Shanta Kumar is an Indian politician from Himachal Pradesh. And is the main leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was the third Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. He has made important contributions to both his state and the nation. Here is a detailed account of his life, from his early years to his present status.
Shanta Kumar Early Life and Education
Shanta Kumar was born on 12 September 1934 in Gadhjamula village, Palampur, Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Jagannath Sharma was his father and Kaushalya Devi was his mother. His father Jagannath Sharma was a postmaster. And Shanta Kumar was 5 years old when his father passed away. He came from a simple family, and the values of hard work and determination shaped his early life. He completed his schooling in local institutions. Immediately after passing matriculation, he joined RSS. Later he did BA from Punjab University. In 1960, he completed his LLB from Delhi University.
And at that time Shanta Kumar had a love marriage. In 1964, he married his partner Santosh Shailja. Santosh Shailaja worked as a teacher. But he left his job and worked as a social worker and writer. He also wrote some books. Shanta Kumar has three daughters and one son. Shalini Sathyan, Indu Sharma, and Renu Muzumdar, their daughters. Vikram Sharma is his son. In December 2020, his wife died of coronavirus (COVID-19) disease at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda.
Political Carrier
In 1963 Shanta Kumar started his political Carrier when he was elected as a Paunch of Gram Panchayat for Garhjamula. He was elected as a member of Panchayat Samiti in Bhawarna. From 1965 to 1970 he was the President of Zilla Parishad in Kangra. He belong to Bhartiya Janta Party. At the age of 19, He associated with the movement and He did Satyagraha in Jammu and Kashmir and spent 8 months in jail. On 30 April 1977, there was an emergency in the country, and all the big leaders were arrested by the police. Shanta Kumar was also arrested. he spent 19 months in Nahan jail.
After the emergency period was finished on 22 June 1977, he became the third Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. He remained the Chief Minister till 14 February 1980. On 5 March 1990, he became Chief Minister for the second time. Shanta Kumar starts a scheme like Antyodaya. In this scheme, cheap rations to poor families, water should be delivered to the people’s homes, and hydropower projects were set up in Himachal Pradesh. He also took a strict decision like no work pay.
Literary Contribution
He wrote many books like Dharti Balidan ki, Vishwa Vijeta Vivekanand, Himalaya Par Lal Chhaya, Man Ke Meet, Lajo, A Patriot monk Swami Vivekananda, Vrinda, Kaidi, O Pravasi Meet Mere, Jyotirmayi, Mrigtrishna, Kranti Abhi Adhoori Hai. He also written Rajneeti Ki Shatranj, Tumhare Pyar Ki Pati, and Deewar Ke Us Paar.
