Rajendra Prasad

Rajendra Prasad
Archives New Zealand from New Zealand · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Rajendra Prasad
Birth date	3 December 1884
Birth place	Ziradei, Siwan district, Bihar, British India
Death date	28 February 1963
Death place	Patna, Bihar, India
Office	President of India
Term start	26 January 1950
Term end	13 May 1962
Predecessor	Office established
Successor	Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Alma mater	University of Calcutta, Patna University, Kashi Vidyapith

Rajendra Prasad

Rajendra Prasad was an Indian independence activist, lawyer, political leader, and the first President of the Republic of India. A prominent figure in the Indian National Congress, he worked closely with leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and C. Rajagopalachari during the Indian independence movement and in the early years of the Republic of India. Prasad combined legal training with Gandhian philosophy, influencing institutions like Patna University and participating in events including the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Salt Satyagraha.

Early life and education

Born in Ziradei, Siwan district in Bihar, Prasad obtained early schooling in local institutions before attending Calcutta University examinations and studying at Patna College, then affiliated to University of Calcutta. He pursued legal studies under the aegis of institutions such as Kashi Vidyapith and apprenticed with practitioners in courts of Patna and Kolkata. Influenced by figures like Gopal Krishna Gokhale and exposed to publications associated with Brahmo Samaj and reformist journals, he combined scholarly interests with participation in student bodies that liaised with the Indian National Congress and regional organizations in Bihar.

Political career and freedom movement

Prasad entered active politics via the Indian National Congress and aligned with campaigns led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi and later with leaders including Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and C. Rajagopalachari. He took part in the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Civil Disobedience Movement, faced multiple imprisonments by British Raj authorities, and contributed to organizational efforts such as district committees in Bihar and provincial committees linked to the All India Congress Committee. During the Quit India Movement of 1942 he was detained alongside activists like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Acharya J. B. Kripalani, while interacting with legal luminaries such as C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru. In the Constituent Assembly of India, Prasad worked with framers including B. R. Ambedkar, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer and H. V. R. Iengar to shape debates on the Constitution of India and later supported policies advocated by Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel in integrating princely states like Hyderabad and Junagadh.

Presidency (1950–1962)

Elected as the first President of the Republic of India by the Constituent Assembly and subsequently re-elected with backing from the Indian National Congress, Prasad presided over formal functions involving prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and later interactions with leaders such as Lal Bahadur Shastri and Charan Singh. His tenure encompassed constitutional events including the formal commencement of the Republic of India on 26 January 1950, state visits by heads of state from countries like United States and Soviet Union, and national responses to crises such as the Kashmir conflict and the Indo-China border disputes precursors. As ceremonial head, he advised governments on constitutional procedures, worked with office-bearers such as Dr. Rajendra Prasad (as President) officeholders, and participated in functions alongside cultural figures like Rabindranath Tagore and S. Radhakrishnan.

Post-presidential life and legacy

After retiring in 1962, he returned to Patna and engaged with educational and social institutions including Patna University and regional libraries, advising administrators from Bihar and national bodies related to rural uplift and cooperative movements. His legacy influenced later presidencies including Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Zakir Husain, while memorials and academic studies connected to figures such as Bipan Chandra, A. K. S. Lambah and historians of the Indian independence movement analyzed his role. Scholars contrast his Gandhian stance with contemporaries like B. R. Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru, and institutions such as the Rajendra Prasad National Aviation Academy—named in his honour—feature in commemorations alongside awards instituted by state governments and cultural bodies like Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Personal life and beliefs

A practicing lawyer and lifelong adherent of Gandhian philosophy, Prasad maintained close personal relationships with leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu, C. Rajagopalachari and Kasturba Gandhi. Married to Rajavanshi Devi, he balanced family responsibilities with public life, corresponding with activists including Jayaprakash Narayan and educators like Anugrah Narayan Sinha. His beliefs emphasized rural reconstruction, voluntary simplicity, and cooperative agriculture, echoing themes promoted by organizations such as Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha and initiatives associated with Gandhian constructive programs.

Honours and memorials

Prasad received honorary recognitions from universities including Banaras Hindu University, Patna University and Calcutta University, and was commemorated in institutions such as museums and national memorials. Statues, postal issues, and place names in Patna, Siwan and other districts memorialize him alongside awards instituted by state governments and national academies. His centenary and subsequent anniversaries prompted publications by scholars such as R. N. Tandon and B. N. Puri, and memorial trusts coordinate events with cultural bodies including Sahitya Akademi and Indian Council of Historical Research.

Category:Presidents of India Category:Indian independence activists Category:1884 births Category:1963 deaths