On May 22, 2025 Satyapal Malik, a well-known Indian politician, was in the news for his bold statements about the Pulwama attack and his political career. He is a man who has spent many years in Indian politics. His life is full of interesting events. This article tells the story of Satyapal Malik’s life in simple English. It covers his early life, education, political journey, and important roles. The aim is to make his story easy to understand for everyone.
Early Life And Family
Satyapal Malik was born on July 24, 1946, in Hisawada village. This village is in Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh, India. He was born into a Jat family. His father, Budh Singh, was a farmer. Sadly, Satyapal lost his father when he was only one and a half years old. His mother, Jagbiri Devi, raised him alone. Life was not easy for young Satyapal. His family was simple and worked hard to survive. Growing up in a village taught him the value of hard work. He saw the struggles of farmers from a young age. This shaped his thinking and later influenced his politics.
Satyapal married Iqbal Kaur Sandhu on December 14, 1970. Iqbal is a teacher and a known environmentalist. They have a son named Dev Kabir. Dev is a famous graphic designer. He designed the logo for the popular beer brand Bira. Satyapal’s daughter-in-law is an IIT graduate. His family is educated and supports his work. Satyapal has always been proud of his family’s achievements.
Education
Satyapal Malik went to a primary school in a nearby village. Later, he studied at Dhikauli village’s Inter College for his secondary education. He was a bright student. He moved to Meerut College for higher studies. There, he earned a B.Sc. degree in 1966. After that, he studied law and completed his LLB in 1969. He also got a Diploma in Parliamentary Affairs from the Institute of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies in Delhi. His education gave him knowledge about law and politics. This helped him in his future career.
During his college days, Satyapal was active in student politics. He became the president of the student union at Meerut College in 1966-67. He won the election again in 1968-69. These early leadership roles showed his ability to lead. He was inspired by socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia. This shaped his ideas about helping farmers and common people.
Satyapal Malik Age, Wikipedia, Biography, Education, Religion, Wife, Family
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Satyapal Malik |
| Date of Birth | July 24, 1946 |
| Place of Birth | Hisawada village, Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Family Background | Born in a Jat family. Father: Budh Singh (farmer, died when Satyapal was 1.5 years old). Mother: Jagbiri Devi. |
| Marital Status | Married to Iqbal Kaur Sandhu on December 14, 1970 |
| Children | One son, Dev Kabir (graphic designer, created Bira beer logo) |
| Education | - Primary school in nearby village - Secondary: Dhikauli Inter College - B.Sc. from Meerut College (1966) - LLB from Meerut College (1969) - Diploma in Parliamentary Affairs, Delhi |
| Early Political Life | - Active in student politics at Meerut College - President of student union (1966-67, 1968-69) - Inspired by Ram Manohar Lohia |
| Political Career | - 1974: MLA from Baghpat (Bharatiya Kranti Dal, 42.4% votes) - 1980-86: Rajya Sabha (Lok Dal) - 1986-89: Re-elected Rajya Sabha - 1984: Joined Congress, left in 1987 (Bofors scam) - 1989: Lok Sabha (Aligarh, Janata Dal) - 1990: Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs & Tourism - 2004: Joined BJP - 2014: BJP Vice President |
| Governor Roles | - 2017-18: Bihar - 2018: Odisha (Mar-May) - 2018-19: Jammu and Kashmir - 2019-20: Goa - 2020-22: Meghalaya |
| Key Actions as Governor | - Dissolved J&K assembly (2018) - Supported removal of Article 370 (2019) - Spoke against farm laws (2020-21) |
| Controversies | - 2021: Claimed Rs 300 crore bribe offer in J&K - 2023: Spoke about Pulwama attack intelligence failures - Criticized central government, supported farmers’ protests |
| Personal Interests | - Loves history, music, photography - Wrote books on politics - Follows socialist ideas of Ram Manohar Lohia & Chaudhary Charan Singh |
| Recent News (2023) | - April 23, 2023: Statements on Pulwama attack & government pressure - Supported RLD & Samajwadi Party after 2022 - Faced issues with housing and security post-governorship |
| Current Status (2025) | - Active in public life, supports farmers’ rights - No longer a governor - Aligned with RLD & Samajwadi Party |
Early Political Career
Satyapal Malik started his political journey in the 1970s. In 1974, he joined the Bharatiya Kranti Dal, a party led by Chaudhary Charan Singh. That same year, he won an election to become a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Baghpat. He got 42.4% of the votes. He defeated Acharya Deepankar of the Communist Party of India. As an MLA, Satyapal focused on farmers’ issues. He spoke about their problems in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
In 1980, Satyapal was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh. He was a member of the Lok Dal party at that time. He served in the Rajya Sabha from 1980 to 1986. He was re-elected for another term from 1986 to 1989. During this time, he worked closely with leaders like Charan Singh and V.P. Singh. In 1984, he joined the Congress party. But in 1987, he left Congress because of the Bofors scam. He did not like corruption. He then joined V.P. Singh’s Janata Dal.
