Raja Virbhadra Singh: The quintessence of political professionalism

Mr. Virbhadra Singh was the titular Raja of the princely state of BUSHAHR

Virbhadra Singh was a visionary leader of the Himachal Pradesh. He served as the titular Raja of the princely state of Bushahr. When the titles and privy purse of the princely state rulers were abolished by the then-prime minister Indira Gandhi. Singh ruled the hearts of Himachalis for more than six decades and played a significant influence in the development of the health and education sectors. 

THE BUSHAHR STATE

After the Kashmir, Bushahr was one of the oldest of the hill states in the Western Himalayas. The dynasty was founded by 'Pradhuman' the son of Lord Krishna. In order to marry the daughter of Banasur the local cheif of Sarhan earlier known as Shonitpur. Praduman is said to have come to Shonitpur after the death of king in an encounter with him, Pradhuman became the King of Bushahr. 

PERSONAL LIFE

According to the genealogy list held by the ruling family of Rampur-Bushahr, Raja Virbhadra Singh was the dynasty's 131st descendant. Mr. Singh, who took the throne as Raja of Rampur-Bushahr in 1947, was born on June 23, 1934.

Rampur-Bushahr finally joined the Himachal Pradesh, which was centrally administered Chief Commissioner's province, in April 1948. First, on May 28, 1954, he maaried to Rajkumari Rattan Kumari, a Jubal state and the daughter of HH Raja Rana Digvijay Chand and Rani Hement Kanwar. After a severe illness, Ratna Kumari passed away in 1983. They had four daughters, one of whom, Abhilasha Kumari, sat as a judge on the Gujarat High Court from 2006 until 2018.

He married Pratibha Singh at Junga, a daughter of Raja Hitendra Sen and his first wife Rani Shanta Devi of Keonthal, for a second time in 1985. They both had sons and daughters. His daughter Aparajitha Singh is married to Capt. Amarinder Singh's grandson. Vikramaditya Singh, his son, is now serving his second term as a MLA from the Shimla Rural seat.

POLITICAL CAREER

Politics never piqued his interest. His dream was to become a History professor. He received a call from Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1962, and that contact radically altered the course of his life. 

Virbhadra Singh has contributed significantly not only satte politics but national politics also. In the General Elections of 1962, Virbhadra Singh won a seat in the Lok Sabha. He again won in the election of 1967 and 1971. However, in 1983 he became the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh for the first time and won his seat from the Jubbal-Kotkhai constituency.

Virbhadra Singh was the longest serving chief minister of Himachal Pradesh. Consequently, he was appointed again as the chief minister in 1993, 2003, and then in 2012. In November 2012 elections, Virbhadra Singh was appointed to lead the Congress Party in the state which he did successfully. 

• From Feb 1992 to Sep 1994, he was the President of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee.
• In 1976, when the Virbhadra Singh was a member of the Indian Delegation to the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). 

How He Saved Himachal's Forests

The green felling of forests in Himachal Pradesh for the production of wooden apple boxes was outlawed by Virbhadra Singh in 1986, during his second term as chief minister. This policy has been in place ever since the apple revolution.

However, the influential lobby of saw mills reacted angrily to the plan and voiced its objections. They debated with Virbhadra Singh about how he could discontinue such a recognised practise without harming the livelihoods and revenue of the owners of the saw mills, the majority of which were in the apple belt and were situated in the heart of prime woods.

Virbhadra Singh declined to change his mind or compensate the owners of the saw mills. With assistance from the World Bank, he set up a cardboard carton manufacturing facility at Gumma to get apple growers off of using wooden cartons.  Even the Shanta Kumar who had succeed him as Cheif Minister also didn't reverse the decision.

FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT MR. SINGH

• From 1976 - 1977 : Served as deputy minister for tourism and civil aviation. 
• From 1980 - 1983 : Served as minister of state for industry and production. 
• From 2009 - 2011 : Held Steel ministry 
• From 2011 - 2012 : Chosen as the minister of MSMEs
• In 2015 : A biopic released under title of "Virbhadra Singh: Icon of the Era" directed by Suneela Sharma.

END OF AN THE ERA

Shri Virbhadra Singh Ji had a long political career, with rich administrative and legislative experience. He played a pivotal role in Himachal Pradesh and served the people of the state. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2021

He represented last time Arki constituency in Solan district in the present state assembly and died on 8 July 2021 due to multiple organ failure. The Himachal Pradesh government observed a three-day state mourning as a mark of respect to him. Virbhadra Singh was cremated with full state honours in Shimla's Rampur Bushahr.