Balasaheb Gangadhar Kher (24 August 1888 – 8 March 1957[1][2]) was an Indian politician who served as the prime minister of Bombay (1937 - 1939, 1946 - 1947) and the first chief minister (then called Premier[3]) of Bombay State (1947 - 1952). He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India in 1954. A lawyer, solicitor and social worker by choice and politician by necessity, Kher was often described as "Sajjan", good and gentle. Kher was a scholar, an accomplished orator, and a man with no pretensions.
Balasaheb Gangadhar Kher was born on 24 August 1888 at Ratnagiri in a middle class Marathi-speaking Karhade Brahmin[4] family. He spent some years of his boyhood at Kundgol in the then Jamkhandi State. Later, he migrated at the instance of Gopal Krishna Gokhale to Pune to study at the New English School. Later he obtained the degree of B.A. in 1908 from the Wilson College, with high distinction and received the Bhau Daji Lad prize for standing first in Sanskrit.[5]
Mr. B.G. Kher along with Mr. Manilal Nanavati started a law firm called Manilal Kher & Co. The firm commenced practice on 7 June 1918. The firm was the only firm in Mumbai to have its inauguration ceremony being presided over by the renowned Judge, Mr. Justice Sir Frank C.O. Beaman. The firm's name was then changed to Manilal Kher Ambalal & Co.[6]
Political career
B. G. Kher's political career began in 1922. He was appointed as the Secretary of the Bombay branch of the Swaraj Party.[1] During the Civil disobedience movement, he was arrested and sentenced to eight months' rigorous imprisonment and fine in 1930. He was again arrested in 1932 and sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment and fine.
He became the second Prime Minister of the Bombay Province succeeding Dhanjishah Cooper in 1937 and continued in office until November 1939. He was arrested and imprisoned in 1940. During the Quit India struggle, he was arrested again and imprisoned in August 1942. He was released from prison on 14 July 1944.
He again became the Prime Minister of the Bombay province on 30 March 1946. He was instrumental in the establishment of Poona University (Now called the "Savitribai Phule Pune University"). A building in the university campus is named after him as "Kher Bhavan." Little Gibbs Road in Malabar Hill area of Mumbai was designated as B.G. Kher Marg in 1976. Kher was in office until 21 April 1952.
Kher was recuperating from an asthma attack at a private nursing home in Pune before he died on 8 March 1957.[7]
Reception
Kher allotted plots of land in Bandra East to people belonging to the Hindu-Khatik (Scheduled caste) community in 1950–51. That area is known as Kherwadi in his memory. Kher established schools and a hospital, and provided electricity and water supply for people staying in Kherwadi. The Hindu-Khatik community celebrates his birthday at his statue at the Nanda Deep Garden, Kala Nagar, Bandra East.[citation needed]
Declassified MI5 documents were appreciative of Kher and described him as preferable to other political candidates, due to his honesty, sincerity and a preference for the "Anglo" way of administration.[8]
References
^ ab. The Hindu. Chennai, India. 9 March 2007. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012.
^"Indian autographers – Bal Gangadhar Kher". Indianautographs.com. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
^Bipan Chandra (1989). India's Struggle for Independence. Penguin Global. p. 332. ISBN978-0140107814.
^Vasant Moon; Eleanor Zelliot (2001). Growing Up Untouchable in India: A Dalit Autobiography. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 87–. ISBN978-0-7425-0881-1.
