Gujral, Inder Kumar, 1919–2012, Indian political leader, prime minister of India (1997–98), b. Jhelum, British India (now in Pakistan). Active in the Indian independence movement, he was a member of the Congress party until the mid-1980s, when he joined the Janata Dal party. He served as India's ambassador to the Soviet Union (1976–80) and became minister of external affairs under V. P. Singh (1989–90) and under H. D. Deve Gowda (1996–98). During his second tenure he enunciated the “Gujral Doctrine,” a set of principles for respectful, peaceful relations with India's neighbors that did not insist on reciprocity. He became prime minister as head of a United Front coalition government with the tacit support of the Congress party after Deve Gowda lost that support, but resigned 11 months later when Congress withdrew its support.
See his autobiography (2011).
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