Rana Chandra Singh

Last updated

Rana Chandra Singh
Member National Assembly of Pakistan from Umerkot
In office
1977–1999
Personal details
Born1931 (1931)
Rana Jagir, Umerkot, British India
Died (aged 78)
Karachi, Pakistan
Nationality Pakistani
Children4 sons and 1 daughter, including Rana Hamir Singh
OccupationPolitician, agriculturalist
Known forFounder of Pakistan Hindu Party

Rana Chandra Singh (Sindhi : رانا چندر سنگه‎; 1931 – 1 August 2009), also known as Rana Chandar Singh, was a Pakistani politician and a federal minister. He was one of the founding members of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan from Umerkot seven times with PPP between 1977 and 1999. He founded the Pakistan Hindu Party (PHP) in 1990. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life

Rana Chandra Singh was born in 1931 in Rana Jagir, 16 km from Umarkot, present day Umerkot District. [3] [4] He belonged to the Hindu Sodha clan of Rajputs, and was the Rana (chieftain) of the Amarkot (Umerkot) jagir , a Rajput estate in Pakistan. [5]

Career

He was a close friend of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, and was a founding member of Pakistan Peoples Party. He was also elected as MPA a number of seven times, serving as Minister of Science and Technology, Revenue and Narcotics Affairs. In 1990, he left PPP and formed his own political party, the Pakistan Hindu Party (PHP). [2] He himself designed for his party a saffron flag bearing two ancient logos – Om and Trishool. [6] He served as Minister for Agriculture and Revenue, and was the Chairman of National Commission of Minorities. [6] He won elections as an Independent candidate for a continuous 53 years – a considerable achievement for a minority Hindu. He had joined PPP after parting way with PML-Q. [7]

He died on 1 August 2009 at the age of 78, after a prolonged illness, as he suffered paralysis in 2004. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, in a message to his family, expressed grief over the death of former federal minister, [8] while President Asif Ali Zardari described him as "one of the fearless political activists who joined the party in the early days of its formation by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and who stood by him through thick and thin". [9] His body was taken to his native village Rana Jagir, 16 km from Umarkot for cremation, where earlier, his elder son Rana Hamir Singh was installed as his successor, the 26th Rana of Tharparkar's Thakurs. [10]

According to Waseem Altaf, a retired Pakistani bureaucrat, "whenever the Cabinet was given a defense-related briefing, Rana Chandra Singh was asked to leave the Cabinet Room." [11]

Personal life

He was married to Rani Sahiba Subhadra Kumari, daughter of Rawat Tej Singh of Rawatsar in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan. They have four sons and one daughter. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistan People's Party</span> Social-democratic political party in Pakistan

The Pakistan People's Party is a centre-left political party in Pakistan, currently being the largest in the Senate and second-largest party in the National Assembly. The party was founded in 1967 in Lahore, when a number of prominent left-wing politicians in the country joined hands against the rule of Ayub Khan, under the leadership of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It is affiliated with the Socialist International. The PPP's platform was formerly socialist, and its stated priorities continue to include transforming Pakistan into a social-democratic state, promoting egalitarian values, establishing social justice, and maintaining a strong military. It, alongside the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, is one of the three largest political parties of Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umerkot</span> City in Sindh, Pakistan

Amarkot is a city in the Sindh province of Pakistan. The Mughal emperor Akbar was born in Umerkot in 1542. The Hindu folk deities Pabuji and Ramdev married in Umerkot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umerkot District</span> District of Sindh in Pakistan

Umerkot District, also known as Amarkot District, is a district in the Sindh province of Pakistan. The city of Umerkot is the capital of the district. Sindhi is the native language of approximately 95.1% of the residents according to the 2023 Pakistani census. Umerkot is the only non-Muslim majority district in Pakistan, with adherents of Hinduism representing 54.6% of the total population as per 2023 Pakistani census. According to 2023 Pakistani census population of Umerkot District is 1,158,284.

<i>Rana</i> (title) Indian honorary title

Rana is an historical title denoting an absolute Hindu king in the Indian subcontinent. Today, it is used as a hereditary name in the Indian subcontinent. "Rana" was formerly used as a title of martial sovereignty by Rajput kings in India. Rani is the title for the wife of a rana or a female monarch. It also applies to the wife of a raja. Compound titles include rana sahib, ranaji, raj rana,rana bahadur, and maharana.

Mumtaz Ali Khan Bhutto, was a Pakistani politician who served as 8th Governor of Sindh and later the 13th Chief Minister of Sindh. He was also the first cousin of late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who was the Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhutto family</span> Pakistani political family

The Bhutto family is a Pakistani political family. The Bhuttos have played a prominent role in Pakistani politics and government. The family has held the leadership of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), since its inception in 1967. The Bhuttos have been settled in Sindh for over three centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bilawal Bhutto Zardari</span> Pakistani politician (born 1988)

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is a Pakistani politician who served as the 37th Minister of Foreign Affairs, in office from 27 April 2022 to 10 August 2023. He became the chairman of Pakistan People's Party in 2007 following his mother's assassination. Bilawal belongs to the Bhutto family, a prominent political family of Pakistan and is the son of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and President Asif Ali Zardari, and the grandson of former President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Bilawal was a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from 13 August 2018 till 10 August 2023. He was re-elected as a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan in the 2024 Pakistani general election from newly formed constituency NA-194 Larkana-I, taking oath in February 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umarkot Shiv Mandir</span> Hindu temple in Sindh, Pakistan

