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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Sir Chandeshwar Prasad Narayan Singh
| honorific-suffix = [[Order of the Indian Empire|CIE]]
| image = Chandeshwar Prasad Narayan Singh.png
| order = 18th
| office = Governor of Uttar Pradesh
| term_start = 28 February 1980
| term_end = 31 March 1985
| 1blankname = Chief Minister
| 1namedata = [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh]]<br>[[Sripati Mishra]]<br>[[N. D. Tiwari]]
| predecessor = [[Ganpatrao Devji Tapase]]
| successor = [[Mohammed Usman Arif]]
| office1 = 2nd [[Governor of Punjab (India)|Governor of Punjab]]
| term_start1 = 11 March 1953
| term_end1 = 15 September 1958
| 1blankname1 = Chief Minister
| 1namedata1 = [[Bhim Sen Sachar]]<br>[[Partap Singh Kairon]]
| predecessor1 = [[Chandulal Madhavlal Trivedi]]
| successor1 = [[Narhar Vishnu Gadgil]]
| birth_date = 18 April 1901
| birth_place = Parasagarh, [[Saran District]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]] {{small|''(Now in [[Bihar]], [[India]])''}}
| death_date = {{Death year and age|1994|1901}}
| alma_mater = [[Calcutta University]]
}}
'''Sir Chandeshwar Prasad Narayan Singh''', [[Order of the Indian Empire|CIE]] (18 April 1901 – 1994)<ref>{{cite web|title=Sir Chandeshwar Prasad Narayan Singh – Governor of UP|url=http://upgovernor.gov.in/upgovernor.gov.in/singhbio.htm|website=upgovernor.gov.in|access-date=1 May 2019|archive-date=19 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219092954/http://upgovernor.gov.in/upgovernor.gov.in/singhbio.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> was an [[India]]n freedom fighter, diplomat and administrator.

==Early life==

Singh was born in the Bhumihar Jamindar family of Parsagarh in [[Saran district|Saran]] district of [[Bihar]].<ref name="upgovernor"/> He obtained an [[Master of Arts|M.A.]] from [[Calcutta University]],<ref>{{cite magazine |title=''India Today'', Volume 5, Issues 9-14 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EScKAQAAIAAJ |year= 1980|location=New Delhi |publisher=Living Media India |page=41 |quote=But late in the day, a new name has appeared: Doon School-educated C.P.N. Singh, 43, the Union Minister of state for defence production. }}</ref> from where he also obtained the Mallick Gold Medal in 1925. After returning to Bihar, he joined the national movement, getting elected to the then Bihar [[Legislative Council]] in 1927. He was also elected Chairman of the District Board of Muzaffarpur, where he organised relief efforts for earthquake victims of the [[1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake]].

==Career==

He was conferred a [[Order of the Indian Empire|Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE)]] in New Year Honours List of 1935.<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34119/supplements/6 London Gazette]</ref> In 1945, he was appointed as the [[Vice-Chancellor]] of the new Patna University. His contribution to development of a post-graduate course in the university was acclaimed by all.<ref name="B K Mishra">{{cite news
| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-11-17/patna/27895222_1_private-colleges-constituent-colleges-patna-university
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121023143519/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-11-17/patna/27895222_1_private-colleges-constituent-colleges-patna-university
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 23 October 2012
| title = Other Side Of The Coin
| author = B K Mishra
| work = [[The Times of India]]
| date = 17 November 2008
| access-date = 28 March 2009
}}</ref> He brought teachers of eminence from all over the country to administer the newly opened departments.<ref name="B K Mishra" />
Further, his support for the education of girls was highlighted and the tradition continues to this day with three of the thirteen colleges of Patna University being exclusively for girls, and another eight being co-educational with a high percentage of girls.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Patna University|url=http://www.statpatuniv.in}}</ref> The Patna University Institute of Psychological Research and Service, one of the oldest psychological service centres in [[East India|Eastern India]] was founded in 1945 by him. The institute is located at Krishna Kunj. The building housing the institute was donated to the university by the late [[Sir Ganesh Dutt]] Singh, an eminent educationist of the state.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-02-10/patna/27119027_1_institute-counselling-patna-university
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121022052655/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-02-10/patna/27119027_1_institute-counselling-patna-university
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 22 October 2012
| title = PU institute falls prey to neglect
| work = [[The Times of India]]
| date = 10 February 2002
| access-date = 9 November 2008
}}</ref> In 1946 he was conferred his knighthood.<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37598/supplements/2757 London Gazette]</ref>

