Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant, the son of Pandit Manorath Pant, was born on 10th September, 1887 at Khoont in Almora district, Uttar Pradesh. He graduated from Allahabad University, developing there a lasting nationalistic fervour.

He became a successful lawyer and, gradually, an eminent public figure of Kumaon. Instrumental in the founding of Prem Sabha and Kumaon Parishad, he represented Kumaon at the  Congress  Session  in  1916.

Pandit Motilal Nehru nominated him  the leader of the  Swaraj Party in the U.P. Legislative Council in 1923. He actively participated in the anti-Simon Commission - agitation and in the Civil Disobedience Movement, facing injury and  imprisonment.

As Chairman of the U.P. Agrarian Committee he submitted a report on agrarian distress in the State. He was an active member of the Congress Working Committee and the Congress Parliamentary  Board.

Elected to the Central Legislative Assembly in 1934, he proved an accomplished parliamentarian. As Premier of the then United Provinces from 1937 to 1939 he piloted the U.P Tenancy Act and secured the release of the prisoners involved in the Kakori Case. His Government however resigned in 1939 on the issue of India 's participation  in the War.

Pandit Pant was imprisoned for a year under Individual Satyagraha in 1940 and again for almost three years during the Quit India Movement in 1942. He actively participated in the negotiations on the grant of Indian Independence, attending the Simla Conference in 1945. He contributed to the framing of the Constitution as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India, its committees and sub committees. At the AICC meeting on 14th June 1947,  he moved the historic resolution, seconded by Nehru and Patel, that led to the passing of. the Indian Independence Act by the British Parliament, partitioning  the  country.

During his Chief Ministership (1946-54), Uttar Pradesh made substantial progress, notable achievements being the abolition of zamindari, launching of agricultural development schemes, reorganisation of the educational system and improvement of the administrative machinery. He was the leader of the Rajya Sabha and the Union Home Minister from 1955 till his death on 7th March 1961. His services to the nation were recognised in 1957 with the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest award.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India