Morarji Ranchhodji Desai was an Indian independence activist and politician who served as the 4th Prime Minister of India between 1977 and 1979 leading the government formed by the Janata Party. During his long career in politics, he held many important posts in government such as Chief Minister of Bombay State, Home Minister, Finance Minister and 2nd Deputy Prime Minister of India.
Desai in 1978
Desai in 1937, as Congress Home Minister of Bombay Presidency
Desai (third from right, front row) with the US President Jimmy Carter during his January 1978 visit to India.
Desai with the Romanian President Nicolae Ceauşescu in Delhi in May 1978.
The prime minister of India is the head of government of the Republic of India. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and his chosen Council of Ministers, despite the president of India being the nominal head of the executive. The prime minister has to be a member of one of the houses of bicameral Parliament of India, alongside heading the respective house. The prime minister and their cabinet are at all times responsible to the Lok Sabha.
Lord Mountbatten swears in Jawaharlal Nehru as the first Prime Minister of India on 15 August 1947.
Lal Bahadur Shastri, K. Kamaraj, and Nehru, ca. 1963
Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Shahbanu Farah Pahlavi of Iran being received by prime minister Indira Gandhi at New Delhi airport, 1970
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, left with PM Rajiv Gandhi, Prince Claus, and Sonia Gandhi, The Hague, 1985
