Dharma Vira

Dharma Vira was an officer of the Indian Civil Service who was Governor of Punjab in 1966, the year the old Punjab was divided and the Punjabi-speaking state came into being. Khushwant Singh writes that President's Rule was imposed on the Punjab to facilitate the redrawing of boundaries, with Dharma Vira of the ICS as Governor. Gurmit Singh likewise writes that a senior I.C.S. officer, Mr Dharam Vir, was made Governor so that the boundaries of the new states could be enforced conveniently.

Wikipedia says he was born at Bijnor in the United Provinces, passed the Indian Civil Service examination in 1930 and rose through the Government of India. Khushwant Singh calls him a former principal private secretary to Jawaharlal Nehru, and a cabinet secretary and governor. Wikipedia dates his time as Cabinet Secretary from 18 November 1964 to 27 June 1966.

Key moments

• 27 June 1966: Wikipedia's list of governors dates his term as Governor of Punjab from this day to 1 June 1967.
• 5 July to 1 November 1966: President's Rule in Punjab, according to Wikipedia's list of chief ministers.
• 1 November 1966: the Punjabi-speaking state comes into being, and Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir replaces Ram Kishen as Chief Minister, Khushwant Singh writes.
• 1967 to 1972: The Tribune says he was Governor of West Bengal from 1967 to 1969 and then of Karnataka, which was then called Mysore, until 1972.
• 1977 to 1983: Wikipedia says he chaired the National Police Commission.
• 16 November 1984: he was among the signatories of a statement that asked the government to set up a tribunal of three non-political, non-official persons to inquire into the events of 31 October to 4 November and announced a Citizens' Commission of five eminent persons. Khushwant Singh says the Commission was set up at the request of ten people, among them Dharma Vira, Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh and Soli Sorabjee.
• 16 September 2000: he died in New Delhi. The Tribune quotes the President, K. R. Narayanan, calling him "a model public servant, staunchly independent".

Remembered for: running Punjab as Governor while its boundaries were redrawn, and, in his later years, joining the call for an inquiry into the killing of Sikhs in Delhi in November 1984.