Chaudhary Devi Lal

Chaudhary Devi Lal (25 September 1909 – 6 April 2001) was an Indian politician who twice served as Chief Minister of Haryana, first in 1977–79 and then in 1987–89. He also served as sixth Deputy Prime Minister of India from 1989–91 in the governments of V. P. Singh and Chandra Shekhar.

Early life

Devi Lal was born in a Jat family of the Sihag clan, in Teja Khera village of Sirsa district in present-day Haryana. His mother's name was Shugna Devi and father's name was Lekh Ram Sihag. Lekh Ram was a wealthy Jat landlord of Chautala village and he owned 2750 Acres of land. Devi Lal, whose original name was Devi Dayal, received education up to middle-school and also trained as a wrestler at an 'Akhara' in Badal village (Punjab). On Mahatma Gandhi's call, both he and his elder brother Sahib Ram, left their studies unfinished to take part in the freedom movement. His son Om Prakash Chautala has also served as Haryana's chief minister

Independence movement

Chaudhary Devi Lal was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and was involved in the struggle for India's independence from the British Raj. Both he and his elder brother, Sahib Ram, left their studies unfinished to take part in the freedom movement.