Jagmohan
{{Short description|Indian politician and civil servant (1927–2021)}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}{{Use Indian English|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jagmohan Malhotra
| image = The Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Jagmohan briefing the media about further plans of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture for Yamuna Pushta Area and activities of ASI in New Delhi on February 13, 2004.jpg
| imagesize =
| office = 5th Governor of Jammu and Kashmir
| term_start = 19 January 1990
| term_end = 26 May 1990
| predecessor = K. V. Krishna Rao
| successor = Girish Chandra Saxena
| term_start1 = 26 April 1984
| term_end1 = 11 July 1989
| predecessor1 = Braj Kumar Nehru
| successor1 = K. V. Krishna Rao
| office2 = 6th Lieutenant Governor of Delhi
| term_start2 = 2 September 1982
| term_end2 = 25 April 1984
| predecessor2 = Sundar Lal Khurana
| successor2 = P. G. Gavai
| term_start3 = 17 February 1980
| term_end3 = 30 March 1981
| predecessor3 = Dalip Rai Kohli
| successor3 = Sundar Lal Khurana
| office4 = 9th Lieutenant Governor of Goa, Daman and Diu
| term_start4 = 31 March 1981
| term_end4 = 29 August 1982
| predecessor4 = P. S. Gill
| successor4 = I. H. Latif
| birth_date = 25 September 1927
| birth_place = Hafizabad, Punjab, British India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|05|03|1927|09|25|df=y}}
| spouse = Uma Jagmohan
| children = Deepika Kapoor, Manmohan
| awards = 50px Padma Vibhushan (2016)
50px Padma Bhushan (1977)
50px Padma Shri (1971)
| caption = Jagmohan in 2004
}}
Jagmohan Malhotra (25 September 1927 – 3 May 2021),{{cite web | title=Jagmohan Malhotra No More: Remembering the former J-K Governor who was once considered a close confidant of Sanjay Gandhi | website=Jagran English | date=2021-05-04 | url=https://english.jagran.com/politics/jagmohan-malhotra-no-more-remembering-the-former-jk-governor-who-was-once-considered-a-close-confidant-of-sanjay-gandhi-10026349 | access-date=2021-08-13}} known by the mononym Jagmohan, was an Indian civil servant and politician. After working with the Indian National Congress, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1995. He served as Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and Goa, as the 5th Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, and for three terms as Member of Parliament for New Delhi. In the cabinet, he served as Union Minister for Urban Development and Tourism.{{cite web|url=http://www.indian-elections.com/keycontenders/jag-mohan.html|title=Jag Mohan, Key Contenders for India Election 2004|access-date=19 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040620140233/http://www.indian-elections.com/keycontenders/jag-mohan.html|archive-date=20 June 2004|url-status=dead}}
Early life
Jagmohan Malhotra was born in a Punjabi Hindu Khatri family to Amir Chand and Dropadi Devi on 25 September 1927 in Hafizabad, British India.{{cite web |title=13th Lok Sabha- Member's Profile |url=http://164.100.47.194/Loksabha/Members/memberbioprofile.aspx?mpsno=158&lastls=13 |website=Parliament of India |access-date=20 March 2020}} He got married in 1957 to Uma, who came to be known as Uma Jagmohan.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
Career
Jagmohan admired Georges-Eugene Haussmann.Ramchandra Guha, India After Gandhi Jagmohan first gained notoriety during his stint as vice-chairman of the Delhi Development Authority in the mid-1970s. During this time he grew close to Sanjay Gandhi, who functioned as an informal advisor to his mother, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. During the Emergency (1975–77), Sanjay Gandhi entrusted Jagmohan with the "beautification" of Delhi, a task that involved large-scale demolition of slums. Jagmohan was very effective with the task. Already a Padma Shri since 1971, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1977.
In 1982, as Delhi hosted the Asian Games, Jagmohan was serving his second term as Lieutenant Governor of the city. The games were a success and Jagmohan's capable administration received credit. Later Delhi hosted the Non-Aligned Summit, which was also a success.
= Governor of Jammu and Kashmir =
During his tenure as Governor of Jammu and Kashmir (1984–89), the 1986 Kashmir Riots had taken place, curfew was imposed, media was banned and state force was used relentlessly. Pakistan's prime minister Benazir Bhutto in a series of speeches notoriously threatened to make him "Bhagmohan" (Bhag meaning "run", implying he would flee out of fear), and that "Ham us ko Jag-Jag Mo-Mo Han-Han bana denge" (transl."We will make him Jag-Jag Mo-Mo Han-Han", implying he would be cut/torn to pieces by militants).{{citation|last=Chitkara|first=M. G.|title=Benazir, a Profile|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LCaAQCnO3QQC&pg=PA85|year=1996|publisher=APH Publishing|isbn=978-81-7024-752-4|pages=85–}}{{citation|author=Jagmohan|title=My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CWjLtfi-ssIC&pg=PA575|year=2006|publisher=Allied Publishers|edition=7th|isbn=978-81-7764-995-6|pages=575–}}{{citation|last=Singh|first=Tavleen|title=Kashmir: a tragedy of errors|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7FpuAAAAMAAJ|year=1995|publisher=Viking|pages=137–138|isbn=9780670865598}} In Jammu and Kashmir, Jagmohan is credited with bringing order to one of the most revered shrines of Hindus, called Mata Vaishno Devi. He created a board that continues to provide administration for the shrine. Infrastructure was developed and that continues to facilitate pilgrims.
In 1990, when militancy re-exploded in Kashmir, Jagmohan was re-appointed its governor by Prime Minister V. P. Singh's led Janta Dal government.{{sfnp |Joshi, The Lost Rebellion |1999|pp=38-39}}{{Cite book |last=मलहोत्रा |first=जगमोहन |date=2022 |language=hi |location=मुंबई |publisher=एलाइड पब्लिशर्स Allied Publishers |pages=10–11 | isbn=978-9387997394 |title=अशांत कश्मीर चुनौतियां और समाधान |url=http://www.alliedpub.com/form/Search.aspx?Search=jagmohan}} The locals see him as the architect of Gawkadal Massacre in which more than 60 civilians were killed by Indian paramilitary forces although he was not involved in it. He fell out of favour of the Union government, and joined the BJP few years later in around 1994. However, allegations persist that he was involved in extra-legal crackdowns in Kashmir engineered by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.{{Cite news |title=Mufti and Jagmohan ordered massacres in J&K in the 90s: Omar Abdullah |work=India Today |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mufti-and-jagmohan-ordered-massacres-in-j&k-in-the-90s-omar-abdullah/1/188759.html |access-date=9 June 2017}}
Electoral history
Jagmohan contested the seat for New Delhi in the Lok Sabha in 1996 for the 11th Lok Sabha, where he defeated Bollywood star Rajesh Khanna by 58,000 votes. In 1998 and 1999, Jagmohan won the seat again defeating R. K. Dhawan of the Indian National Congress twice.
= In BJP Government=
When the BJP's Atal Bihari Vajpayee became Prime Minister in 1998, Jagmohan served in his cabinet in a variety of portfolios, including communications, urban development and tourism.{{cite news|title=Jagmohan's removal 'celebrated'|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2001/09/05/stories/02050002.htm|access-date=10 March 2018|work=The Hindu|date=5 September 2001}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} During the 1990s, Jagmohan had served as a nominated MP in the Rajya Sabha in 1990–96, and won three Lok Sabha elections from New Delhi in 1996, 1998 and 1999.
In 2004, he lost to Ajay Maken of the Indian National Congress by 12,784 votes.{{cite book |last1=Mahendra Singh |first1=Rana |title=India Votes: Lok Sabha & Vidhan Sabha Elections 2001-2005 |date=2006 |publisher=Sarup & Sons |isbn=81-7625-647-1 |pages=615 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yInZdHn-pKoC&q=jagmohan%20BJP&pg=PA493 |access-date=20 March 2020}}
In 2019, Jagmohan participated in BJP's outreach campaign to increase awareness about the advantages of revoking Article 370 and 35A.{{Cite web|title=Ex-J&K Governor Joins BJP's Outreach Campaign On Scrapping Article 370|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ex-jammu-and-kashmir-governor-jagmohan-malhotra-joins-bjps-outreach-campaign-on-scrapping-article-37-2095184|access-date=3 December 2020|website=NDTV.com}}
Awards and honours
On the basis of his service record and recommendations made by top civil servants, he was honoured, on 26 January 1971, with the award of Padma Shri by the President of India, "for formulation and implementation of the Delhi Master Plan and for playing a pioneering role in planning and implementation of projects in Delhi".
With a meager revolving fund of just Rs. Five crore, Jagmohan launched large number of land acquisition and development schemes, showcasing how development effort could be financed by creating facilities – thus increasing value of the state land resources. For a series of innovations of this genre, good management skills, and for "his meritorious services to the country" he was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1977. In 2016, Padma Vibhushan was awarded to him. As Implementation Commissioner, and later as vice-chairman, Delhi Development Authority, Jagmohan executed various Parliament approved schemes of Clearance-cum-Resettlement-cum-Redevelopment, which critics called demolition drives.
Jagmohan was one of the founders of the Samkalp Foundation which provides civil services examination coaching to poor and marginal students along with accommodation and other facilities. He wrote "My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir".
