Historical Figures

2. Yug Purush Bhairon Singh Shekhawat

light appeared on Dhanteras

Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was born on the day of Dhanteras on 23 October 1923, in a simple Rajput farming family in Khachariyawas village of Sikar hideout of Jaipur princely state of Rajputana. His father's name was Devi Singh Shekhawat and mother's name was Bannekanwar. Bhairon Singh was the first child of his parents. Three younger brothers and four sisters were born to him. Bhairon Singh's maternal grandmother was in Sahnali Badi village of Churu district.

thirty kilometer walk

Bhairon Singh's father Devisingh was an ideal teacher. Devisingh never bowed his head in front of the evils, an opponent of conservatism and an advocate of equality in the society. Due to this habit, once he left his village and started living in Bichhidana village of Sawai Madhopur district. There he had his early education. Bhairon Singh inherited beautiful handwriting and discipline from his father. After a few years while studying in Bichhidana, he was sent to the Anglovedic school in Jobner. There were no motors at that time. Sometimes he used to cross the distance of 30 km from Jobner to Khachariawas on foot. After passing the high school examination, he was admitted to the first year of Maharaja College, Jaipur in AD 1941. He also participated in plays during his college education.

Procession Under Peepal Tree

On 3 July 1941, she was married to Surajkanwar of Buchkala village in the princely state of Jodhpur. His procession reached from Jobner to Pipar Road by train and from there reached Buchkala in bullock carts. His procession at Buchkala stayed for two days under the peepal of Aduniya Bera. Bhairon Singh's in-laws had father-in-law Kalyan Singh Rathod, mother-in-law Sadakanwar, five brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law. Bhairon Singh's wife Surajkanwar was the youngest among his peers.

drank nadi ka pani

Bhairon Singh had reached his in-laws' house Buchkala on foot from Pipad Road after his marriage. In the middle of the way, when he felt thirsty, he drank water in a nadi with his hands. Due to this he got Naru disease. The mark of this disease remained on his body throughout his life. In 2004, when Bhairon Singh was the Vice President, he again went to Buchkala and there he himself narrated this anecdote in the general assembly.

Father's shadow lifted from his head

Devisingh Shekhawat died in AD 1942. After this, mother Banne Kanwar took the responsibility of raising the family. His mother worked very hard to run the family. Bhairon Singh himself used to repeat this many times about how his mother used to run the mill. But Bhairon Singh's studies could not go ahead. For the maintenance of the family, Bhairon Singh took the job of Assistant Sub Inspector in the police department of Sikar hideout, but he did not like the job of the police. His mind started leaning towards politics.

Lagaan collectors made him Bhairon Singh

Once in his village, a group of sticks devoured all the fields. Even after this, the government servants reached to collect the rent. A new Bhairon Singh emerged out of the spirit of opposition to this rent. His mother used to say that a Pandit had told her that Bhairon Singh would bring laurels to the village and the family. There was no difference in his behavior from becoming MLA in 1952 till his last time.

Ticket received from Bishan Singh's behest

In the first general elections of 1952, Jana Sangh could not find any suitable candidate from Data Ramgarh. Then Bishan Singh Shekhawat suggested to LK Advani that one of my brothers Bhairon Singh Shekhawat is in the police, you should give him a ticket. On this he was given MLA ticket.

Ten rupees from Surajkanwar

To contest elections it was necessary to go to Sikar and to go to Sikar it was necessary to have money in the pocket but there was nothing in the pocket of the temperamental Bhairon Singh. He asked his wife for ten rupees. Udarmana wife fulfilled his demand and Bhairon Singh came to Sikar with ten rupees. After this he got associated with Jana Sangh. He got a Jana Sangh ticket with the lamp symbol and became a member of the first Rajasthan Legislative Assembly by winning 2,833 votes.

Support Abolition of Jagirdari System

In September 1951, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee and Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay had founded the Jana Sangh. Jagirdars made a good contribution in establishing the branches of Jana Sangh to the villages and panchayats. He hoped that Jana Sangh would help in continuing the Jagirdari system. In the first elections to the state assembly, Jana Sangh with the help of Jagidars fielded candidates on 50 seats. The bails of 30 of them were forfeited. Only eight MLAs of Jana Sangh, including Bhairon Singh, won, most of whom were jagirdars. When the first elected government of Rajasthan started the work of abolition of jagirdari, the legislators of Jana Sangh stood against it, but Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Jagatsingh Jhala supported the abolition of Jagirdari system. Six MLAs of the party, who were themselves vassals, started efforts to get Bhairon Singh out of the Jana Sangh. On this Bhairon Singh Shekhawat went to Delhi and met Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Deendayal Upadhyay. Both the leaders agreed with Bhairon Singh's arguments and disciplinary action was taken against the Jagirdar MLAs.

Namaste Sada Vatsale

His loyalty, devotion and dedication to Mother India was unwavering. When he became MLA from Jana Sangh in 1952, he was inclined towards Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He often used to wear the uniform of the Sangh in the programs of the Sangh. Always Vatsala, this salutation to Mother India remained forever.