Satish Prasad Singh
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Contents |
Satish Prasad Singh: A Detailed Biography
Courtesy Perplexity AI
Early Life and Background
Satish Prasad Singh was born on January 1, 1936, in Korchakka village of Khagaria district, Bihar. He hailed from the Koeri (Kushwaha) community, considered part of the Other Backward Classes (OBC), and was raised in a prosperous land-holding family with substantial agricultural property. Singh’s upbringing in a relatively privileged rural milieu contrasted with the greater social justice struggles he would later champion.wikipedia+4 =Education and Early Influences= Singh completed his studies at DJ College, Munger, and moved to Patna for higher education. His exposure to student and rural issues in Bihar, as well as his independent-mindedness, shaped his early interest in public service and social justice. He was inspired by socialist movements and the cause of backward-class advancement.jansatta+1
Social Change and Marriage
In a defining personal stand, Satish Prasad Singh married Gyan Kala, a woman from a different (Vaishya) community. The match defied strong caste and family opposition, so much so that Singh had to leave home, live modestly, and bear the brunt of social ostracism—earning him a reputation for challenging social norms and caste prejudice. This background foreshadowed his later leadership roles in Bihar’s emerging backward-class politics.hindi.asianetnews+2
Political Career and Early Success
Singh started his political journey through local involvement and initially associated with socialist parties, contesting elections on their ticket. He suffered two defeats before finally winning a seat from Parbatta constituency (Khagaria) in the 1967 Bihar legislative elections. He quickly became identified with the cause of the OBCs, representing the aspirations of marginalized rural voters.hindi.asianetnews
Chief Minister for Five Days: January–February 1968
Following the political instability in Bihar in early 1968, a complex seat-sharing formula was devised among three key backward communities—Koeris, Yadavs, and Kurmis. The arrangement decided that Satish Prasad Singh (Koeri), B.P. Mandal (Yadav), and Bhola Paswan Shastri (kurmi) would each serve successively as Chief Minister in short-lived coalition governments.jansatta+1 Satish Prasad Singh was sworn in as the 6th Chief Minister of Bihar on 28 January 1968, with outside support from the Indian National Congress. He thus became the first OBC Chief Minister in the state's history and one of the earliest in all of India.kids.kiddle+3 However, his tenure lasted just five days—making it the shortest CM term on record in Bihar—as he voluntarily stepped aside to allow B.P. Mandal to take over as part of the leadership rotation. Despite its brevity (Jan 28–Feb 1, 1968), his administration is seen as a turning point in the assertion of backward-class leadership in Bihar and as a landmark for the OBC political movement.drishtiias+2 =Parliamentary and Later Political Work= After his brief term as Chief Minister, Singh continued his political career. In 1980, he was elected as Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Khagaria representing the Indian National Congress, a seat he held until 1984.wikiwand+2 He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party for a period in the 2010s but left, protesting the BJP’s lack of adequate representation for his community. Throughout his political life, Singh consistently advocated for social justice, farmer rights, and increased representation for OBCs in both government and party ranks.wikipedia
Personal Life and Legacy
Singh is remembered not only for his five days as CM, but also for his significant personal and social contributions. He is widely seen as a pioneer and symbol of the backward caste political movement in Bihar. His daughter, Suchitra Singh, married Nagmani, son of OBC leader Jagdeo Prasad, reflecting continued association with backward-class assertion.wikipedia+2
Death
Satish Prasad Singh died on November 2, 2020, in Delhi from complications related to COVID-19, just five days after his wife Gyan Kala passed away from the same disease. He was 84 years old.kids.kiddle+2
Legacy and Significance
Although his government lasted less than a week, Singh’s elevation as Bihar’s first OBC chief minister was a watershed moment for social representation in the state. His story is often cited as proof that real leadership does not depend on lengthy tenure but on breaking social barriers and inspiring lasting change.hindi.asianetnews