Gujral, I. K. (1919-2012), served as India’s prime minister, as leader of the Janata Dal Party, from April 1997 to March 1998. As prime minister, he was the head of a coalition of parties called the United Front. He also represented India in a number of foreign affairs posts.
Inder Kumar Gujral was born in Jhelum (now in Pakistan) on Dec. 4, 1919. He was jailed in 1942 during the Quit India Movement, an attempt by Indian nationalists to expel the British from India. First elected to Parliament in 1964, he was minister of communications, minister of information, minister of works and housing, and minister of planning between 1967 and 1976. From 1976 to 1980, he was India’s ambassador to the Soviet Union, with cabinet rank. He was minister of external affairs from 1989 to 1990 and from 1996 to 1998. Gujral retired from Parliament in 1999. Gujral died on Nov. 30, 2012.
