Rana Chandra Singh
Encyclopedia
Rana Chandra Singh , (1931–2009), also known as "Rana Chander Singh", was a Pakistan
i politician
, a federal minister and the chieftain of the Pakistani Hindu Sodha Thakur Rajput
clan and the Amarkot (present day Umerkot
) jagir
. He was one of the founder members of Pakistan Peoples Party
(PPP) and was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan
from Umerkot
, seven times with PPP between 1977 to 1999, when he founded the Pakistan Hindu Party (PHP).
, present day Umerkot District
. He belonged to the Sodda Rajput clan, and was the Rana
(chieftain) of the Amarkot (Umerkot
) jagir
, a Rajput
state in Pakistan, and Pakistani Hindu Sodha Thakur Rajput. His father was Rana Arjun Singh and his mother was Dev Kumari. Arjun Singh was Rana of Umarkot in 1947 when the state became part of Pakistan.
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 formed his own political party, the Pakistan Hindu Party (PHP). He himself designed for his party a saffron flag bearing two ancient logos – Om
and Trishool
. He served as Minister for Agriculture and Revenue, and was the Chairman of National Commission of Minorities. He won elections as an Independent candidate for a continuous 53 years – a considerable achievement for a minority Hindu. He recently joined PPP after parting way with PML-Q.
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, while the President 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". His body was taken to his native village Rana Jagir, 16 km from Umarkot
for cremation, where earlier, his elder son Kanwar Hameer Singh was installed as his successor, the 26th Rana of Tharparkar
’s Thakurs.
in Hanumangarh district
, Rajasthan and they had four sons and one daughter.
His eldest son is Hamir Singh who also is actively involved in politics. His other son Bhopal Singh is married and living in USA. His son Dr.Pritipal Singh works at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. His daughter Sangeeta is married in Jaipur. Her wedding took place in India due to the Rajput custom of not marrying in the same clan. Ronialla Singh, his daughter-in-law, is Administrative Coordinator of Foundation Public School
.
His family owned the famous Umarkot Fort where the great Mughal Emperor, Akbar was born in Umerkot
, when his father Humayun
fled from military defeat at the hands of Sher Shah Suri
. Rana Prasad, a Hindu Sodha Rajput ruler of Amarkot, gave refuge to Humayun.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, a federal minister and the chieftain of the Pakistani Hindu Sodha Thakur Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
clan and the Amarkot (present day Umerkot
Umerkot
Umarkot or Umer Kot,, also known as Amar Kot, Omarkot and Omercote, is town in the Umerkot District in Sindh, Pakistan...
) jagir
Jagir
In historic India, a jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond his lifetime, in recognition of his military service...
. He was one of the founder members of Pakistan Peoples Party
Pakistan Peoples Party
The Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...
(PPP) and was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan
National Assembly of Pakistan
The National Assembly of Pakistan is the lower house of the bicameral Majlis-e-Shura, which also compromises the President of Pakistan and Senate . The National Assembly and the Senate both convene at Parliament House in Islamabad...
from Umerkot
Umerkot
Umarkot or Umer Kot,, also known as Amar Kot, Omarkot and Omercote, is town in the Umerkot District in Sindh, Pakistan...
, seven times with PPP between 1977 to 1999, when he founded the Pakistan Hindu Party (PHP).
Early life
Rana Chandra Singh was born in 1931 in Rana Jagir, 16 km from UmarkotUmerkot
Umarkot or Umer Kot,, also known as Amar Kot, Omarkot and Omercote, is town in the Umerkot District in Sindh, Pakistan...
, present day Umerkot District
Umerkot District
Umerkot District or Umarkot District is a district of Sindh province, Pakistan.-History:After the 1843 invasion by Charles Napier, Sindh was divided into provinces and was assigned a Zamindars, also known as Wadaras, to collect taxes for the British....
. He belonged to the Sodda Rajput clan, and was the Rana
Rana (title)
Rana is a Princely title of Royalty in Sanskrit. Rana is used by the Jats and Rajput of South Asia. The name is usually interpreted to mean "Prince".Compound titles Rana Sahib, Rana Bahadur, and Maharana.-Royal title in India:...
(chieftain) of the Amarkot (Umerkot
Umerkot
Umarkot or Umer Kot,, also known as Amar Kot, Omarkot and Omercote, is town in the Umerkot District in Sindh, Pakistan...
