was very popular among the farmers of the region.

Veteran Gandhian leader

1948-50: He was general secretary of Churu district Congress Committee.

1950-57: He was president of Churu District Congress Committee.

1957-66: He was minister in charge of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Co-operatives, Panchayat Raj, and Local bodies, Irrigation etc. departments in the Government of Rajasthan. He won continuous three assembly elections from Dongargarh constituency in Churu district. He won 1957 and 1962 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly elections as congress candidate and 1967 assembly election as an independent candidate.

1966: On 25 January 1966 he resigned from the cabinet along with Chaudhari Kumbharam Arya, Harish Chandra Jhalawar, Bhimsingh Mandawa and Kamala Beniwal due to strong ideological differences with then Chief Minister Mohanlal Sukharia and founded Rajasthan Janata Party of which he was general secretary.

1967-72: He was member of Rajasthan Assembly as an independent candidate. In 1968 he merged Rajasthan Janata Party with Bharatiy Kranti Dal formed by Choudhary Charan Singh of which he became state president.

1975: On 27 June 1975 he was arrested during Indian Emergency (1975-1977) and was imprisoned under MISA .

1977-79: He was Member of Parliament from Churu in 6th Lok Sabha from newly formed Janata Party.

1980-84: He was Member of Parliament from Churu in 7th Lok Sabha from Janata Party (S).

1989-91: He was Member of Parliament from Churu in 9th Lok Sabha from Janata Dal. He was president of Rajasthan Janata Dal parliamentary board. He was central minister in Chandra Shekhar government in charge of urban development department.

Daulatram Saran is a very knowledgeable person and a veteran politician. He happens to be a former colleague of the ex-prime minister of India Choudhary Charan Singh. He has been member of large number of committees, like Rajasthan Assembly Public Accounts Committee, Lok Sabha Public Accounts Committee, Estimates Committee, Home Committee, Government Undertakings Committee, and Works Advisory Committee etc.

Spread of education

Daulatram Saran is connected with Gramotthan Vidyapith Sangaria, founded by Swami Keshwanand. He is also connected with Girls School Mahajan. He is founder of Gandhi Vidya Mandir Sardarshahar. He is of the view that the cause of social evils is lack of literacy. He did his best efforts for the spread of education through opening of village schools, libraries and adult education centers.

Popular leader of the farmers

Daulatram Saran is the founder Chairman of Rajasthan Kisan Union from 1974. He led the movements of farmers against levy. He united farmers through organizing mass rallies of lacs of farmers in Jaipur. He also organized farmer rallies under the banner of Kisan Unions at District and Tehsil levels. These rallies were very effective and showed the strength of peasantry. These helped to a great extent in awakening the farmers.

Daulatram Saran took up number of reformist actions. He is against child marriage and bonded labour system. He has strongly opposed the Mratyubhauj and extravaganza on deaths. He advocates tree plantation programmes in villages of Thar Desert region to mitigate the effects of extreme temperatures and shifting sand dunes. He believes in the principle of simple living and high thinking. He is one of the rare politicians who advocate simplicity in public and political life.

Hobbies

He has the hobbies of traveling and reading. He practices yoga and naturopathy. He loves nature.

References

Raghuvir Singh Chaudhari: Nav Jat-Veer, Jat Samaj Kalyan Parishad, Gwalior, 1995

Persondata
Name	Saran, Daulatram
Alternative names	Thar ka Gandhi, Kisan Messiah
Short description
Date of birth	13 January 1924
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