Morarji Desai

મોરારજી દેસાઈ

["Fourth Prime Minister of India", "First Non-Congress PM", "Bharat Ratna & Nishan-e-Pakistan"]

Born Feb 29, 1896

Bhadeli (Valsad, Gujarat), India

Passed Away Apr 10, 1995 Bombay, India

Lifespan 99 years old

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"Truth has no compromise; fearlessness is the first virtue of a free man, and democracy is nothing without the rule of moral law."

Archival Overview

Fourth Prime Minister of India (1977–1979) and first non-Congress Prime Minister, staunch Gandhian ascetic who led the Janata Party to victory restoring Indian democracy following the 21-month Emergency, only person awarded both India and Pakistan's highest civilian honors.

Biographical Record

Morarji Desai (1896–1995) was an unyielding practitioner of Gandhian truth and naturopathy who resigned his civil service post in 1930 to join the Salt Satyagraha, spending ten years in British prisons. Serving as Chief Minister of Bombay and Union Finance Minister, he presented ten national budgets, an unbroken record.

Imprisoned in solitary confinement during Indira Gandhi's 1975–1977 Emergency, Desai emerged at age eighty-one to lead the united Janata Party to a historic landslide victory. As Prime Minister, Desai repealed the authoritarian 42nd Constitutional Amendment, restored press freedom and judicial independence, and normalized relations with China and Pakistan.

Key Life Milestones

1977

Inauguration as Prime Minister and Restoration of Democracy

Took office at eighty-one following the Emergency, dismantling authoritarian decrees.

1990

Conferral of Nishan-e-Pakistan and Bharat Ratna

Honored by both nations for peace diplomacy, remaining the only person to receive both supreme civilian awards.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial

Abhay Ghat Memorial
Ahmedabad (Gujarat), India

                         GPS: 23.0564, 72.5811                    

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