kher, balasaheb, gangadhar, kher, august, 1888, march, 1957, indian, politician, served, prime, minister, bombay, 1937, 1939, 1946, 1947, first, chief, minister, then, called, premier, bombay, state, 1947, 1952, awarded, padma, vibhushan, government, india, 19. Balasaheb Gangadhar Kher 24 August 1888 8 March 1957 1 2 was an Indian politician who served as the prime minister of Bombay 1937 1939 1946 1947 and the first chief minister then called Premier 3 of Bombay State 1947 1952 He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India in 1954 A lawyer solicitor and social worker by choice and politician by necessity Kher was often described as Sajjan good and gentle Kher was a scholar an accomplished orator and a man with no pretensions Balasaheb Gangadhar Kher1st Chief Minister of Bombay StateIn office 15 August 1947 21 April 1952GovernorRaja Maharaj SinghPreceded byOffice Established Himself as Prime Minister Succeeded byMorarji Desai2nd Prime Minister of Bombay StateIn office 30 March 1946 15 August 1947GovernorJohn ColvillePreceded byGovernor s RuleSucceeded byOffice Abolished Himself as Chief Minister In office 19 July 1937 2 November 1939GovernorRobert Duncan BellPreceded byDhanjishah CooperSucceeded byGovernor s RulePersonal detailsBorn24 August 1888Ratnagiri Bombay Presidency British IndiaDied8 March 1957 1957 03 08 aged 68 Pune Bombay State IndiaPolitical partyIndian National CongressAlma materWilson CollegeProfessionLawyer Politician Social worker Solicitor Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Reception 4 References 5 Further readingEarly life EditBalasaheb Gangadhar Kher was born on 24 August 1888 at Ratnagiri in a middle class Marathi speaking Karhade Brahmin 4 family He spent some years of his boyhood at Kundgol in the then Jamkhandi State Later he migrated at the instance of Gopal Krishna Gokhale to Pune to study at the New English School Later he obtained the degree of B A in 1908 from the Wilson College with high distinction and received the Bhau Daji Lad prize for standing first in Sanskrit 5 Mr B G Kher along with Mr Manilal Nanavati started a law firm called Manilal Kher amp Co The firm commenced practice on 7 June 1918 The firm was the only firm in Mumbai to have its inauguration ceremony being presided over by the renowned Judge Mr Justice Sir Frank C O Beaman The firm s name was then changed to Manilal Kher Ambalal amp Co 6 Political career EditB G Kher s political career began in 1922 He was appointed as the Secretary of the Bombay branch of the Swaraj Party 1 During the Civil disobedience movement he was arrested and sentenced to eight months rigorous imprisonment and fine in 1930 He was again arrested in 1932 and sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment and fine He became the second Prime Minister of the Bombay Province succeeding Dhanjishah Cooper in 1937 and continued in office until November 1939 He was arrested and imprisoned in 1940 During the Quit India struggle he was arrested again and imprisoned in August 1942 He was released from prison on 14 July 1944 He again became the Prime Minister of the Bombay province on 30 March 1946 He was instrumental in the establishment of Poona University Now called the Savitribai Phule Pune University A building in the university campus is named after him as Kher Bhavan Little Gibbs Road in Malabar Hill area of Mumbai was designated as B G Kher Marg in 1976 Kher was in office until 21 April 1952 Kher was recuperating from an asthma attack at a private nursing home in Pune before he died on 8 March 1957 7 Reception EditKher allotted plots of land in Bandra East to people belonging to the Hindu Khatik Scheduled caste community in 1950 51 That area is known as Kherwadi in his memory Kher established schools and a hospital and provided electricity and water supply for people staying in Kherwadi The Hindu Khatik community celebrates his birthday at his statue at the Nanda Deep Garden Kala Nagar Bandra East citation needed Declassified MI5 documents were appreciative of Kher and described him as preferable to other political candidates due to his honesty sincerity and a preference for the Anglo way of administration 8 References Edit a b This Day That Age The Hindu Chennai India 9 March 2007 Archived from the original on 2 March 2012 Indian autographers Bal Gangadhar Kher Indianautographs com Retrieved 5 September 2012 Bipan Chandra 1989 India s Struggle for Independence Penguin Global p 332 ISBN 978 0140107814 Vasant Moon Eleanor Zelliot 2001 Growing Up Untouchable in India A Dalit Autobiography Rowman amp Littlefield pp 87 ISBN 978 0 7425 0881 1 B G Kher Indian Post website Manilal Kher Ambalal amp Co Advocates Solicitors and Notary About us History Mkaco com Archived from the original on 3 May 2012 B G Kher Passes Away in Poona The Indian Express 9 March 1957 p 5 Retrieved 9 February 2018 Rashmee Roshan Lall 3 March 2007 Krishna Menon a sick man say MI5 documents The Times of India Archived from the original on 17 May 2013 Further reading EditKamath M V B G Kher The Gentleman Premier Mumbai Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Political officesPreceded byDhanjishah Cooper Prime Minister of Bombay Province19 July 1937 2 November 1939 Succeeded byGovernor s rulePreceded byGovernor s rule Prime Minister of Bombay Province30 March 1946 26 January 1950 Succeeded byPost abolishedPreceded byPost created Chief Minister of Bombay State26 January 1950 21 April 1952 Succeeded byMorarji DesaiDiplomatic postsPreceded byV K Krishna Menon High Commissioner for India1952 1954 Succeeded byVijaya Lakshmi Pandit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title B G Kher amp oldid 1123401938, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
