Raghbir Singh (1895 – January 7, 1955) was an Indian politician, freedom fighter who served as 2nd Chief Minister of erstwhile PEPSU state.[1]
Raghbir Singh | |
|---|---|
| Chief Minister of PEPSU | |
| In office 8 March 1954 – 7 January 1955 | |
| Preceded by | President's rule |
| Succeeded by | Brish Bhan |
| Constituency | Patiala Sadar |
| Premier of PEPSU | |
| In office 23 May 1951 – 21 April 1952 | |
| Preceded by | Gian Singh Rarewala |
| Succeeded by | Gian Singh Rarewala (as Chief Minister) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1895 Lahore, Punjab Province (now in Pakistan) |
| Died | 7 January 1955 |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
Raghbir Singh was born in a village of the Lahore in 1895. He came from the lineage of Sardar Sahib Singh and Sardar Lakkha Singh. The two were responsible for the early upbringing and education in the use of arms of then Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Sikh Empire.[2]
He was ushered into services in Patiala State by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh where he went on to become the Inspector General of Police in 1926. Raghbir Singh played a pivotal role in bringing about a compromise between the state and Akali movement during the uprising of 1942 soon after he found the political party Lok Seva Sabha that later merged into Indian National Congress and then became the home minister in PEPSU state[3]
He was appointed as the 2nd Premier of State after the resignation of Rarewala as Premier but in the 1952 assembly election Congress failed to get a majority and Rarewala became the first Chief Minister of PEPSU. After a brief period of presidential rule in the State in 1954 assembly election Congress got a majority and he became the 2nd Chief Minister of State and held the office till his death on 7 January 1955.[4]