MP Daljit Singh was an Indian politician and freedom fighter who served in the Delhi Legislative Assembly following the 1951 election. He also played a large role in the Indian Independence Movement, while the movement was underground, during the Second World War.
Daljit Singh | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 27 March 1952 – 1 November 1956 | |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly, Delhi | |
| Constituency | Safdar Jang constituency |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 October, 1922 New Delhi, British India |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Parent(s) | Sir Sobha Singh and Lady Sobha Singh (Varyam Kaur) |
Early Life and family
editSingh lived on Queensway in New Delhi.[1][2] He was the son of Sir Sobha Singh and youngest brother of Khushwant Singh.[1][3] His ex-wife, Dip Singh (whose sister, Amarjit, was married to Daljit's brother, Bhagwant Singh) was married to journalist, Charles Wheeler and were the parents of barrister Marina Wheeler, famously known as the ex-wife of former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson. Daljit Singh went to the Modern School.[4]
Pre-Partition
editIndian Independence Movement
editAccording to reports many pro-government contractors helped Aruna Asaf Ali during her struggle against the British Government.[5] He had secret talks with Aruna Asaf Ali twice in Dutt's house and then went to Scindia House afterwards both times.[5] Reports stated that he had provided great assistance to the Indian National Congress and sheltered Congress absconders and extremists including Aruna Asaf Ali in Karol Bagh and Scindia House, his fathers properties.[6]
He applied to be in the British Indian Army to win over the soldiers and start a mutiny on command of the Congress' Underground Movement, although was turned down by the British Government.[6] From 1942 to 1945 he sheltered Aruna Asaf Ali, his older brother, a famous journalist, Khushwant Singh had noted that Mrs Asaf Ali came to their house in a Burqa one night and asked for a duplicator- Khushwant Singh had replied that the fight against Fascism was more important than the British at the time, but he mentioned the incident to Daljit Singh who bought one not realizing the name of the buyer had to be recorded on the duplicator.[7] In a police raid on Aruna Asaf Ali's hideout they traced the duplicator back to Daljit Singh, who was arrested.[8] His father Sobha Singh was expecting a knighthood that year and was aghast; he immediately went to see the Commissioner of Delhi, Sir Evan Jenkins.[8] Sobha Singh did end up receiving a knighthood and Daljit Singh was released after a while.[8]
Partition of India
editAfter the Partition of India he had organized the National Volunteer Corps in Delhi to help rehabilitate refugees, Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs either refugees or attacked during violence.[9]
Post-Partition
editElection of 1951
editDaljit Singh stood as the Indian National Congress candidate in the Safdar Jang constituency. He won the seat, having obtained a landslide victory of 5,870 votes (81.21% of the votes in the constituency).[10][11]
Post-Political Life
editAfterwards he became the Director of the United Press of India.[9] He had built up the Tonga-Rehra Union in Delhi with a membership of 10,000 people.[9] He also courted arrest in a union's agitation for de-rationing gram.[9] He took an active part in St. John Ambulance activities and was Corps Superintendent New Delhi Division, he promoted social work and education among the masses.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b Vidura, Vol. 37. C. Sarkar., 2000. p. 12
- ^ Sarkar, Subodh Chandra. Indian Parliament and State Legislatures, Being the Supplement to Hindustan Year Book, 1952. Calcutta: M.C. Sarkar, 1952. p. 91
- ^ Khushwant Singh. Truth, Love and a Little Malice: An Autobiography. [London]: Penguin Books [u.a.], 2003. p. 174
- ^ Singh, Khushwant (1990). Delhi. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-14-012619-8.
- ^ a b Raghavan, G. N. S. (1999). Aruna Asaf Ali: A Compassionate Radical. National Book Trust, India. ISBN 978-81-237-2762-2.
- ^ a b Quit India Movement: British Secret Documents. Interprint. 1986. ISBN 978-81-85017-32-7.
- ^ Pothen, Nayantara (30 January 2012). Glittering Decades: New Delhi in Love and War. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-81-8475-601-2.
- ^ a b c Pothen, Nayantara (30 January 2012). Glittering Decades: New Delhi in Love and War. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-81-8475-601-2.
- ^ a b c d e Sud, S. P. Singh; Sud, Ajit Singh (1953). Indian Elections and Legislators. All India Publications.
- ^ "In Amritsar, former AAP leader Dr Daljit Singh joins Congress, Jan 15, 2017 10:59 on HindustanTimes".
- ^ Election Commission of India. STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1951 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF DELHI