Category Our Presidents

               Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan a legendary teacher and philosopher, was India’s second President. He served in this office from 1962-1967.

               He was also the first Vice President of India. It was after serving two terms as Vice President that he was elected as the President. He was one of India’s most distinguished twentieth-century scholars of comparative religion and philosophy.

               From 1931 to 1936, he served as the Vice Chancellor – of Andhra University. In 1936, he taught eastern religions and ethics at the Oxford University. He was the first Indian to be appointed the Vice Chancellor of the Banaras Hindu University.

               Dr. Radhakrishnan was awarded several high honours during his life, including a knighthood in 1931. He was honoured with the Bharat Ratna in 1954 and the honorary membership of the British Royal Order of Merit in 1963. Dr. Radhakrishnan believed that “teachers should be the best minds in the country”. His birthday, September 5th, is aptly celebrated as ‘Teacher’s Day’ in India.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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                    Besides being the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was a prolific writer. He was known for his literary contributions.

                   The most popular among his books are his autobiography ‘Atmakatha’ (1946), which he wrote while he was in prison.

                   This inspiring book was first published in Hindi. He has beautifully detailed his childhood in his native village Chapra, early education with his teacher maulvi saheb, years as a student in Calcutta, married life at the age of twelve and his legal career. The book also highlights his valuable observations on British colonial rule in India.

                  He authored ‘India Divided’, while serving his prison term. It was published in 1946, a year before India was divided. The book specifically examines the theory of two nations.

 

 

 

                     Some of his other major works are, ‘Mahatma Gandhi and Bihar, Some Reminiscences’ which was published in 1949, ‘Satyagraha in Champaran’, and ‘At the Feet of Mahatma Gandhi’ in 1955.

                     ‘At the Feet of Mahatma Gandhi’ was a tribute to the Father of Our Nation. ‘Bharatiya Shiksha’ authored by Dr. Rajendra Prasad too is a popular book among the masses.

 

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               In 1907, Rajendra Prasad passed with a Gold medal in the master’s degree in economics from the University of Calcutta. After his post-graduation, Dr. Prasad joined as a professor of English at the Langat Singh College of Muzaffarpur, Bihar, and later, became its principal. He left this job in 1909, and went to Calcutta to pursue a degree in law. While studying law at the University of Calcutta, he taught economics at the Calcutta City College.

               In 1915, Prasad appeared for the examination of masters in law, and passed the examination, winning a gold medal. He completed his doctorate in law from Allahabad University in 1937.

               In the year 1911, he started his law practice at the Calcutta High court. Later in the year 1917, he was appointed as one of the first members of the senate and syndicate of the Patna University. He also used to practice law at Bhagalpur, the famous silk-town of Bihar.

              Dr. Prasad began his political career as a volunteer in the 1906 Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress, and formally joined the party in 1911. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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               Rajendra Prasad was born in Zeradai, in Bihar on 3rd December 1884. He was the son of Mahadev Sahai and Kamaleshwari Devi.

               Young Rajendra Prasad was placed under the tutelage of a maulvi to learn Persian, Hindi, and mathematics. After the completion of traditional elementary education, he was sent to the Chapra District School.

               According to the custom of that time, at the age of 12, Rajendra Prasad was married to Rajavanshi Devi.

               Dr. Prasad was very good at his studies, and secured first place in the entrance examination to the University of Calcutta.

              Dr. Prasad joined the Presidency College, Calcutta in 1902. He was initially a student of science, and his teachers included J.C. Bose and Prafulla Chandra Roy. Later, he decided to switch his focus to the arts stream.

              Dr. Prasad played a major role in forming the Bihari Students Conference in the year 1906. In 1907, Rajendra Prasad graduated with a gold medal for his master’s degree in economics from the University of Calcutta. In 1915, he graduated with honours with a master’s degree in law, winning a gold medal. In 1937, he completed his doctorate in law from the Allahabad University.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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               Dr. Rajendra Prasad served as the first President of independent India, being in office from 1950 to 1962. He was the only President to serve two full terms.

                A lawyer by profession, Dr. Prasad had been an influential leader during the Indian freedom struggle. He worked along with Mahatma Gandhi early in the non-cooperation movement for independence. Rajendra Prasad joined the Indian National Congress in 1911. He was the president of the Indian National Congress in the years 1934, 1939, and 1947. He was arrested for his support of the Salt Satyagraha Movement of 1931, and the Quit India Movement of 1942.

               In September 1946, he became the first Minister of food and agriculture in the interim government preceding full independence. From 1946 to 1949, he presided over the Indian Constituent Assembly, and helped to shape the constitution.

               As the first President of India, he set himself as a powerful precedent for others to follow. Dr. Prasad retired from public life in 1962, after serving as the President of India for 12 years, because of his deteriorating health. That same year he was honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.

               Ram Nath Kovind began his political career in 1994 when he was elected as a  member of Rajya Sabha, from Uttar Pradesh. He served for two consecutive terms for 12 years, till March, 2006. As a Member of Parliament, he served on the parliamentary committees for the welfare of scheduled castes/tribes, home affairs, petroleum and natural gas, social justice and empowerment, law and justice.

               He focused on education in rural areas by helping in the construction of school buildings in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. As a member of the Bharatiya Janatha Party, Kovind served as the president of the BJP Dalit Morcha between 1998 and 2002.

               Kovind was appointed as the Governor of Bihar on 8th August 2015, by the then, President of India Pranab Kumar Mukherjee. Kovind held this office till he resigned after being nominated for the office of the President of India. He won the presidential race by receiving 65.65 per cent of the valid votes.

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