Death
Jagmohan Malhotra died in Delhi on 3 May 2021, at the age of 93.{{Cite news|url=https://thechenabtimes.com/2021/05/04/former-j-ks-governor-jagmohan-passes-away-at-93/|title=FORMER J-K'S GOVERNOR JAGMOHAN PASSES AWAY AT 93|date=4 May 2021|publisher=The Chenab Times|access-date=4 May 2021}}
Positions held
- 1980–81: Lt. Governor, Delhi (two times)
- 1981–82: Lt. Governor, Goa, Daman and Diu
- 1984–89 and 1990 (Jan - May): Governor, Jammu and Kashmir (two times) {{cite web|url=http://jklegislativeassembly.nic.in/Governor/Sh%20Jagmohan.pdf | url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029114710/http://jklegislativeassembly.nic.in/Governor/Sh%20Jagmohan.pdf|title=Sh Jagmohan |archive-date= 29 October 2019 }}
- 1990–96: Member (nominated), Rajya Sabha
During the 1990s, Jagmohan had served as nominated MP in the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of the Indian Parliament) from 1990 to 1996. Later, he was elected to the Lok Sabha (the lower house of the Indian Parliament) thrice from New Delhi.
- 1996: Elected to 11th Lok Sabha from New Delhi
- 1998: Re-elected to 12th Lok Sabha (2nd term) from New Delhi
- 1998-December: Union Cabinet Minister, Communications {{cite web|url=http://www.dot.gov.in/about-us/former-ministers |title=Former Ministers - Minister's Page - About Us - Department of Telecommunications |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002203226/http://www.dot.gov.in/about-us/former-ministers |archive-date= 2 October 2013 }}
- 1999-June–October: Union Cabinet Minister, Urban Development
- 1999: Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha (3rd term) from New Delhi
- 1999-October–November: Union Cabinet Minister, Urban Development
- 2001-September: Union Cabinet Minister, Tourism
- 2001-November-2004-April: Union Cabinet Minister, Tourism and Culture{{cite web|url=http://www.indiapress.org/election/archives/lok12/biodata/12dl01.php|title=Biographical Sketch of Member of XII Lok Sabha}}
Books authored
- Rebuilding Shahjahanabad, the Walled City of Delhi (1975) {{cite book |title=Rebuilding Shahjahanabad, the walled city of Delhi |date=1965 |publisher=Vikas Publishing House |location=Delhi |pages=144 |oclc=2119109 }}
- Island of Truth (1978) {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0nLaAAAAMAAJ|title=Island Of Truth|author1=Jagmohan|year=1978|publisher=Vikas |isbn=9780706906608}}
- My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir (1993){{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wpVhCICrRb4C|title=My Frozen Turbulence In Kashmir|isbn=9788181242174|author1=Jagmohan|date=10 May 1991|publisher=Lancer Publishers }}
- The Challenge of Our Cities (1984) {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X0QiAAAAMAAJ|title=The Challenge of Our Cities|isbn=9780706925692|author1=Jagmohan|year=1984|publisher=Vikas }}
- Soul and Structure of Governance in India (2005){{cite book |title=Soul and structure of governance in India |date=2005 |publisher=Allied Publishers |location=New Delhi, India |isbn=8177648314 |pages=516 |oclc=61731896 }}
- Reforming Vaishno Devi and a Case for Reformed, Reawakened and Enlightened Hinduism (2010) {{cite web |title=Reforming Vaishno Devi and a Case For Reformed, Reakenened and Enlightened Hinduism |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18406991-reforming-vaishno-devi-and-a-case-for-reformed-reakenened-and-enlighten |website=Good Reads |publisher=Rupa Co |access-date=20 March 2020}}
- Triumphs and Tragedies of Ninth Delhi (2015) {{cite book |title=Triumphs and tragedies of ninth Delhi |date=2015 |publisher=Allied Publishers Private Limited |location=New Delhi |isbn=9788184249811 |pages=323 |oclc=928593686 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{citation |last=Joshi |first=Manoj |title=The Lost Rebellion |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pS5uAAAAMAAJ |date=1999 |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-0-14-027846-0 |ref={{sfnref |Joshi, The Lost Rebellion |1999}}}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline}}
- {{Wikiquote-inline}}
{{Ministry of Communications (India)}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Civil Service}}
{{Padma Vibhushan Awards}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1970–79}}{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jagmohan}}
Category:People from Hafizabad District
Category:Governors of Jammu and Kashmir
Category:Lieutenant governors of Delhi
Category:Lok Sabha members from Delhi
Category:Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha
Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in civil service
Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in civil service
Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in public affairs