Gulzarilal Nanda, Economist, Acting Prime Minister of India
Economist, Acting Prime Minister of India

Gulzarilal Nanda

Born 4 July 1898 · Pakistan — Died 15 January 1998

Served twice as acting Prime Minister of India after Nehru and Shastri's deaths in 1964 and 1966.

Gulzarilal Nanda was an Indian politician and economist who specialised in labour issues. He served as the acting Prime Minister of India for two 13-day tenures following the deaths of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964 and Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1966 respectively. Both his terms ended after the ruling Indian National Congress's parliamentary party elected a new prime minister. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1997.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Despite serving twice as acting Prime Minister of India, each tenure lasted exactly 13 days, a rare and precise political footnote in Indian history.

The Story

1
🌍 Born on 4 July 1898 in Sialkot, then British India and now in Pakistan, Gulzarilal Nanda was educated across Lahore, Agra, and Allahabad before becoming a research scholar on labour problems at Allahabad University in 1920.
2
In 1922, he took charge as secretary of the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association, holding the position for nearly 24 years until 1946, shaping labor rights during the turbulent pre-independence years.
3✊ Twice imprisoned for Satyagraha, first in 1932 and then from 1942 to 1944, Nanda's activism aligned closely with Mahatma Gandhi’s non-cooperation movement, which he joined in 1921.
4📅 In 1964 and again in 1966, Nanda stepped into the role of acting Prime Minister of India for exactly 13 days each, following the sudden deaths of Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri, navigating the nation through fragile political transitions.

🏅 Awards & Honours

1997
Bharat Ratna

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 1921, Gulzarilal Nanda shifted from academia to activism by joining the Non-Cooperation Movement led by Gandhi, signaling a decisive turn from economics to direct political engagement.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Birth in Sialkot, Punjab
Gulzarilal Nanda was born in Sialkot, Punjab, then part of British India, now in Pakistan.
1898
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Career
Research scholar on labour issues
Worked at University of Allahabad studying labour problems before joining academia.
1920
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Career
Secretary of Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association
Became secretary and served until 1946, influencing labor rights under colonial rule.
1922
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Other
First imprisonment for Satyagraha
Imprisoned for participating in civil disobedience against British authorities.
1932
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Career
First acting Prime Minister term
Served 13 days as acting Prime Minister after Nehru's death, maintaining political stability.
1964
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Career
Second acting Prime Minister term
Held acting PM role for 13 days after Lal Bahadur Shastri's death, guiding leadership transition.
1966
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Career
Resignation from Congress
Resigned from Indian National Congress citing dissatisfaction with prevailing politics.
1971
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Award
Awarded Bharat Ratna
Received India's highest civilian award at age 99, shortly before passing away.
1997
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Death
Death of Gulzarilal Nanda
Passed away at the age of 99, closing a century-long life of public service.
1998
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 06
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Nanda served as Secretary of the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association for 24 years (1922–1946), a period which saw him deeply involved in labor rights during British colonial rule.

02 / 06
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

Between 1942 and 1944, Nanda was imprisoned during the Quit India Movement, a critical period that intensified the Indian independence struggle.

03 / 06
💡SURPRISING

Nanda’s two acting prime ministerships in 1964 and 1966 were constitutionally unique as the Indian Constitution does not provide for an 'acting' Prime Minister.

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🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Biography of Gulzarilal Nanda, Former Acting Prime Minister of India, Bharat Ratna award winner
More from this archive
Biography of Gulzarilal Nanda, Former Acting Prime Minister of India, Bharat Ratna award winner
01
Biography of Gulzarilal Nanda, Former Acting Prime Minister of India, Bharat Ratna award winner
Gulzarilal Nanda | Former Prime Minister and Champion of Labour Rights
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Gulzarilal Nanda | Former Prime Minister and Champion of Labour Rights
1964 - Gulzari Lal Nanda address to the Nation | Kartavybodh #shorts
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1964 - Gulzari Lal Nanda address to the Nation | Kartavybodh #shorts
Gulzarilal Nanda story:भारत के ऐसे प्रधानमंत्री जो आखिरी दिनों में मकान का किराया भी नहीं दे पाते थे
04
Gulzarilal Nanda story:भारत के ऐसे प्रधानमंत्री जो आखिरी दिनों में मकान का किराया भी नहीं दे पाते थे
Gulzarilal Nanda | Former Prime Minister | Sangrahalaya Ke Galiyaron Se
05
Gulzarilal Nanda | Former Prime Minister | Sangrahalaya Ke Galiyaron Se
Fourteenth Gulzarilal Nanda Memorial Lecture by Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar
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Fourteenth Gulzarilal Nanda Memorial Lecture by Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar

🌱 What changed because of them

Gulzarilal Nanda’s long tenure with the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association and his role in piloting the Labour Disputes Bill laid foundational labor protections that influenced Indian labor law for decades. His work in organizing trade unions strengthened the Indian National Trade Union Congress, embedding labor rights within the political framework of independent India. His calm stewardship as acting Prime Minister ensured political continuity during crises following the deaths of two prime ministers.

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