Jaswant Singh

Born On: January 3, 1938
Born In: Jasol, Barmer, Rajasthan, India
Career: Politician

Jaswant Singh, is a noted politician and belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party, He is known for his politeness and virtue and is one of those few politicians who were made to exit a party and then join back. Jaswant Singh has his principles and is renowned as a person with his values. When he was assigned with the responsibility of foreign policy, he had knack of dealing with high tension between India and Pakistan. He had established a foundation to promote and disseminate the literature of 'Dingal' - an ancient local language. His works in writing shows his maturity and his high respect for values. He is a socializing person and has engaged himself as a trustee in running hospitals, museums and water conservation projects. He is one of the few politicians who has had the privilege of occupying various posts. He loves to travel and has travelled to many cities and countries. Read on to know about Jaswant Singh.

Early Life
Jaswant Singh, son of Late Thakur Sardar Singh and Shrimati Kunwar Baisawas was born on 3rd January, 1938. He is a native of Rajasthan and was born in the village of Jasol in the Barmer district of the state in India. He completed his education and training at institutions like Mayo College in Ajmer and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. Apart from his education Jaswant Singh had hobbies like working with music, playing chess, preferably not against another player, and playing golf. Jaswant Singh changed his political career into a successful one and also maintained balance in his family. His family comprised his wife, Sheetal Kumari and two sons. He is currently the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha and is a familiar face in Indian politics and is also a member of the BJP.

Career
Jaswant Singh made his career on his own He started the new government of Vajpayee, which lasted its full term. He was the External Affairs Minister and later on switched his ministry to Finance with Yashwant Sinha. He was also the Defence Minister after the Tehelka exposure. Jaswant Singh is widely regarded for his handling of relations with the United States of America which was strained after the 1998 Indian nuclear tests. His skill as a negotiator and diplomat during talks with the United States has been well acknowledged by his U.S. counterpart Strobe Talbott. Jaswant Singh is also the most influential person in the BJP who does not have a RSS background. A six-term Member of Parliament, he is currently a member of the Rajya Sabha. In the Parliament, Singh has been the Chairman of the Estimates Committee, the Environment and Forest Committee and the Committee on Energy. He is also the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. He was appointed as the Minister of External Affairs in 1998 and 1999. He became the Finance Minister of India in 2002. Jaswant Singh has written a number of books on international affairs, security and development issues. Jaswant Singh has been criticized by political parties frequently for escorting terrorist to Kandhar, Afghanistan. These were terrorists who were released by the Government of India in exchange for passengers from the hijacked Indian Airlines plane. In the 2009 general election, Jaswant Singh won as a candidate of the BJP from Darjeeling parliamentary constituency under the state of West Bengal. He replaced the already declared candidate of BJP Dawa Sherpa, an ex IPS officer. His candidature was the outcome of a long political discussion between BJP and Gorkha Janamukti Morcha(GJM). The outfit, presumably having a good support base in hills, offered its support in the election to different political wings including Indian National Congress, BJP or NCP of Mr. P.A. Sangma in Darjeeling. On 25th June 2010, Jaswant Singh again joined the BJP in the presence of President Nitin Gadkari and Lal Krishna Advani.

Awards And Accolades
For the immense contributions made by him during his tenure, Jaswant Singh was bestowed with the 'Outstanding Parliamentarian Award' for the year 2001.

Timeline

1938: Born in Barmer, Rajasthan
1960: Officer in the Indian Army.
1996: Served as Finance Minister in the short-lived government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
1980: Elected to Rajya Sabha.
1986: Re-elected to Rajya Sabha (2nd term), Member, Public Accounts Committee, Rajya Sabha, Member, Committee on Privileges, Rajya Sabha, Member, Committee on Public Undertakings, Rajya Sabha.
1987: Member, Consultative Committee constituted under the Punjab state.
1989: Legislature (Delegation of Powers) Act, 1987.
1990: Elected to 9th Lok Sabha.
1991: Chairman, Estimate Committee, Re-elected to 10th Lok Sabha (2nd term), Chairman, Committee on Environment and Forests.
1992: Member, Joint Parliamentary Committee to enquire into Irregularities in Securities and Banking Transactions.
1993: Chairman, Committee on Energy.
1996:Re-elected to 11th Lok Sabha (3rd term), Union Cabinet Minister, Finance.
1998: Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission.
1998: Re-elected to Rajya Sabha (3rd term).
1998: Union Cabinet Minister, External Affairs.
1998: Union Cabinet Minister, Electronics (simultaneous charge).
1998: Union Cabinet Minister, Surface Transport (simultaneous charge).
2004: Re-elected to Rajya Sabha (4th term).
2004: Union Cabinet Minister, Defence (simultaneous charges).
2004: Minister of Finance & Company Affairs, Govt. of India.
2004: Union Cabinet Minister, Finance.
2004: Re-elected to Rajya Sabha (5th term).
2004: Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha.
2004: Member, Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests.
2004: Member, Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Installation of Portraits/Stautes of National Leaders and Parliamentarians in the Parliament House Complex.
2005: Member, General Purposes Committee.
2009: Re-elected to 15th Lok Sabha (4th term), Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts, Member, Committee on Public Accounts.