B. D. Sharma

Bhagwat Dayal Sharma, popularly known as Panditji, was the first Chief Minister of the Indian state of Haryana and later Governor of Odisha and Madhya Pradesh from 30 April 1980 to 14 May 1984. He is one of the greatest leaders of Haryana and his legacy is celebrated even today.

Personal life

He was born in Beri, a town in the Jhajjar district of Haryana on 26January 1918. Bansi Lal, Bhajan Lal and many other noted politicians learned politics under his guidance.
He married Savitri Devi and they had six children; three sons and three daughters. He did his schooling from Birla College, Pilani and his higher studies from Banaras Hindu University, Banaras. His eldest son Sh. Rajesh Sharma became Sports Minister of Haryana and Deputy Chairman of the State's Planning Board. After his wife Savitri's death, Panditji built "Savitri Nikunj", in her memory, an exotic garden with indigenous and rare plants and trees at Raj Bhawan in Bhopal.

Independence movement and political career

Participated in the freedom struggle from 1941 to 1947
Sentenced to jail for 1 year in 1941
Sentenced to jail for 3.5 years in 1942
Member of Indian labourers delegation to ILO in 1957 and 1958
All-India Trade Union Congress Secretary and President in 1959–61
Member of Punjab Legislative Assembly and Minister of State for Labour and Cooperatives from 1962 to 1966

Sharma became Chief Minister of Haryana on 1November 1966 then resigned to be replaced by Rao Birender Singh on 24March 1967.

Rajya Sabha member from 1968 to 1974
All India congress Working Committee member from 1970 to 1972

Appointed Governor of Odisha in 1977, during his time in the state, he became patron of many social and cultural institutions. To develop tourism in Odisha, he suggested that the summer Raj Bhavan at Puri should be converted to a high class hotel for international tourists with facilities for golf, swimming and tennis as well as a large hall for holding conferences. The Indian Tourist Development Corporation was subsequently asked to take up the venture. Sharma was also actively involved in the administrative committee of the Hindu Jagannath temple in Puri.
He decided to side with the syndicate after the expulsion of Indira Gandhi from the Congress.
He subsequently transferred to Madhya Pradesh since the Odisha climate did not suit his health.
During his career, Panditji travelled to Switzerland, the UK, the USSR, Germany, USA, and a number of other European countries.

Death

He died on 22 February 1993 because of gradual declining health and old age. Huge numbers of people from all over world attended his funeral. His cremation took place at Beri, Jhajjar, Haryana. A tomb place has been built at the site of his cremation in Beri.

Honors

Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak named after him incorporates Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences.