Harcharan Singh Brar

Harcharan Singh Brar Biography

Harcharan Singh Brar was an Indian politician from Punjab who served as the Chief Minister of Punjab during the period, 31 August 1995 to 21 November 1996. He was the 26th Chief Minister of Punjab and a member of Indian National Congress. He succeeded as the chief minister after the ruling CM, Beant Singh was killed by suspected Khalistani separatists in a car bombing in 1995. Brar was a member of Punjab Vidhan Sabha five times and got elected from Muktsar, Giddarbaha and Kotkapura constituencies. He has also served as the governor of Odisha and Haryana in the late 1970’s. He was instrumental in forming Muktsar and Moga districts out of Faridkot district during his 14-month term as the state head. As a cabinet minister, he has also served as Minister of Irrigation and Power, and Minister of Health and Family Welfare in two different terms.

He was born in the village of Sarai Naga in the year 1922. He completed graduation from Lahore. He was married to Gurbinder Kaur Brar and their son Kanwarjit Singh Brar is also an active politician and has represented state assembly elections and become MLA from Muktsar constituency. He passed away at the age of 86 survived with his wife, one son and one daughter. He is known for reviving “peace-time politics” in the post-terrorism period of Punjab. Following his death a three-day State mourning was announced in the state.

Brar was active in state politics since the 1950s from the Muktsar constituency. He got elected for the state elections for the first time in 1960. It was followed by the terms, 1962-67, 1967-72, 1969-74 and 1992–97. He died on 6 September 2009 after prolonged illness.

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Updated: May 08, 2014