Bhagat Singh Koshyari to receive Padma Bhushan from President Murmu today

my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 24 May: Former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and former Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari will be awarded the Padma Bhushan by President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi on 25 May.
Bhagat Singh Koshyari, fondly known as ‘Bhagat Da’ in Uttarakhand, is a distinguished social worker, educationist, journalist, and dedicated nationalist leader who has dedicated his life to public service and the uplift of the poor and marginalised sections of society. He is a dedicated RSS volunteer and is known for his simplicity, discipline, and deep love for learning.
Born on 17 June, 1942, in the remote village of Palandhura in the hilly region of Bageshwar district, Uttarakhand, Koshyari, despite his rural background, pursued higher education with determination and completed his Master’s degree in English Literature from Almora College, affiliated to Agra University, in 1964. He began his professional career as a lecturer at Raja Ka Rampur (Etah, Uttar Pradesh) during 1964-1965. However, inspired by the vision of nation-building through education, he devoted himself completely to academic and social service from 1965 onwards.
Koshyari began teaching at Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Kasganj (Uttar Pradesh), where he worked to impart modern education and Indian values ​​to young children. In 1966, he founded Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Pithoragarh, a border district of Uttarakhand, strengthening educational opportunities in remote areas. He also played a key role in the establishment of Vivekananda Inter College in Pithoragarh and was actively involved with Saraswati Vihar, Nainital. He served as the RSS Vibhag Karyavah for many years and later became the Secretary of Uttaranchal Utthan Parishad, an organisation dedicated to the development of primary and secondary education in Uttarakhand for decades. From 1979 to 1990, he was a member of the Executive Council of Kumaun University, making significant contributions to educational policy and institutional development. He also initiated the publication of the Hindi weekly “Parvat Piyush” from Pithoragarh to promote awareness and social consciousness. During the National Emergency, he was arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), reflecting his active participation in public life.
In 1997, Koshyari was nominated to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council. After the formation of Uttarakhand in November 2000, he became a Cabinet Minister in the state’s first cabinet and later briefly served as Chief Minister of Uttaranchal (now Uttarakhand). He also served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly. In 2008, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha, and in 2014, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar constituency. As Energy Minister in Uttarakhand, he played a key role in advancing the long-pending Tehri Hydro Project, which involved the relocation of the historic town of Tehri and the district headquarters. He also served as Chairman of the Petitions Committee in both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, where he presented detailed recommendations on important public issues such as One Rank One Pension, rail connectivity, and infrastructure development, including the Rishikesh-Karnprayag railway line. He was subsequently appointed as the Governor of Maharashtra on 5 September 2019, where he served effectively and visited almost all the districts of the state as well as several historically important forts. Furthermore, in August 2020, he was also appointed as the Governor (additional charge) of Goa.
In addition to his contributions to education and politics, Koshyari is also an author. He has written and published two books, “Why Uttaranchal Pradesh” and “Uttaranchal Pradesh: Struggle and Solution”, which reflect his vision and commitment to the development of Uttarakhand. His life is an inspiring example of dedication, leadership, and unwavering service to the nation.