JAGDEV SINGH TALWANDI

Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi (1929 – 19.9.2014 ), son of Baba Chhanga Singh, was born at village Mullanpur (district Lyallpur, now Faisalabad, Pakistan). In 1947, he moved to Talwandi Rai (district Ludhiana). In 1952, he was elected as the Sarpanch of the village. In 1960, he was elected as a member of the S.G.P.C. from Raikot constituency. In 1967, he was elected to the Punjab Assembly. He was re-elected in 1969 and 1971. In 1969, he was elected as the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. From 1969 to 1971, he remained a Minister of State for various departments. In 1974, he was elected as the President of the Akali Dal. In 1977, he was elected to the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian parliament). In 1977, he arranged a mammoth Akali Conference at Ludhiana. In 1979, he joined Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra and made a petition against Parkash Singh Badal, at Akal Takht Sahib. In 1981, he formed his own Akali Dal. In 1982, he joined the other groups of the Akalis and launched a joint agitation which continue till June 2, 1984. In 1982, when the Akalis asked all the Akali legislatures to resign, he and Dr. Rajinder Kaur were the first to resign. After the attack of the Indian army on Darbar Sahib, he was arrested. He remained in jail till 1985. Jathedar Tohra had been elected as the President of the S.G.P.C. for 21times. He remaind president of the SGPC from 30 November 2000 to 27-11-2001.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)