Umarkot Shiv Mandir, also known as Amarkot Shiv Mandir, is a Hindu temple situated in Umerkot District, near Rana Jaageer Goth, in Sindh Province of Pakistan. This temple is perhaps the oldest in Sindh. The temple is one of the most sacred Hindu places of worship in the Sindh

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umarkot Fort</span> Fort in Umerkot

Umarkot Fort, also called Amarkot, is a fort in Umerkot, Sindh. Emperor Akbar was born in Umarkot Fort when his father Humayun fled from the military defeats at the hands of Sher Shah Suri on 15 October 1542. Rana Prasad Singh Sodha of Umarkot, who had risen to power, had given refuge to Mughal Emperor Humayun, and it was there that Hamida Bano Begum gave birth to young Akbar. Later the Mughal Emperor Akbar became the Shahenshah of Hindustan and was a popular figure with both Hindus and Muslims. Umerkot has many sites of historical significance such as Mughal emperor Akbar's birthplace near to Umarkot Fort. Currently, Akbar's birthplace is an open land. In 1746, the Mughal Subahdar, Noor Mohammad Kalhoro, built a fort at the location. Later the British took over that area.

The family of head of state and government in Pakistan is an unofficial title for the family of the head of state or head of government of a country. In Pakistan, the term First Family usually refers to the head of state or head of government, and their immediate family which comprises their spouse and their descendants. In the wider context, the First Family may comprise the head of state or head of government's parents, siblings and extended relatives.

Rana Iqbal Ahmad Khan is a Pakistani lawyer and former politician who previously served as a provincial cabinet minister in the Punjab government. A veteran member of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), he began his legal career in the mid-1960s and also entered politics at around the same time. He is a practicing advocate in the Supreme Court and a member of the District Bar Association of Gujranwala. More recently, he has been associated with Tahir-ul-Qadri and his Pakistan Awami Tehreek movement.

Rana Ratan Singh was a hereditary land owner in Umerkot, belonging to Sodha sub clan of Rajputs. Rana killed the British appointed Governor of Umarkot Fort, Syed Mohammad Ali, in 1847, during a tax protest. He was soon after tried and convicted of committing murder and treason, and hanged in Umarkot Fort, by the British.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thari people</span> Indo Aryan people native to Sindh and Rajasthan

The Thari also known as the Dhatti are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group who reside in the Thar Desert, which is divided between Pakistan and India. They speak Thari, also known as Dhatki language. Thari is also a geographical term, it refers to anything which belong or come from Thar desert. The Thari people live primarily in Tharparkar district of Sindh in Pakistan. In India, Thari speakers are found in western parts of Rajasthan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rana Hamir Singh</span> Pakistani politician

Rana Hamir Singh is a Pakistani politician who had been a member of Provincial Assembly of Sindh from August 2018 to August 2023. He is one of the five children of Rana Chandra Singh. He is also titled as 'Rana Saheb'.

Rana Parshad aka Rana Patta was 18th king of Amarkot (Umerkot) (1530/1556). He gave refuge to Mughal king Humayun when he was defeated by Sher Shah Suri and nobody was offering him refuge because every kingdom was frightened of Sher Shah Suri.

Sodha is a Rajput clan residing in India and Pakistan.

Bhatti is a Punjabi and a Sindhi caste of Rajputs. and Jats. The name Bhatti is a Punjabi form of Bhati, and they along with Bhuttos and Bhatias claim to have originated from the Hindu Bhati Rajputs. The Bhati/Bhatti Rajputs, are descended from a common ancestor, Rao Bhatti, a 3rd-century Hindu monarch.

The Sodhas of Amarkot were a Rajput dynasty who ruled Amarkot, which is now located in the Sindh province of Pakistan. The Sodha Rajput clan are a branch of the Parmar clan of Rajputs, as they are an off-shoot of Parmara Rajputs, who once controlled regions of Malwa and later North-West parts of Rajasthan. The kingdom was known for giving refuge to Mughal emperor Humayun, after he was fleeing from the forces of Sher Shah Suri, hence Akbar was born in the kingdom of Amarkot.

References

  1. ↑ "Hindu Leader, Ex-minister Chardar Singh is Dead". 8 June 2011. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  2. 1 2 Guriro, Amar (2 August 2009). "Chieftain of Pakistani Hindu Thakurs dies". Daily Times. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  3. ↑ "Rana Chandar Singh dies". DAWN.COM. 2 August 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  4. ↑ Chandra, P. B. (10 August 2009). "Rana kin in Pakistan for mourning". The Times of India . Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  5. ↑ "Pakistan Hindu Party founder passes away | TopNews". topnews.in. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  6. 1 2 Vardhan, Harsh. "Rendezvous with Rana". Rajasthan Plus. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  7. ↑ "Rana Hameer rejoins PPP". Daily Times. 20 November 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  8. ↑ "PM condoles ex minister's death". Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). 2 August 2009. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  9. ↑ "President condoles death of Rana Chandar Singh". Associated Press of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 28 December 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  10. ↑ Arisar, A. B. (3 August 2009). "Final journey of the Last Rajput". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  11. ↑ At time-stamp 47:24 My response to Ambassador Abdul Basit's allegations , retrieved 29 December 2023
  12. ↑ Rathore, Abhinay. "Amarkot (Jagir)". Rajput Provinces of India. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.