Harsh Dev Singh

Harsh Dev Singh is an Indian politician. He became the Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party in 2012.[1] Under his tenure as the Minister of Education of Jammu and Kashmir, English became a compulsory language from first grade.[2]

Harsh Dev Singh
Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party
Assumed office
27 November 2012
Preceded byBhim Singh
Education Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
In office
2002–2008
GovernorSrinivas Kumar Sinha
Succeeded byGovernor's rule
Member of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly
In office
1996–2014
Preceded byChandhu Lal
Succeeded byRanbir Singh Pathania
ConstituencyRamnagar
Personal details
BornRamnagar, Jammu and Kashmir
Political partyJammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party
RelationsDogra dynasty
ParentsThakur Das
EducationUniversity of Jammu

Harsh Dev is a leading proponent of secular values in his state torn by the terrorist insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir.[3]

Early life

His father was Thakur Das who passed away in 1996 the year Harsh Dev Singh won his first Legislative Assembly election.[4]

Harsh Dev Singh graduated from Sainik School Nagrota in 1977. He earned a Bachelor's in Commerce followed by a Masters in English from Jammu University in 1982. He returned to Jammu University to earn a Bachelors of Law in 1991.[5]

Career

Member of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly

Harsh Dev Singh has won three elections from the Ramnagar constituency and served as a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly continuously for 18 years from 1996 till 2014. In his first term he received the Best Legislator Award.[6]

Minister of Education, 2002

Harsh Dev Singh was sworn in as the minister of education after the 2002 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections. He was the first ever cabinet minister from the Panthers Party.[7]

Under Harsh Dev, English became the compulsory language from first grade in all government schools. In his term as education minister the government opened 22 new degree colleges. Prior to which 32 colleges had been established in a 100 years time. They also opened 10,000 new schools.[8]

To deal with teaching staff shortages in remote areas, Harsh Dev moved 2,800 teachers from cities back to their original rural postings.[9]

Chairman of Panthers Party, 2012

Bhim Singh who had been the Chairman of the Panthers Party for 30 years nominated Harsh Dev Singh to the position on 27 November 2012 to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the Instrument of Accession signed between the Maharaja and India.[10]

Dogra Heritage

He has called for the recognition of Dogra heritage and the Dogri language citing the stable governance it once provided the nation under the Maharaja from 1846 to 1947 when the Kashmir conflict based on religious differences broke out in the state.[11][12]

Personal life

His uncle Bhim Singh is founder of the Panthers Party. His cousin Balwant Singh is the state President of the Panthers Party and his cousin Ankit Love is the leader of the One Love Party in Great Britain.

References
  1. "Harsh Dev Singh new chairperson of JKNPP". Hindustan Times. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  2. "The Hindu : English will be medium of instruction in Govt. schools". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  3. Headlines Today (28 August 2014), Panther party MLAs disrupt house in Jammu and Kashmir assembly, retrieved 1 January 2017
  4. "Warns Omar, Azad, Taj to disclose assets or face action, Singh Plays Bhim". Early Times. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  5. "Harsh Dev Singh". myneta.info. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  6. "Harsh to train 62 first time MLAs/MLCs - State Times". State Times. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  7. "rediff.com: Sayeed sworn-in as J&K chief minister". Rediff. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  8. "Suchetgarh- Sialkote Road To Boost Trade: Mufti". www.jammu-kashmir.com. Daily Excelsior. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  9. Malhan, Adhiraj. "BJP-PDP coalition govt has no education policy: Harsh Dev - The News Now". The News Now. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  10. "Harsh Dev Singh". Kashmir Life. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  11. "Need to include 'Dogriyat' in J&K policy: Panthers Party". Tribune India. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  12. "JKNPP protests against omission of Dogri Language in new currency notes". Jammu Links News. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
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