Jagmohan Malhotra (25 September 1927 – 3 May 2021),
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 Raj.
He got married in 1957 to Uma, who came to be known as Uma Jagmohan.
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).
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.
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.
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.
In 2019, Jagmohan participated in BJP's outreach campaign to increase awareness about the advantages of revoking Article 370 and 35A.
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.
Positions held
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1980–81: Lt. Governor, Delhi (two times)
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1981–82: Lt. Governor, Goa, Daman and Diu
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1984–89 and 1990 (Jan - May): Governor, Jammu and Kashmir (two times)
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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
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1998-December: Union Cabinet Minister, Communications
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1999-June–October: Union Cabinet Minister, Urban Development
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1999: Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha (3rd term) from New Delhi
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1999-October–November: Union Cabinet Minister, Urban Development
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2001-September: Union Cabinet Minister, Tourism
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2001-November-2004-April: Union Cabinet Minister, Tourism and Culture
Books authored
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Rebuilding Shahjahanabad, the Walled City of Delhi (1975)
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Island of Truth (1978)
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My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir (1993)
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The Challenge of Our Cities (1984)
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Soul and Structure of Governance in India (2005)
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Reforming Vaishno Devi and a Case for Reformed, Reawakened and Enlightened Hinduism (2010)
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Triumphs and Tragedies of Ninth Delhi (2015)
Bibliography
External links
