Kalyan Singh – the first and the original Sigma Male of India

The demolition of illegitimate Babri Masjid on 6th December 1992 is considered to be the single biggest moment that turned the spectrum of secularism debate upside down in our country. Everyone credits Lal Krishna Advani and other prominent leaders for their galvanising efforts, but Kalyan Singh’s passive role in the movement often get unnoticed.

Atrauli born soft-spoken leader

Born on 5th January 1937 in a Lodh-Rajput community, in Atrauli town of Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh district, Kalyan Singh was a devout Swayamsevak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from his younger days. In spite of being connected to RSS from his early days, Shri Singh harboured no political ambition for himself.

He started his career as a teacher of Social Sciences at the Raipur inter-college of Atrauli. As fate would have it, he contested his first Vidhan Sabha seat from his home district Atrauli in 1967. He went on to hold this seat from 1967 to 1977 as a Bharatiya Jana Sangh candidate and again from 1985 to 1996 as a Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate.

Brought BJP in Uttar Pradesh

Shri Kalyan Singh is credited for bringing BJP into the fold of Uttar Pradesh politics. It was Kalyan Singh who spearheaded the first BJP government in any state after the government came to power in 1991, the first-ever victory for the party in a state election.

He took charge of the state at a time when no other politician would have dared to even think of it. This was the time when the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement was at its peak, and even after the detention of Lal Krishna Advani by Lalu Yadav and the massacre of unarmed “Kar Sevaks” by the Mulayam Singh Yadav government in Ayodhya, the enthusiasm of the Sanatanis, looking to undo the historic wrongs did not diminish.

Business and development-friendly leader

The Ram Mandir movement was at its absolute Zenith. Crores of Kar Sevaks were ready to flock to Ayodhaya for the purpose of establishing the Mandir of Bhagwan Ram. On the other hand, ‘secular’ parties like Congress, RJD, SP, and others had vowed to stop the Kar Sevaks. Amidst all these controversies, Shri Singh built up his image as a pro-development, pro-law and order, and business-friendly leader in the minds of the people of the UP. Like today’s Yogi Adityanath regime, his regime is also known for providing full freedom to law enforcement agencies in order to eliminate criminals.

Babri Demolition and formal order not to shoot Kar Sevaks

The developmentally inclined image of Shri Singh turned out to be a big boon for the Ram Mandir movement. Singh’s administration decided to purchase 2.77 acres of land adjacent to Babri Masjid for attracting tourists at Ram Janmbhoomi. He had also promised to build a Hindu Mandir on the newly purchased land, which led to the removal of Baba Lal Das from being a Pandit of the Mandir built inside of then-existing Babri Masjid. He was removed from his post because of being a vocal opponent of building Ram Mandir.

On the historical day of 6th December 1992, various pro-Hindu leaders organised a speech at Babri Masjid along with more than 1, 50,000 Kar Sevaks. The events took a slightly revolutionary turn and Kar Sevaks went on to destroy the pre-existing Babri Masjid. All happened under the chief ministership of Shri Kalyan Singh. But, unlike Mulayam Singh’s Muslim appeasement, he passed a formally written order in which he had clearly forbid the Uttar Pradesh Police to not fire a single bullet against Kar Sevaks.

Read more: A timeline of how Babri Masjid was demolished brick by brick, hammer after hammer

During an interview, Kalyan Singh pronounced that he was proud of his decision. “That day (December 6) amid the build-up, I got a call from the district magistrate of Ayodhya saying that nearly 3.5 lakh Kar Sevaks had assembled. I was told that central forces were on their way to the temple town but their movement was halted by Kar Sevaks outside Saketcollege. I was asked whether to order firing (on Kar Sevaks) or not. I denied permission in writing and said in my order, which is still there on the files, that firing would lead to the loss of many lives, chaos, and law and order issues across the country.” said Kalyan.

Read more: Kalyan Singh, the chief minister who revered BhagwanShri Ram more than his chair

As soon as Masjid was demolished, Kalyan Singh was forced to resign by the central government as the president’s rule was applied in the state. Later, fresh elections were held in 1993, in which he led the party to garner a massive 177 seats in the state. The Babri demolition saw a huge upsurge in Kalyan’s popularity as instead of one, he contested two assembly seats in the election and emerged victorious in both. In spite of BJP being the single majority party, SP and BSP formed a coalition government to stop the Kalyan Singh-led BJP’s rath in the state.

An astute figure always proud of his decisions

In his second stint as the chief minister of UP, the state government withdrew cases against those accused of demolishing Babri Masjid. He further stated that Ram Mandir would be built at the same place if BJP comes to power at the centre. Later in 2020, a special CBI court also relieved him of all charges of Babri demolition on him.

Singh was always proud of his decision to support Ram Bhakts. He did not consider the demolition as a matter of shame. In an interview, he had said, “I am not sorry for the demolition of the structure. Nor do I feel any contrition for it. No regrets, no repentance, no sorrow, no grief. Following the demolition of the controversial structure, many regard the event as a matter of national shame but I say that it is a matter of national pride.”

He left for the heavenly abode in August this year with his last wish being reborn in Ayodhaya. Since he was a politician, various people belonging to different spectrums may remember him according to their respective inclinations, but for a Ram Bhakt and a true Hindu, he will always be remembered as a politician who chose his faith over any political greed.