H. D. Deve Gowda

**Haradanahalli Doddegowda Deve Gowda** (born 18 May 1933) is an Indian politician. He was the 11th Prime Minister of India from 1 June 1996 to 21 April 1997. He was the 14th Chief minister of Karnataka from 1994 to 1996.

He was a member of the 16th Lok Sabha, representing the Hassan constituency of Karnataka from 2004 through 2019, and was the National President of the Janata Dal (Secular) party.

## Early Life and Education

Deve Gowda was born on 18 May 1933 in Haradanahalli, a village in the Holenarasipur taluk of Hassan district in the state of Karnataka, India. He came from a farming family. He studied civil engineering at L.V. Polytechnic in Hassan but later entered politics at a young age.

## Political Career

Deve Gowda began his political career in the 1950s. He was first elected as a member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in 1962 and served there for many years. He held different ministerial positions in the Karnataka government.

In 1994, he became the Chief Minister of Karnataka. During his time as Chief Minister, he focused on rural development and welfare programs.

In 1996, after the general elections, he became the Prime Minister of India as the leader of the United Front coalition. His term lasted for less than one year, but he is remembered for his humble background and simple lifestyle.

## Later Years

After serving as Prime Minister, Deve Gowda continued to stay active in politics. He represented the Hassan constituency in the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament) from 2004 to 2019. He also worked to strengthen his party, the Janata Dal (Secular), and supported state and national-level issues.

In 2020, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha (upper house of Parliament) from Karnataka.

## Personal Life

Deve Gowda is married to Chennamma Deve Gowda, and they have six children. One of his sons, H.D. Kumaraswamy, is also a politician and has served as the Chief Minister of Karnataka.

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **image**: HD Devegowda.png
- **office1**: Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
- **constituency1**: Hassan (Lok Sabha constituency), Hassan
- **term start1**: 17 May 2004
- **term end1**: 24 May 2019
- **parliament1**: Indian
- **predecessor1**: G. Putta Swamy Gowda
- **successor1**: Prajwal Revanna
- **office2**: 11th Prime Minister of India
- **president2**: Shankar Dayal Sharma
- **term start2**: 1 June 1996
- **term end2**: 21 April 1997
- **predecessor2**: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
- **successor2**: I. K. Gujral
- **office3**: Minister for Home Affairs (India), Minister of Home Affairs
- **term start3**: 1 June 1996
- **term end3**: 29 June 1996
- **predecessor3**: Murli Manohar Joshi
- **successor3**: Indrajit Gupta
- **office4**: 14th Chief Minister of Karnataka
- **governor4**: Khurshed Alam Khan
- **term start4**: 11 December 1994
- **term end4**: 31 May 1996
- **predecessor4**: Veerappa Moily
- **successor4**: J. H. Patel, Jayadevappa Halappa Patel
- **birth place**: Haradanahalli, Kingdom of Mysore, British Raj, British India
(now in Karnataka, India)
- **birth name**: Haradanahalli Doddegowda Deve Gowda
- **party**: Janata Dal (Secular)

- **otherparty**: Indian National Congress <small>(1953–1962)</small>
Janata Party <small>(1977–1988)</small> Janata Dal <small>(1988–1999)</small>
- **children**: 6; including H. D. Revanna,
H. D. Kumaraswamy
- **profession**: Farmer, Politician
- **signature**: DeveGowda autograph.jpg
- **native name**: