𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐡 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝟏𝟗𝟒𝟐

Mahatma Sardar Budh Singh was the first president of National Conference in 1942 and second in 1944. The only other person who occupied that august office before 1953 was no other than Sheikh Abdullah.
Budh Singh was born in May, 16, 1884 at Mirpur, a District headquarter in Jammu region now a part of Azad Kashmir. His father Anant Ram was an Advocate. In 1906, he joined service as a Camp Clerk to the settlement Commissioner, on /Englishman named Talbot, whose simple life greatly influenced the impressionable young man, it 28, he became a Tehsildar.

Budh Singh made his debut in public life when he was still in Government service. As a Tehsildar and latter as Deputy Commissioner, he made strong representations to the Maharaja and his senior officers against prevalent corruption, poverty and injustice. He was the first person to demand elementary political and social rights for the people.
Moved by the plight of the labourers whom he saw doing ‘beggar’ (work without payment), on his way from Jammu to Srinagar, he addressed two public meetings at Hazuribagh in Srinagar in 1922, Being the first ever expression of grievances of the oppressed, helpless and illiterate Kashmiris, it caused quite a few tremors in the official and non-oficials circles of the State. Once when he was posted at Kishtwar he received orders to get the bridal path repaired through ‘begar’ as Hari Singh (who was heir aprarent of that time) was to visit that area. He wrote bank asking for the funds for the purpose. He demand. But they had to sanction the grant in order to get the path repaired in time for the royal visit. Again, when Hari Singh wanted some horses to be shown to him out of which he could buy some,Budh Singh demanded three days wages from him for all those who had brought their horses for showing them to him.
On account of his reputation of integrity and saintliness and also his popularity among the people, Maharaja Pratap Singh took a generous view of his rather unusual actions. But the British officers took serious note of his activities and pressed the State Government for strong action against him. In 1925, he himself submitted his resignation from the prestigious post of Deputy Commissioner. He earned some unique distinctions which no other public man of the State had earned so far. His own community i.e Sikhs of the country honoured him by selecting him as one of the Panj Piaras (the holy five) to lay the foundation stops of the renovated temple at Punja Sahib.
Finally Kashmiris gave him the unique honour by electing him the After the Dogra Sabha, of which he was the President was banned by the Maharaja for the pro-Congress leadings of its President, Budh Singh founded the Kisan Party in 1934. The same year he was elected to the first State Assembly from Mrpur-Poonch Constituency. Later he alongwith a number of other progressive Hindus got in touch with Muslim Policemen of Kashmir led by Sheikh Abdullah to persuade them to form a common political party of all communities. He made main contribution to the conversion of the Muslim Conference to the National Conference in 1938. He remained its front rank leader till 1964 when he retired from politics.
Budh Singh was imprisoned for varying terms for three time His last imprisonment was in May, 1946 for participating in “Quit Kashmir’’ Movement. Though his earlier statements, memoranda and presidential addresses of the party which he headed were radical enough, he declared during his what was called treason trial in 1946 that time had passed for tinkering with the system through reforms.
After accession Budh Singh joined the first popular Government headed by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. In less than two years, his portfolios were changed thrice from Relief and rehabilitation to Health and then to Information and Broadcasting Eventually he resigned from the Cabinet on October 14, 1950.
He was elected the first President of the Provincial Unit of the Jammu National Conference when it was formed. As a Member of the Rajya Sabha, he defended the action taken against Sheikh Abdullah, including his dismissal from power and detention.
When Budh Singh returned from New Delhi after completing his second term in 1964 he was the loneliest person in Kashmir politics. He retired to his hut in Khanpur village near Jammu.
He lead the life of a hermit, cut off from the social and political life of the State, till he breathed his last on May 16, 1975.