Raman Singh is an Indian Politician and a prominent leader of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well. He has been the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh several times. Apart from being a politician, he is an ayurvedic doctor also. Starting his journey by joining Bharatiya Jana Sangh in the 1970s, Singh became an influential leader of BJP overnight. Due to his stature in State politics and his welfare works to society, he is like a one-man army in the state assembly elections.
Biography/Wiki
Raman Singh was born in a Thakur family on 15 October 1952 in Kawardha, Madhya Pradesh (Now in Chhattisgarh) India. His father Late Vighnaharan Singh Thakur, was a famous advocate, farmer, and a social worker in Kawardha. After completing his schooling from Chhuyikhadan, Kawardha, and Rajnandgaon, he enrolled at Government Science College in Bemetara for higher education. He completed his graduation in Ayurvedic Medicine (BAMS) from Government Ayurvedic College at Raipur, Chhattisgarh. After completing his course, he practiced his medicine for some time in Kawardha. Raman Singh was inspired by the ideology of Jana Sangh from his student days, so, during the National Emergency in 1976 and 1977, he became the president of Bharatiya Jan Sangh Yuva Morcha at his native place Kawardha.
Raman Singh in his childhood
Family
Raman Singh was born to Vighnaharan Singh Thakur and Sudha Singh.
Raman Singh with his wife and Parents
He has one brother, Ashok Singh and one sister, Ila Kalchuri.
Singh married to Veena Singh
Raman Singh with his wife
and the couple has two children: Abhishek Singh (Son) and Asmita Singh (Daughter). His son, Abhishek Singh is an Engineer turned Politician who represents Rajnandgaon constituency in the Lok Sabha.
Raman Singh with his wife, son and daughter in law
His daughter, Asmita Singh is a dental surgeon.
Daughter of Raman Singh, Asmita Singh
Career
His political journey started with the joining Jana Sangh in 1976. In 1983, he became the municipal councillor of Sheetla ward of Kawardha. In 1990, he contested the assembly election for the first time and won it. In the state assembly election of 1993, he was re-elected. After serving in the state assembly, he was elected to 13th Lok Sabha in 1999. From October 1999 to January 2003, he was union minister of State for Commerce and Industry in the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Dr. Raman Singh with Atal Bihar Vajpayee
On 7 December 2003, he was made the second Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. On 12 December 2008, he again became the Chief Minister of State. In 2013, he took an oath as a Chief Minister of state for the third consecutive term defeating Ajit Singh Jogi of Indian National Congress.
Narendra Modi greets Raman Singh after he was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh for the third time
Awards/Honours
In 2004-05, he was awarded the Outstanding Person Award by Chhattisgarhi NRI Association and the Indo American Community of North America. On 3 February 2008, former Chief Justice of India, K. G. Balakrishnan awarded him Bharat Asmita Shreshtha Jan Pratinidhi award. In 2016, Raman Singh received Rashtriya Krushi Karman Puraskar from the National Government for the State for its record output of pulses.
Raman Singh receiving an award from Narendra Modi
Salary/Net Worth
He receives ₹1.35 Lakh + other allowances as his salary. As in 2014, he has ₹83 Lakh as Bank Fixed Deposits. Jewellery worth more than ₹1 Crore. His net worth is around ₹5 Crore.
Interesting Facts
- He practiced his doctorship in rural areas and sometimes used to treat poor free of cost. His generosity made him quite popular in public.
- Singh is a religious person and reads religious texts often.
- He took Salwa Judum (Meaning “Peace March”), an initiative to ban the Maoist organisations which were supported by the opposition.
- Raman Singh led the delegations of the Indian Trade Fair to different countries like UAE, Nepal, Palestine, and Israel.
- In 2005, India Today ranked him No.1 Chief Minister in the country.
- During his tenure in 2006-07, Chhattisgarh was listed at the top in India with regard to the implementation of a twenty-point developmental programme of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.