Morarji Desai (Desai Morarji)

(1896-1995)
Born February 29, 1896 in the village Bhadeli (Western India). He graduated from Bombay University. In 1918 he entered the civil service in Bombay, left in 1930, joining organized by Gandhi's civil disobedience movement. Entry into the Indian National Congress (INC). In 1937 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the province, entered the office. In 1939, ministers are members of Congress have left their posts in protest against the unilateral British decision to join India in the Second World War. During the war, along with other activists of the party was in prison.
In 1946 he was re-elected to the legislature in Bombay, was Minister of State for Home Affairs and Public Duties. In 1952-1956 was the chief minister of the State. In 1956 entered the government as Minister of Trade and Industry. In 1957 was elected to the Indian Parliament in 1958 was appointed Minister of Finance. In 1961, considered as a possible successor to Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1963, Desai, along with several other leaders of the Congress was forced to resign. In 1964, after the death of Nehru, Desai was one of the candidates for prime minister, but the Congress leadership has decided to appoint the prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. In 1966, when Shastri died, Desai once again lost the fight for the post of head of government, this time Indira Gandhi.

In 1967, Desai entered the cabinet of Indira Gandhi. In November 1969 the party split, and Desai joined the opposition.

In 1975, Indira Gandhi, in response to unfolded against her campaign has introduced a state of emergency. Desai was arrested. Was in prison until January 1977. Headed a block of several non-Communist opposition parties - the Janata (People's), which won the subsequent parliamentary elections. Took the chair of the Prime Minister, but in 1979 the Janata collapsed and Desai resigned. Died Desai in Bombay, April 10, 1995.