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DESAI, SHRI MORARJI R. B.A., Janata, (Gujurat—Surat—1977) : s. of Shri Ranchhodji Desaj; b. Bhadeli, Bulsar District, February 29, 1896; ed. at Wilson College, Bombay, Bombay University; Hony. Fellow, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Bombay, 1956; Hony. Doctor of Laws, Karnatak University, 1957; Hony. Doctor of Laws, Utkal University, Cuttack 1962; m. Smt. Gajraben Desai, 1911; 1s. and 1 d.; Political and Social Worker; entered Provincial Civil Service, Government of Bombay, 1918, resigned in 1930; previously associated with Congress and Congress (O); joined the Civil Disobedience movement; Suffered imprisonment twice during 1930—34 and again in 1940-41 and detained in 1942—45; was kept in detention during Emergency for about 19 months, 1975—77; Secretary, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, 1931— 37 and again from 1939—46; Treasurer, All-India Congress Committee, 1950—58; organised Janata Party and was its Chairman; Chancellor, Gujarat Vidyapeeth; President, (i) Lok Bharati, a Rural University in Gujarat; (ii) Bharatiya Adimjati Sevak Sangh, (iii) Rajgir Buddha Vihar Society, (iv) Nisargopachar Kendra, Uruli Kanchan, Poona, (v) Sardar Vallabhbhai Memorial Trust, Ahmedabad, (vi) Gujarat Famine Relief Trust, Ahmedabad, (vii) Vithal Kanya Kelvani Mandal, Nadiad, Gujarat, (viii) Akhil Bharatiya Prakritik Chikitsa Parishad, (ix) Hindustani Prachar Sabha, Bombay; Chairman, (i) Navajiwan Trust, (ii) Mahadev Desai Trust; (iii) Sayajirao Diamond Jubilee Trust and Somnath Trust; is on the executive of Gandhi National Memorial Trust, Kasturba National Memorial Trust, Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Trust, Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial Trust, Pandit Pant Memorial Trust and Azad Memorial Trust; Member, Bombay Legislative Assembly, 1937—39 and 1946—56; Minister for Revenue, Cooperation, Agriculture and Forests, Bombay, 1937—39; Minister for Home and Revenue, Bombay, 1946—52; Chief, Minister of Bombay, 1952—56; Member, (i) Second Lok Sabha, 1957—62; (ii) Third Lok Sabha, 1962—67, (iii) Fourth Lok Sabha, 1967—70 and (iv) Fifth Lok Sabha, 1971—77; Minister for Commerce & Industry, Government of India, 1956—-58; Minister for Finance, 1958—63; resigned from the Government under “Kamraj Plan” to work for Congress organisation, 1963; Chairman, Administrative Reforms Commission, Government of India, 1966— 67; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, 1967—69; was chosen as leader of the Janata Party in Parliament and became Prime Minister, Minister of Planning, Minister of Atomic Energy, Minister of Electronics and Minister of Space on 24th March, 1977; attended the meetings of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ Conference, Montreal, 1958, London, 1959, 1960, 1962 and 1968, Accra, 1961 and at Trinidad in 1967, the World Bank Meetings, at Washington, 1958, 1959, 1960 and 1962 and 1968, at Vienna, 1961 and Brazil in 1967.
Favourite pastime and recreation: Classical and devotional Indian music and classical Indian dances.
Special interests: Education, agriculture, horticulture, dairying, Animal husbandry, Co-operatives, spinning and all the Oandhian activities.
Publications: (i) Discourses on the ‘Gita’, (ii) The Story of My Life and (iii) “Book on Nature Cure.
Sports and clubs: Bridge, cricket, tennis, hockey and several other Indian games.
Travels abroad: All countries of Europe, except Spain and Portugal, Iran, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, U.S.A., Brazil, Venezuela, Egypt, Ghana, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Nepal and Pakistan.
Permanent address : ‘Oceana’, Marine Drive, Bombay.
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