Gokul Lal Asava | |
|---|---|
| 1st Prime Minister of Rajasthan | |
| In office 25 March 1948 – 18 April 1948 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Manikya Lal Verma |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1901-10-02)2 October 1901 |
| Party | Indian National Congress |
| Banaras Hindu University | |
Gokul Lal Asava was an Indian politician, independence activist, and professor of Philosophy. A member of the Indian National Congress, he briefly served as the first prime minister of the United State of Rajasthan[a] in 1948.[2][3]
Early life and education
Asava was born on 2 October 1901 in Deoli, Rajasthan, British India. He received his early education in Shahpura, Bhilwara and Ajmer. He later attended Banaras Hindu University, where he obtained Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees. Before entering politics, he worked as a professor of philosophy at D.A.V. High School and later taught at Heyward College in Kota collectively from 1928 to 1929.[2]
Career
Asava participated in political movements in princely Rajasthan states during the Indian independence movement. He was associated with prajamandal movement advocating representative government in princely states. During the 1930s and 1940s, he was imprisoned on multiple occasions for role in the Salt March.[2] He was also appointed as the president of the provincial Congress and a member of the All India Congress Committee (A.I.C.C.).[4]
Following independence of India and the reorganization of princely states, Asava became the first prime minister of the Rajasthan Union on 25 March 1948 unit Jawaharlal Nehru, the 1st prime minister of India merged the United Rajasthan into a state on 18 April 1948. The union included several princely states in southeastern Rajasthan. After the formation of the state of Rajasthan in April 1948, he served as deputy prime minister under Manikya Lal Verma to 1949.[5][2]
After the early 1950s, Asava gradually distanced from active politics. He died on 20 November 1981 in Jaipur, Rajasthan.[2]
Personal life
Asava was married to Kamaladevi.[2] His death date is not widely documented.
References
- Daniyal, Shoaib (2019-04-06). "Not only Kashmir: Till 1950, every Indian province had a prime minister". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
- "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Culture, Government of India". Digital District Repository. 2025-02-11. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
- "How the Rajasthan Assembly came into being". Deccan Herald. 2023-11-11. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
- "Gokul Lal Aswa". Kamat's Potpourri. 2026-01-12. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
- "Rajasthan Legislative Assembly". Rajasthan Legislative Assembly (in Latin). 1949-05-15. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
- The title prime minister was historically used for the heads of government of several princely states and newly formed state unions during the political integration of India before the office of chief minister became the standard designation under the constitution of India.[1]