In 1989, Satyapal won the Lok Sabha election from Aligarh. He was a Janata Dal candidate. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) in the 9th Lok Sabha. In 1990, he served as the Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism. This was a short but important role. It showed his growing influence in Indian politics.
Joining the BJP
In 2004, Satyapal Malik joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He contested the Lok Sabha election from Baghpat but lost to Ajit Singh of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). Even though he lost, the BJP gave him important roles. In 2014, BJP leader Amit Shah made him one of the party’s 11 vice presidents. This was a big honor. Satyapal worked on important party tasks. He also led a parliamentary team to study the land acquisition bill. His team suggested changes to the bill, which the government accepted.
Governor Roles
Satyapal Malik’s career took a new turn in 2017. On September 30, 2017, he became the Governor of Bihar. He served in this role until August 2018. During this time, he also took charge as the Governor of Odisha from March to May 2018. On August 21, 2018, he was appointed the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. This was a big responsibility. He was the first politician to become the governor of Jammu and Kashmir since the 1980s.
As the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Satyapal made important decisions. In November 2018, he dissolved the state assembly. He said he did this to avoid forming a minority government. He wanted to act honestly. During his time, Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was removed on August 5, 2019. This was a historic moment. Satyapal’s role as governor was praised by some but criticized by others.
In November 2019, Satyapal was moved to Goa as its 18th governor. He served there until August 2020. Then, he became the Governor of Meghalaya. He stayed in this role until October 2022. As a governor, he often spoke about farmers’ rights. He criticized the central government’s farm laws. This made him popular among farmers but caused tension with the BJP.
Controversies and Bold Statements
Satyapal Malik is known for speaking his mind. In 2021, he claimed he was offered a Rs 300 crore bribe to clear two files in Jammu and Kashmir. He said he rejected the offer. He wanted to stay honest. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) later questioned him about this claim. In April 2023, Satyapal spoke about the Pulwama attack of February 14, 2019. He said there were intelligence failures. He also claimed the central government asked him to stay quiet about it. These statements made him a controversial figure.
Satyapal also supported the farmers’ protests in 2020-2021. He warned the government about the strength of farmers, especially Sikhs and Jats. He said farmers would not give up easily. His support made him a hero among some farmers. However, it upset some BJP leaders. They felt he was not loyal to the party.
Personal Interests
Besides politics, Satyapal Malik has many interests. He loves history, music, and photography. He has written several books about politics. His books show his deep understanding of Indian politics. He is also a follower of socialist ideas. He admires leaders like Ram Manohar Lohia and Chaudhary Charan Singh. These leaders inspired him to work for farmers and poor people.
Current Life
After his time as governor ended in October 2022, Satyapal Malik returned to a simpler life. He said he would support the RLD and Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. He also promised to keep fighting for farmers’ rights. In 2023, he faced issues with housing and security. He said the government did not provide him proper support after his governorship. Despite these challenges, he remains active in public life.
Conclusion
Satyapal Malik’s life is a story of struggle and success. From a small village in Uttar Pradesh to the governor’s house, his journey is inspiring. He faced many challenges but never gave up. His love for farmers and honesty made him different. He switched parties and took bold stands. His statements often created controversies. Yet, he stayed true to his beliefs. Satyapal Malik’s story teaches us to work hard and speak for what is right. His life shows that even a simple person can make a big difference in politics.