As flags fly and India’s 2022 Republic Day Parade takes place, it’s interesting to note that the iconic event has an interesting theme behind it – history.
The Indian Army’s marching contingents are one of the annual parade’s biggest highlights. Looking back at the nation’s past, three marching contingents of the Indian Army wore uniforms and held standard-issue rifles from several older decades – a homage to India’s rich and storied past.
Its in the same spirit that we’d like to revisit one of India’s most important governmental legacies – the body of its cabinet ministers. As it came to its full strength towards the end of the 1940s, these men (and one woman) would come to shape the future of a nation that had just tasted freedom, with both harrowing challenges and great triumphs ahead of them.
Here’s a lowdown on each cabinet member featured in this iconic image, and their greatest contributions to the country:
1. Jawaharlal Nehru
Portfolio: Prime Minister, Minister of External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations, Minister of Scientific Research
Took Office: 15th August 1947
As India’s first prime minister, Nehru needs little introduction. As the man behind this cabinet, his choice of fifteen initial members represented a solid wealth of experience and talent – as well as diversity considering the times.
2. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Portfolio: Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs and States, Minister of Information and Broadcasting
Took Office: 15th August 1947
One of the INC’s senior most leaders, Sardar Patel’s tireless efforts to integrate all 565 princely states of India was, quite simply, one of the greatest diplomatic achievements of the 20th century. As the humble son of a farmer, his efforts in social reformation and state consolidation paved the way for a unified, strengthened, independent India.
3. Ranganath Ramachandra Diwakar
Portfolio: Minister of Information and Broadcasting
Took Office: 1st April 1949
An intelligent, highly cultured author and politician, R.R. Diwakar’s close relations with Mohandas Gandhi and fondness for Sri Aurobindo made him one of India’s most unique ministers. Writing several books across his lifetime, Diwakar is also one of the most prolific English, Kannada, and Hindi authors of his time.
4. John Mathai
Portfolio: Minister of Finance, Minister of Railways and Transport
Took Office: 22 September 1948
One of India’s most highly educated economists, Mathai developed a strong wealth of experience pre-independence, as an active government servant, director of Tata Group, and architect of the Bombay Plan. As an independent Indian, he would first head the Railway & Transport ministry, before presenting two budgets and pursuing his academic interests.
5. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar
Portfolio: Minister of Law
Took Office: 15th August 1947
An exemplary Indian on all accounts, B.R. Ambedkar’s legacy still continues today. A champion of social justice and a master of law and economics, he developed a reputation as a staunch critic of India’s elites, constantly advocating against the plague of caste discrimination. Many of these ideas were preserved in brilliantly penned essays that still resonate with Indians decades after they were first published.
6. Sardar Baldev Singh
Portfolio: Minister of Defence
Took Office: 15th August 1947
One of India’s key partition figures, Baldev Singh was instrumental in both representing Sikh interests during the independence era, as well as handling national security and army relief programs during the horrors of partition.
7. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Portfolio: Minister of Education
Took Office: 15th August 1947
An activist, theologian, poet, and accomplished orator, Azad – as he called himself in his writings – was the youngest ever INC president at 35, and a key figure of Hindu-Muslim unity during his time. He was also instrumental in setting up many of the country’s finest universities, and constantly advocated for the education of India’s rural poor and girls.
8. Rajendra Prasad
Portfolio: President, Minister of Food and Agriculture
Took Office: 15th August 1947
While most know of Prasad’s career as an activist and as India’s first president, he also handled a key role in Nehru’s first cabinet. As the only president to serve two terms, he consistently advised the cabinet on key matters, established parliamentary guidelines, and served as a diplomat with foreign nations.
9. Jagjivan Ram
Portfolio: Minister of Labour
Took Office: 15th August 1947
Known as ‘Babuji’, Ragjivan Ram was the youngest cabinet minister and another key figure in the fight against caste discrimination. Apart from his work as an activist and politician, he played several key ministerial roles – eventually heading India’s defence ministry during the crucial Indo-Pak war of 1971.
10. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
Portfolio: Minister of Health
Took Office: 15th August 1947
The only woman on the cabinet and also a member of the Kapurthala royal family, Amrit Kaur worked as Gandhi’s secretary for 16 years – becoming a close confidant and key anti-British figure during the Quit India movement. As Health Minister, she fought tirelessly to cull malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases – saving countless lives while setting up the prestigious AIIMS institute in New Delhi.
11. Syama Prasad Mukherjee
Portfolio: Minister of Commerce and Industry
Took Office: 15th August 1947
A key politician, barrister, and academic, Mukherjee holds the unique distinction of being the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which eventually became the currently-ruling BJP party. As one of the few ministers who quit Nehru’s cabinet, he strongly opposed Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370, along with many other INC policies.
12. Narasimha Gopalaswami Ayyangar
Portfolio: Minister of Railways and Transport, Rajya Sabha Leader, Kashmir Affairs Representative
Took Office: 15th August, 1947
Part of the drafting committee of India’s Constitution, Ayyangar was a skilled statesman who handled much of the delicate diplomacy involved in Jammu and Kashmir – he was the state’s PM for over half a decade pre-independance. After 1947, he made great strides in streamlining, reorganizing, and upgrading the structure of India’s railways and government committees.
13. Rafi Ahmed Kidwai
Portfolio: Minister of Communications
Took Office: 15th August 1947
One of the Indian independence movement’s greatest socialist leaders, Kidwai was a major follower of Nehru’s philosophies, and successfully guided India through everything from agricultural reforms to the widespread adoption of telephonic services in the nation.
14. Narhar Vishnu Gadgil
Portfolio: Minister of Works, Mines, and Power
Took Office: 15th August 1947
Jailed eight times by the British during the independence era, Gadgil is one of the most important Marathi representatives in India’s early governance. A skilled writer and statesman, he set forth immense development projects that established new roads and dams, while writing works on politics, economics, law, and history.
15. Jairamdas Daulatram
Portfolio: Minister of Agriculture
Took Office: 19th January 1948
Well-known as a skilled arbitrator and often the bridge between the INC’s opposing ideological ends, Daulatram was key as Gandhi’s right-hand man during several independence movements. A major representative of India’s Sindhi community, he also was responsible for creating the legendary Assam Rifles regiment as the state’s governor.
16. Kshitish Chandra Neogy
Portfolio: Minister of Relief and Rehabilitation
Took Office: 15th August 1947
A bridge between the United Nations Commision and India’s government, Neogy held several important posts in his career – from key posts in the Railways to heading the Commerce and Industry Ministry in Nehru’s second cabinet.
17. Mohanlal Saxena
Portfolio: Minister of Rehabilitation, Minister without portfolio
Took Office: 15th August 1947
An Indian author and politician hailing from Uttar PRadesh, Saxena held several important positions throughout his career – working with the Legislative Council as well as both Parliamentary houses.
(Featured Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)
