Who Is the Oldest Prime Minister of India?
Many people know India’s Prime Ministers, but very few know who was the Oldest Prime Minister of India. Discover the answer along with surprising historical facts.
-1779366417934.webp)
India has witnessed a lot of great Prime Ministers since its independence in 1947. There were some of them who were youthful and full of energy. One man, however, became Prime Minister at a time when most people have retired. At 81 he was still sharp and strong, with a will and a capacity to lead the country. Let’s know who is the oldest Prime Minister of India.
Who is the Oldest Prime Minister of India?
Morarji Desai is India's oldest Prime Minister. At the age of 81 years and 23 days he assumed the office of Prime Minister on March 24, 1977.
The Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya mentions: “Shri Morarji Desai served as Prime Minister of India for 2 years from 1977 to 1979. The Forty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of India was enacted during his tenure as Prime Minister. Shri Morarji Desai passed away at the age of 99 in Mumbai, making him the world’s oldest former head of government.”
Morarji Desai: Early Life and Career
Morarji Desai was born in 1896 on 29th February in Gujarat. He was special from the start, having been born on a leap year date, meaning that he got to celebrate his birthday only once every four years.
He went on to complete his education from Wilson College, Mumbai, and in 1918, he cleared the civil service exam and served as a Deputy Collector for the next 12 years. But he was not content in the service of a foreign ruler. He was deeply inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's principles of peace and non-violence and in 1930, he quit the civil service and joined the Indian Independence Movement.
The PM India mentions: “Shri Morarji Desai was born on February 29, 1896 in Bhadeli village, now in the Bulsar district of Gujarat. His father was a school teacher and a strict disciplinarian. From his childhood, young Morarji learnt from his father the value of hard work and truthfulness under all circumstances. He was educated St. Busar High School and passed his matriculation examination. After graduating from the Wilson Civil Service of the then Bombay Province in 1918, he served as a Deputy Collector for twelve years.”
“In 1930, when India was in the midst of the freedom struggle launched by Mahatma Gandhi, Shri Desai, having lost his confidence in the British sense of justice, decided to resign from Government service and to plunge into the struggle. It was a hard decision to take but Shri Desai felt that ‘when it was a question of the independence of the country, problems relating to family occupied a subordinate position,’” it adds.
What Was Morarji Desai's Political Journey?
Post independence Morarji Desai rose quite steadily in the Indian political scenario. He served in a number of positions in the Indian government.
He went on to become Prime Minister after the Janata Party won the general elections in 1977 after which the Emergency rule imposed by Indira Gandhi ended. This rise to power was very important as it was the first non-Congress government that was formed since India gained independence in 1947.
His government reestablished normal relations with China for the first time since the 1962 war and developed friendly relations with Pakistan. But the tensions in the Janata Party coalition and power struggle eventually established the government and Morarji Desai resigned in July, 1979.
What Did Morarji Desai Do After Leaving Politics?
After the resignation, Morarji Desai completely stepped away from active political life. He had spent his time indulging yoga, naturopathy and spiritual activities. In 1991, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna.
He passed away at the age of 99, in Mumbai, and he became the world's oldest former head of government.
Morarji Desai’s journey proves that age is nothing but just a number! He went to jail for the freedom of India, held almost every major political position, and became Prime Minister when he was 81.
Nikhil is a dedicated content writer with more than five years of experience, and works for the Jagran Josh General Knowledge section. He likes to create engaging and easy-to-read general knowledge content. He has spent years working on brain teasers, optical illusions, trending stories, and informative listicles that simplify facts for readers. His approach focuses on clarity, creativity, and making information feel effortless to understand.
