Parkash Singh Badal: Chief Minister of the masses

Two years have passed since Punjab bid farewell to Parkash Singh Badal — a five-time Chief Minister and one of the longest-serving, too; the tallest Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader; and above all, a true son of the soil. In 1970, he was the youngest CM in the country.

Born on December 8, 1927, in the small village of Abul Khurana (now in Muktsar district), Badal entered politics in 1952, becoming the country’s youngest sarpanch; and was first elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1957. There was no looking back, except for two defeats in 1967 and 2022.

Badal also held positions in the Central government, becoming a central figure in the politics of both Punjab and India. He was deeply involved in issues related to farmers, federalism and Sikhs. Over the years, he played a key role in negotiating Punjab’s complex relationship with the Centre, especially during delicate times.

While today’s politics is mostly about noise and aggression, Badal believed in a quiet and steady leadership, focusing on building consensus rather than creating conflicts.

A unique feature of his governance was the ‘Sangat Darshan’—a programme where he travelled from village to village, holding meetings to directly address people’s grievances. For many, these gatherings were not just about getting problems solved, they were about being heard by someone in power who cared.

Often called the ‘Chief Minister of the masses’, Badal had a rare connection with the common people. In his long career, he covered almost all the villages in the state.

In 2011, he was honoured with the title of ‘Panth Rattan Faqr-e-Qaum‘ (pride of the Sikh community) by Akal Takht. He was, however, posthumously stripped of the title on December 2, 2024.

With his death, an important chapter in Punjab’s history came to an end. But his legacy of debates around farmers’ rights, federal powers, and secularism continues to shape the state’s present and future. “Politics is a medium to serve, not to rule,” he once stated.

Known for his simplicity, accessibility, punctuality and humility, he always appealed to the public to maintain communal harmony and brotherhood. Despite his position and age, he used to address youngsters as kaka ji and the elderly as sahib. He was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan in 2015, which he returned in 2020 in protest against the three contentious farm laws.

Features