After independence, in 1949, he was invited by the then Prime Minister of India, [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], to become India's ambassador to Nepal. It was during this tenure that the [[King of Nepal]] sought refuge at the Indian embassy in 1950. After completing his tenure in Kathmandu, he was appointed as the [[Governors of India|Governor]] of undivided Punjab in 1953. Under his aegis that the city of Chandigarh as well as the [[Bhakra Dam]] were built. The establishment of the [[Kurukshetra University]] was his dream. He wanted to set up an institute to promote [[Indian culture]] and traditions.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070112/haryana.htm
| author = Yoginder Gupta
| title = Critical thinkers must for growth: Datta
| work = [[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]
| date = 2007-01-12
| access-date = 2008-11-08
}}</ref> He was also appointed as the governor of Uttar Pradesh.<ref name=upgovernor>{{cite web
| url = http://upgovernor.gov.in/singhbio.htm
| title = Shri. Chandeshwar Prasad Narayan Singh
| publisher = [[Raj Bhavan (Uttar Pradesh)]]
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105065047/http://upgovernor.gov.in/singhbio.htm
|archive-date=2009-01-05
| access-date = 2008-08-19
}}</ref> He was a close friend of Jawaharlal Nehru.<ref name="Nehru's legacy to India">{{cite journal | url=http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl2120/stories/20041008000307600.htm | title=Nehru's legacy to India | author=A. G. Noorani | journal=Frontline |date=September 2004 | volume=21 | issue=20}}</ref> Also, [[Pracheen Kala Kendra]], an institution for arts and culture was established in [[Chandigarh]] in 1956 with his active support and kind patronage.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.pracheenkalakendra.org/aboutus_founders.php
| author = Pracheen Kala Kendra
| title = Pracheen Kala Kendra, Organization dedicated to art and culture
| publisher = Pracheen Kala Kendra
| date = 9 November 2008
| access-date = 9 November 2008
| url-status = dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090205135114/http://pracheenkalakendra.org/aboutus_founders.php
| archive-date = 5 February 2009
}}</ref> In 1958, he went as India's ambassador to Japan. There he was given an honorary doctorate from [[Ohtani University]]. Unable to continue in that post, due to ill-health, he was forced to come back to [[India]].{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}

==Zamindari==
Singh opposed the abolition of zamindari, along with [[Kameshwar Singh]] of [[Raj Darbhanga]].<ref name="Agrarian Unrest and Socio-Economic Change, 1900-1980">{{cite book | title=Agrarian Unrest and Socio-Economic Change, 1900-1980 | publisher=South Asia Books | author=Arvind Das | year=1983 | pages=188 | isbn=978-0836409673}}</ref>

Singh was the leader of the pro-establishment landed aristocracy. His speeches from the opposition bench against Restoration of the Bakasht Land Act and the Bihr Tenancy Act by the Congress Ministry during 1937-39 and [[Sri Krishna Sinha]]'s forceful defence, though they added a memorable chapter in the province's legislative history, marked the division of the aristocracy into pro and anti-Congress factions.<ref name="niyogi">{{cite book
| first = Sumanta
| last = Niyogi
| title = Essays on Modern History
| publisher = Janaki Prakashan
| year = 2010
|page=158
}}</ref>

==Retirement==

After retirement he became a director of the [[Reserve Bank of India]] and the [[IDBI Bank]], and chairman of several companies. In 1977 he was honoured with a [[Padma Vibhushan]] for meritorious services rendered to the country.<ref name=upgovernor />

Singh's focus on the empowerment of women, both in his family and outside, was well known. He supported his daughter, Pratibha Singh, to become a multiple term member of the Rajya Sabha.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Former Members of the Rajya Sabha|url=https://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/member_site/Main.aspx}}</ref> He was responsible for his granddaughter, Ratna Singh (now Ratna Vira), who topped the CBSE board examination, joining the prestigious St. Stephen's College in Delhi, against opposition from other members of the family. Ratna Vira is a best-selling author and artist,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-08-11|title=About Ratna Vira|url=http://ratnavira.com/dbco-forum/about-ratna-vira/|access-date=2020-12-05|website=Ratna Vira|language=en-GB}}</ref> and her first book, Daughter By Court Order, has received a lot of acclaim.<ref>{{Cite web|last=vishav|date=2014-07-27|title=A daughter strikes back; Ratna Vira literary debut|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140726/lifestyle-booksart/article/daughter-strikes-back-ratna-vira-literary-debut|access-date=2020-12-05|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en}}</ref>

C. P. N. Singh's family estates, that were a part of his Hindu Undivided Family, are the matter of a partition in the Patna civil court. The women of the family as supported by the Supreme Court of India order,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Correspondent|first=Legal|date=2020-08-11|title=Daughters have equal birthright to inherit property: Supreme Court|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/daughters-have-equal-coparcenary-rights-in-joint-hindu-family-property-supreme-court/article32325891.ece|access-date=2020-12-05|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> among others, have asserted their rights in Singh's HUF.

His grandson, Ashok Harshwardhan, and great grandson, Aradhya Harshwardhan, are involved in various social welfare programs in their ancestral village, Sursand.<ref>https://www.jagran.com/bihar/sitamarhi-15077177.html</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=50em}}
{{Governors of Uttar Pradesh}}
{{Padma Vibhushan Awards}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Chandeshwar Prasad Narayan}}
[[Category:1901 births]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Nepal]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Japan|1958]]
[[Category:Governors of Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Governors of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in literature & education]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire]]
[[Category:Indian knights]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian educational theorists]]
[[Category:Bihari politicians]]
[[Category:People from Saran district]]

Chandeshwar Prasad Narayan Singh - Revision history

imported>Dewritech at 13:00, 4 August 2021