From Struggle to Statesmanship: The Inspiring Journey of Jagannath Pahadia

Gustakhi Maaf Haryana – Pawan Kumar Bansal

Once, when Jagannath Pahadia, former Governor of Haryana, had to vacate his official residence in Delhi after losing the Lok Sabha elections, he found temporary shelter in the annexe of Bansi Lal’s residence in Delhi.

In those days, defeated Members of Parliament were required to vacate their official accommodation within a stipulated period—unlike today, when many continue to occupy such residences for years on various pretexts. This episode is recounted by Pahadia in his memoir, From Margin to Mainstream.

Pahadia writes that he had considered returning to his village after vacating the house, but his wife, Shanti, pointed out that doing so would disrupt their children’s education. Shanti was a close friend of Vidya Devi, wife of Bansi Lal, who was then a Rajya Sabha member and their neighbour. When Shanti shared their predicament, Vidya Devi—though not formally educated but endowed with remarkable practical wisdom—immediately offered them the annexe of her house. This timely gesture provided immense relief at a critical moment, enabling their children to continue their education in Delhi.

However, the search for permanent accommodation continued. At one point, a clerk named Raghubir Singh from the Posts and Telegraphs Ministry offered Pahadia his modest one-room accommodation with a single bathroom. Though cramped for his large family, they accepted it. At times, they even had to share a neighbour’s bathroom.

To supplement the family income, Shanti made small toys from old rags and supplied them to shopkeepers at Janpath for sale. The memoir presents an honest account of nearly sixty years of public life—of a Dalit boy who faced discrimination from upper-caste students and teachers during his school days, yet rose through dedication, hard work, and sincerity to occupy prestigious positions, including Union Minister, Chief Minister of Rajasthan, and Governor of Bihar and Haryana.

Pahadia was elected to the fourth, fifth, and seventh Lok Sabha, and four times to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, often with large margins. He shared close relationships with leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi. He also enjoyed the confidence of Lal Bahadur Shastri, Morarji Desai—under whom he served as Deputy Minister in the Finance Ministry—and K. Kamaraj, among others.

In the foreword, Dr. Karan Singh notes that the book narrates an inspiring journey of a man from an underprivileged background rising to the highest public offices. He observes that Pahadia’s life reflects the vitality and grassroots strength of India’s democratic system, and that the memoir will be of interest to historians and students of political science. He also describes Pahadia as a simple, straightforward, and honest individual who lived by Gandhian values.

Pahadia recounts how he became a victim of political intrigues and conspiracies by colleagues on several occasions, and how he opposed the misrule of princely states in Rajasthan. Married to Shanti in childhood, he acknowledges her unwavering support throughout his life.

Born into a poor Scheduled Caste family in a small village in the erstwhile princely state of Bharatpur, Pahadia advanced slowly but steadily toward his goals of education, freedom, and dignity, never losing his confidence or courage. Despite holding high offices, he was never able to afford even a small personal house in Delhi. On two occasions, he and his family lived in a single room in an outhouse because he could not afford proper accommodation.

Shanti, despite having no formal education, ensured that all their children received good schooling, often struggling to make ends meet.

Pahadia also recalls how Parbhati Ram, a gardener at Teen Murti House (the official residence of Jawaharlal Nehru) and a fellow villager, helped arrange two meetings with Nehru. Pahadia graciously refers to him as “Chaudhary Prabhati Ram” in his memoir. Before Independence, Pahadia had actively participated in the freedom struggle as a Congress worker against the oppressive rule of the Maharaja of Bharatpur.

He fondly remembers that Indira Gandhi once visited their Delhi residence to celebrate Holi at the invitation of his wife. When he became Chief Minister of Rajasthan, a felicitation समारोह in Delhi was attended by Indira Gandhi. Later, upon his appointment as Governor of Bihar, he was given a grand farewell, which was notably attended by Rajiv Gandhi, breaking usual conventions.

Regarding his appointment as Governor of Haryana, Pahadia writes that he was relaxing at his home in Jaipur when he received a call from the Prime Minister’s Office informing him that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh wished to meet him. The rest, as he says, is history.