- Purushottam Das Tandon
PACT: Mini Models
This negotiation contains a selection of mini-models designed to provide an insight into the ongoing work of PACT and to demonstrate Quill's approach to visualising the archive material and tracking the process of negotiation. It differs from our usual approach in that we will be presenting only certain documents and moments in isolation, rather than including everything tabled during the course of a negotiation. This collection is still under construction, and we will be regularly adding small amounts of new material.
Purushottam Das Tandon
Quill platform ID: p17613.
(1882-1962)
Political Party: Indian National Congress
Biography: Purushottam Das Tandon, also known as Rajarshi, was born on 1 August , 1882, in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. After receiving his early education at home, he pursued higher studies at Muir Central College, earning an M.A. in History and an LLB in 1904. Tandon began his legal career in 1906, working under prominent lawyer Tej Bahadur Sapru at the Allahabad High Court. However, his growing involvement in politics led him to abandon his legal practice in 1921 to focus entirely on political activism.
Tandon joined the Indian National Congress during his college years. He quickly rose through the ranks, representing Allahabad at the All India Congress Committee in 1906 and later becoming a member of the Congress Working Committee. Throughout the freedom struggle, Tandon participated in the Non-Cooperation and Quit India movements, for which he was arrested several times. He was also a staunch advocate for farmers' rights, serving as President of the Kisan Sabha in 1934. Ideologically, Tandon aligned with Hindu-Hindi nationalism, championing Hindi in the Nagari script as India’s national language and opposing the use of Urdu.
In his later years, Tandon continued to shape India's political landscape. He became Congress President in 1950, a position that sparked ideological tensions with Jawaharlal Nehru due to Tandon's right-wing leanings. This rift ultimately led to his resignation in 1951. He subsequently served in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and was honored with the Bharat Ratna in 1961 for his contributions to public affairs. A prolific writer and promoter of Hindi, Tandon’s works included essays compiled in Ṭaṇḍana Nibandhāvali and the biographical account, The Unforgettable Nehru.
Member of United Provinces—PACT: Mini Models.
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