Most Honest Politician in Indian Politics history: Govind Ballabh Pant

Most Honest Politician in Indian Politics history | He was the first Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in Independent India. Becoming a Chief Minister of the largest state of India that time, that too for a person coming from hilly area of the state was nothing less than the feat, when the politicians from Varanasi had a good hold over state politics.

You guess it right, I am talking about Govind Ballabh Pant, who was born on 10 September 1887 at Almora district of Uttarakhand. Apart from being a prominent freedom fighter & visionary, Govind Ballabh pant will always be remembered as a most honest Politician & capable administrator.

He was in the staunch support of passing of “Hindu code bill”, which made monogamy compulsory for Hindu men & gave ancestral property rights to Hindu women. Many people don’t know that he was a key player in drafting Indian constitution, he has also served as home minister from 1955 to 1961. He was also honoured with Bharat Ratna, which is India’s highest Civilian award in 1957.

Early Life

He was born in a Brahmin family which originally rooted from Maharashtra but living in the Kumaon hills. He spent his childhood in Almora in his grandfather’s house, where unlike other kids of his age, he didn’t have any interest in sports or games. He likes sitting in one place whole day, he was an obese child & that’s why got nickname “Thapua” from family members. However, he was very good in studies & a smart child.

His father was in government job & change places due to transfers, so his mother & grandfather had more influence in his upbringing. There was an incident from his childhood, when his teacher asked students in class that if we cut 30-meter cloth everyday 1 metre, how may days will it required to cut fully, everyone in class told 30 days, Govind Pant was the only student who said 29.

Career as a Lawyer

After studying law, he became Lawyer. He was famous for taking cases of needy people only, unlike other lawyers whose fee was high, Govind Pant believe that justice should be for everyone equally, doesn’t matter how rich or poor he/she is. He used to leave cases if forced to manipulate or lie statements. He had high moral values. He fought case of Bismil & khan for Kakori Kand. Once during a case in Almora, he had an argument with the British Magistrate. Magistrate didn’t like Indian lawyer explaining law to him, so he ordered him to get out of the court. In reply to magistrate order, Govind pant said “I myself will not step in your court in my life, where there is no place for Justice & truth”

Personal Life

He lost his wife & son at an early stage of his career. He went into depression & started focussing more on politics & legal profession to distract himself of his sadness. In 1912, under the pressure of family, he did second marriage. But unfortunately, he lost his son & second wife also in 1914. So, in 1916, he did third marriage at the age of 30.

Political career

He contested election for Legislative Assembly in 1921. Then he got arrested for participating in Salt movement. He got arrested for Quit India movement. In 1932, when he was imprisoned with Nehru at Dehradun & Bareilly Jails, where both became good friends & that supported Govind Pant in his later years in Indian Politics. He has spent total 7 years in different jails during different periods for being involved in various Freedom activities & movement.

While protesting the Simon Commission, which arrived in India in 1928, Pant sustained severe injuries, an instance that also finds mention in Nehru’s autobiography. Nehru Quoted “Govind Ballabh Pant, who stood by me, offered a much bigger target, being six foot odd in height, and the injuries he received then have resulted in a painful and persistent malady which prevented him for a long time from straightening his back or leading an active life.”

Some Trivial facts about Govind Vallabh pant which most Indian’s don’t know- 

1. In 1909, Govind Pant honoured with “Lumsden” gold medal for securing 1^st rank in University for Law Exams.
2. His authored book “Forest Problems in Kumaon” was banned by the British government due to revolutionary writing. It was published again in 1980. It was fear of Govind Pant that Britishers used to call Kashipur as Govindgarh.
3. Once he went to Giritaal to roam around casually, he found two boys discussing on Freedom movement, he asked them that people also talk about such topics here. Those boys replied that there is lack of vision & leadership. That moment transformed him completely & he decided to join freedom movement.
4. Once he held an official party meeting to discuss about the administration & ground work. He organised Tea & snacks for that meeting. The amount of expenditure for Tea & Snacks came out to be Six Rupees. When his executive came to him for his signature to pass the expenditure & put it in Government expenses, Govind Pant refused to pass that bill & said that only Tea expenditure is permissible in government expenses. For snacks the organiser must pay from his pocket. Govind Pant paid snacks expenses from his pocket. Such a great gesture of honesty & morale.
5. When Govind Pant was lathi charged by police for protesting Simon commission before Independence, police officer who was involved in that was now working under Govind Pant, when pant was CM of UP. Once he called that police officer for conversation, police office was shivering with fear, however Govind Pant talked with him nicely.

Many Universities & colleges have been named after him in India. As chief minister, Pant was always against a separate electorate for minorities, saying the step would further divide communities.

In one of his speeches at a Constituent Assembly meeting, he said, “I am one of those who feel that the success of democracy is to be measured by the amount of confidence that it generates in different sections of the community. I believe that every citizen in a free state should be treated in such a manner that not only his material wants but also his spiritual sense of self-respect may be fully satisfied.”