Akali leader who won the Punjabi-speaking state in 1966; 1911-1972
Sant Fateh Singh
A preacher from the Bikaner canal colonies, Sant Fateh Singh entered politics in the 1950s, fasted for the Punjabi Suba in 1960-61, and took the Akali leadership from Master Tara Singh. The state of Punjab was formed under his leadership on 1 November 1966.
Rise
He was born on 27 October 1911 at Badiala and learned to read Punjabi at fifteen. He preached in Ganganagar district with Sant Channan Singh and built schools and gurdwaras. He joined the Punjabi Suba campaign in 1955-56 and led the agitation of 1960.[EoS]
Leadership
His twenty-two-day fast ended on 9 January 1961. He set up a rival Akali Dal in July 1962 and took the SGPC that October. In 1965 he announced a fast to be followed by self-immolation, and postponed it when war broke out. After the state was formed he fasted again over Chandigarh, ending on 30 January 1970. He passed away at Amritsar on 30 October 1972.[EoS][EoS]