) jagir
Jagir
In historic India, a jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond his lifetime, in recognition of his military service...
, a Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
state in Pakistan, and Pakistani Hindu Sodha Thakur Rajput. His father was Rana Arjun Singh and his mother was Dev Kumari. Arjun Singh was Rana of Umarkot in 1947 when the state became part of Pakistan.
Career
He was a close friend of Zulfikar Ali BhuttoZulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that, 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. Bhutto was the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party — the largest and most influential political party in Pakistan— and served as its chairman until his...
and Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
, and was a founding member of Pakistan Peoples Party
Pakistan Peoples Party
The Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...
. 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 formed his own political party, the Pakistan Hindu Party (PHP). He himself designed for his party a saffron flag bearing two ancient logos – Om
Om
Om is a sacred syllable of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.OM and similar may also refer to:-Music:* Om , a stoner metal band* Om , a 1965 album* OM , a 2006 album* Om...
and Trishool
Trishula
A trishula is a type of Indian trident but also found in Southeast Asia. It is commonly used as a Hindu-Buddhist religious symbol. The word means "three spear" in Sanskrit and Pali....
. He served as Minister for Agriculture and Revenue, and was the Chairman of National Commission of Minorities. He won elections as an Independent candidate for a continuous 53 years – a considerable achievement for a minority Hindu. He recently joined PPP after parting way with PML-Q.
He died on 1 August 2009 at the age of 78, after a prolonged illness, as he suffered paralysis
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
in 2004. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, in a message to his family, expressed grief over the death of former federal minister, while the President 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". His body was taken to his native village Rana Jagir, 16 km from Umarkot
Umerkot
Umarkot or Umer Kot,, also known as Amar Kot, Omarkot and Omercote, is town in the Umerkot District in Sindh, Pakistan...
for cremation, where earlier, his elder son Kanwar Hameer Singh was installed as his successor, the 26th Rana of Tharparkar
Tharparkar
Tharparkar is one of twenty three districts of Sindh province in Pakistan. Its headquarter is Mithi. It is the only fertile desert in the world. The District derives its names from Thar and Parker...
’s Thakurs.
Personal life
His wife is Rani Sahiba Subhdra, daughter of Rawat Tej Singh of RawatsarRawatsar
Rawatsar is a city, a municipality, and one of the eight tehsils in Hanumangarh district in the Indian state of Rajasthan.- Geography :Rawatsar is located at . It has an average elevation of 176 metres .- Demographics :...
in Hanumangarh district
Hanumangarh district
Hanumangarh District is a district of Rajasthan state of western India. The town of Hanumangarh is the district headquarters.-District profile:...
, Rajasthan and they had four sons and one daughter.
His eldest son is Hamir Singh who also is actively involved in politics. His other son Bhopal Singh is married and living in USA. His son Dr.Pritipal Singh works at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. His daughter Sangeeta is married in Jaipur. Her wedding took place in India due to the Rajput custom of not marrying in the same clan. Ronialla Singh, his daughter-in-law, is Administrative Coordinator of Foundation Public School
Foundation Public School
Foundation Public School is a private institution in Pakistan, established in 1981 by Mr. and Mrs. Raza Kamal Minhas. With a student body of 6000 supported by over 500 members of the teaching staff and operating nine campuses in Hyderabad, FPS provides education to children from ages 3.5 years to...
.
His family owned the famous Umarkot Fort where the great Mughal Emperor, Akbar was born in Umerkot
Umerkot
Umarkot or Umer Kot,, also known as Amar Kot, Omarkot and Omercote, is town in the Umerkot District in Sindh, Pakistan...
, when his father Humayun
Humayun
Nasir ud-din Muhammad Humayun was the second Mughal Emperor who ruled present day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of northern India from 1530–1540 and again from 1555–1556. Like his father, Babur, he lost his kingdom early, but with Persian aid, he eventually regained an even larger one...
fled from military defeat at the hands of Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri , birth name Farid Khan, also known as Sher Khan , was the founder of the short-lived Sur Empire in northern India, with its capital at Delhi, before its demise in the hands of the resurgent Mughal Empire...
. Rana Prasad, a Hindu Sodha Rajput ruler of Amarkot, gave refuge to Humayun.
External links
- Amarkot (jagir) Genealogy Queensland University
- Rendezvous with Rana