Baldev Singh

Early life and Political career

Baldev Singh Mann was born on July 11, 1902 in the Rupar district of Punjab to an aristocratic family. Mann was educated at the Khalsa College in Amritsar, and began working in his father’s firm in the steel industry. He rose to the position of director of the firm.
Mann won an election to the Punjab provincial assembly under the Government of India Act 1935 in 1937, as a candidate of the Panthic party. He became closely linked with Master Tara Singh and the Shiromani Akali Dal.

Cripps mission and World War II

See Also: Sir Stafford Cripps, History of India, Indian Independence Movement When the Cripps Mission arrived in India in 1942 to offer Indians some form of self-government, Baldev Singh was chosen to represent the Sikh community in the talks, which also included the chief Indian political party, the Indian National Congress and the Muslim separatist Muslim League party. The Mission failed to make any progress.
While the Congress Party launched the Quit India Movement, Baldev Singh and other Sikh leaders did not support it. Singh negotiated an agreement with Sikander Hyat Khan, the leader of the Unionist Muslim League to form a government in Punjab, and became the provincial Development Minister for a brief time in the summer of 1942.