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Desai, Morarji Ranchhodji
Desai, Morarji Ranchhodji (b. 29 Feb. 1896, d. 10 Apr. 1995). Prime Minister of India 1977–9 Born in Bhadeli (Gujarat) he was a civil servant in Bombay (1918–30) before becoming a disciple of Gandhi, spending a total of ten years in British prisons for civil disobedience. He made his reputation as Finance Minister of Bombay Province 1946–52, before becoming its Chief Minister 1952–6. He joined the Indian government in 1956 as Minister of Commerce and Industry, and was then Minister of Finance 1958–63, overseeing a series of five-year plans which led to a doubling of industrial output in ten years. After Nehru's death (1964) he was a contender for the succession, but his austere style failed to win him support in the Congress Party against Indira Gandhi. He came to oppose her bitterly, in return for which he was imprisoned during the Emergency, 1975–7. In 1977 he was the obvious candidate to lead the Janata opposition to Mrs Gandhi, and he won the election of that year. His government restored parliamentary democracy. As Prime Minister he failed to deal with the economic and factional problems confronting him. An austere and principled man (and a great believer in the strength to be derived from drinking his own urine), he suffered from a crucial inability to compromise, often threatening to fast himself to death if he did not get his way.
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JAN PALMOWSKI. "Desai, Morarji Ranchhodji." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAN PALMOWSKI. "Desai, Morarji Ranchhodji." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-DesaiMorarjiRanchhodji.html JAN PALMOWSKI. "Desai, Morarji Ranchhodji." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-DesaiMorarjiRanchhodji.html |
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Desai, Morarji (Ranchhodji)
Desai, Morarji (Ranchhodji) (1896–1995) Indian statesman and nationalist leader. After the death of Jawaharlal Nehru, he was a strong contender for the post of Prime Minister, but his austere and autocratic style made him too many enemies within the Congress Party. In 1977 he was the obvious candidate to lead the Janata opposition to Mrs Gandhi and led his party to victory in the election of that year. As Prime Minister (1977–79) his inflexible style handicapped him in dealing with the economic and factional problems which confronted him and he resigned in 1979.
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Cite this article
"Desai, Morarji (Ranchhodji)." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Desai, Morarji (Ranchhodji)." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-DesaiMorarjiRanchhodji.html "Desai, Morarji (Ranchhodji)." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-DesaiMorarjiRanchhodji.html |
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Morarji Ranchhodji Desai
Morarji Ranchhodji Desai , 1896–1995, Indian political leader. He joined the government in 1956, becoming minister of finance (1958–63). He returned to government in 1967 as deputy prime minister and minister of finance, but in 1969 was maneuvered from office by Indira Gandhi and became leader of the conservative opposition. Leading an opposition coalition, he prevailed in the 1977 elections, ending Gandhi's emergency rule. He served as prime minister until 1979, when the coalition broke apart. |
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"Morarji Ranchhodji Desai." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Morarji Ranchhodji Desai." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Desai-Mo.html "Morarji Ranchhodji Desai." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Desai-Mo.html |
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