Today, 5th May 2023, marks the 107 Birth anniversary of  Late Giani Zail Singh.  On this occasion have a look at his journey from a freedom fighter to the highest chair of the country. 

Giani Zail Singh was born as the seventh President of India from 1982 to 1987 on Jarnail Singh, 5 May 1916 – 25 December 1994. Prior to his presidency, he was a politician of the Indian National Congress Party and had held several national positions in the Union Cabinet, including the Home Minister. He also served as the General Secretary of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1983 to 1986. Giani Singh has been the only Sikh President of India.

He inherited religious leanings and spirituality from his father. He was also familiar with Urdu and was knowledgeable of Hindu scriptures and mythology. After completing a course at Shaheed Sikh Missionary College in Amritsar, he received the title of 'Gyani', who has personal proficiency in religious studies.

After getting music education, Zail Singh used to read Guruvani and Shabad in the gurudwara. He had a special interest in this work. Later he became a Granthi and from here he got the title of Gyani. Few people know that he loved playing harmonium. He had learned to play the harmonium when he came to the accompaniment of the gurus and aroused his interest in music.
Very few people know his real name. Zail Singh's first name was Jarnail Singh. But once he had to go to jail in protest against the British banning the saber, he said his name Zail Singh in anger here. After this, his name was changed from Jarnail to Zail Singh. Later he made his mark with this name.

Zail Singh was a person of revolutionary ideology. Initially he came in contact with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and joined Congress. He did many important things to strengthen the Congress in Punjab. He became the prominent face of the party. He became a Rajya Sabha MP in 1956. In 1969, his political proximity to Indira Gandhi grew. Giani Zail Singh was the Chief Minister of Punjab from 1972 to 1977. When Indira Gandhi came back to power in 1980, she made Giani Zail Singh the home minister of the country. He was the seventh President of the country from 1982 to 1987.

Giani Zail Singh became the President of the country in 1982. There was the government of Indira Gandhi. It is said that Zail Singh's relations with Indira Gandhi were as good as before, and later they deteriorated. One reason for this was the politics of Andhra Pradesh. On the issue of the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh NT Rama Rao, differences between the two were clearly revealed.

In his long career, the former president held several portfolios. His presidency saw him witness some of the darkest moments in the history of independent India. But Singh is known for his unwavering allegiance to Gandhi. On his appointment as chairman, Singh reportedly said that if someone asked him what to do, his answer would have been that he sweeps Gandhi's courtyard.

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