Uma Shankar Dikshit

Uma Shankar Dikshit (12 January 1901 – 30 May 1991) was an Indian politician, cabinet minister and Governor of West Bengal^[1] and Governor of Karnataka.^[2]

Quick Facts 11th Governor of West Bengal, Chief Minister ...

Uma Shankar Dikshit
11th Governor of West Bengal
In office 2 October 1984 – 12 August 1986
Chief Minister	Jyoti Basu
Preceded by	Satish Chandra (acting)
Succeeded by	Saiyid Nurul Hasan
2nd Governor of Karnataka
In office 10 January 1976 – 2 August 1977
Chief Minister	D. Devaraj Urs
Preceded by	Mohan Lal Sukhadia
Succeeded by	Govind Narain
10th Minister of Home Affairs
In office 5 February 1973 – 10 October 1974
Prime Minister	Indira Gandhi
Preceded by	Indira Gandhi
Succeeded by	Kasu Brahmananda Reddy
Minister of Health and Family Welfare
In office 19 May 1971 – 5 February 1973
Prime Minister	Indira Gandhi
Preceded by	Kodardas Kalidas Shah
Succeeded by	Raghunath Keshav Khadilkar (As MoS)
Personal details
Born	12 January 1901 Ugu, North-Western Provinces, British India (Now in Uttar Pradesh, India)
Died	30 May 1991(1991-05-30) (aged 90) New Delhi, India
Political party	Indian National Congress
Relatives	Sheila Dikshit (daughter-in-law) Sandeep Dikshit (grandson)
Alma mater	Christ Church College, Kanpur

Close

He was born on 12 January 1901 at village Ugu of Unnao of Uttar Pradesh state, to the Kanyakubja Brahmin parents Ram Sarup and Shiv Pyari.^[3] He later studied at the Christ Church College, Kanpur.^[2] As a student, he joined the freedom movement and became the Secretary of the District Congress Committee Kanpur during the period when Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi was the President of the Committee.^[4] He served the Country as the Home Minister, Health Minister and Governor of Karnataka & West Bengal.^{[citation needed]} He also served as treasurer of All India Congress Committee, and Managing Director of Associated Journals at Lucknow. He founded a Girls Intermediate College at his village Ugu in the memory of his mother.^[5]
He was awarded Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award in India in 1989, by the Government of India.^[6]

After Independence, he remained close to Nehru and later sided with Indira Gandhi during the 1969 split in Indian National Congress. He joined the Indira Gandhi cabinet in 1971, thereafter he remained Minister for Works and Housing, Govt. of India, 1971-72 later given additional charge of Health and Family Planning, Minister for Home Affairs, 1973–74 and Minister for Shipping and Transport, 1975. He also remained Treasurer, All India Congress Committee (AICC), 1970-75.^[2][7]

He remained the Governor of Karnataka, 1976–77 and Governor of West Bengal 1984-1986.^{[citation needed]}

He died at New Delhi on 30 May 1991 after a prolonged illness at the age of 90 years.^{[citation needed]}