Bhairon Singh Shekhawat

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was born on 23 October 1923 and passed away on 15 May 2010. He was an Indian politician who served as the Vice President of India from August 2002 until 21 July 2007. He was elected to the five‑year term by the electoral college following the death of Krishan Kant, and he resigned after losing the presidential election to Pratibha Patil.

Shekhawat was a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He served as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan three times, first from 1977 to 1980, then from 1990 to 1992, and finally from 1993 to 1998. Throughout his political career, he represented several constituencies in the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha from 1952 to 2002.

In recognition of his public service, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2003.

He was born in 1923 to a Rajput family in the village of Khachriyawas, then in Sikar district, Rajputana Agency, British India. His father Devi Singh was a farmer of the village and his mother, Bane Kanwar, was a housewife.

He was very good in studies and completed high school but was unable to complete college due to his father's death. He had to support his family.

He worked as a farmer and an officer sub-inspector of police. After working in the Police Department for a few years he saw his interest in politics and joined Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1950.

In the year 1952, he resigned from the position of Police Inspector to contest elections in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was born in 1923 to a Rajput family in the village of Khachriyawas, then part of the Sikar district in the Rajputana Agency of British India. His father, Devi Singh, was a farmer and his mother, Bane Kanwar, was a housewife. Shekhawat excelled academically and completed high school, but he could not pursue college studies after his father's death, which forced him to support his family.

Following his education, he worked as a farmer and later as an officer sub‑inspector in the police department. After a few years in the police service, he developed an interest in politics and joined the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1950. In 1952, he resigned from his position as a police inspector to contest elections for the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.

For his service and contributions, Shekhawat was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2003, one of India's highest civilian honors.

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was known as "Rajasthan Ka Ek Hi Singh" and "Babosa", and affectionately as Bhairon Baba. He entered politics in 1952 and served as MLA from Ramgarh, Sri Madhopur, and Kisan Pol in successive elections. After a defeat in 1972, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh in 1973. During the emergency in 1975 he was arrested and sent to Rohtak jail.

Shekhawat remains the only non‑Congress politician to have served as Chief Minister of Rajasthan three times. He also became the first Vice President of India from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

He died on 15 May 2010 at the Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur after succumbing to cancer and related health problems. He was cremated the next day on a plot of land provided by the government of Rajasthan, where his memorial now stands. Thousands attended his funeral. He was survived by his wife, Suraj Kanwar, and his only daughter, Ratan Rajvi, who is married to BJP leader Narpat Singh Rajvi.

Suraj Kanwar, born in 1927, died on 9 March 2013 at the age of 86, outliving her husband by two to three years. She was cremated at Shekhawat's memorial as per her last wish.

In 2003, Shekhawat was awarded the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India.