Ram Nath Kovind

Ram Nath Kovind was an Indian jurist and politician who served as the 14th President of India from 2017 to 2022. A former lawyer from Uttar Pradesh, he represented the state of Uttar Pradesh and the party Bharatiya Janata Party in national politics, previously serving as Governor of Bihar and as a Member of the Rajya Sabha. His tenure intersected with key national institutions including the Supreme Court of India, the Parliament of India, and the Election Commission of India.

Early life and education

Born on 1 October 1945 in Paraunkh, Uttar Pradesh, he hailed from a family belonging to the Kori community in the Kanpur Dehat district. His early schooling took place in local institutions in Uttar Pradesh before he pursued higher education at Kanpur University, where he obtained a degree in Commerce and later studied law at the university's affiliated colleges. He moved to Delhi briefly and then practised law in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), linking him to regional legal circles that connected to the Allahabad High Court and district administrations.

Legal career and advocacy

Kovind enrolled as an advocate and practised in the court of Prayagraj, engaging with matters before the District Court, Kanpur and appearing in cases touching on property disputes, civil litigation, and constitutional questions that brought litigants in contact with the Patna High Court and Lucknow Bench jurisdictions. During his legal practice he associated with organisations such as the Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti and engaged with advocacy relating to the rights of marginalised communities, intersecting with debates shaped by the Constitution of India, various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, and laws administered by the Ministry of Law and Justice. His legal background informed his later roles interacting with the Supreme Court of India on matters of constitutional importance and presidential clemency.

Political career

Kovind joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and rose through party structures to become a national figure, serving as a Member of the Rajya Sabha representing Uttar Pradesh from 1994 to 2006. In Parliament he engaged with committees and debates tied to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, policy frameworks involving Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and legislative initiatives debated in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chambers. In 2015 he was appointed Governor of Bihar by the President of India, administering gubernatorial duties that brought him into constitutional interactions with the Chief Minister of Bihar and the Bihar Legislative Assembly. His gubernatorial tenure involved liaison with institutions such as the Election Commission of India during state electoral cycles and coordination with central agencies.

Presidency (2017–2022)

In 2017 he was nominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition and elected President of India, succeeding Pranab Mukherjee after an electoral process involving the Electoral College of India and scrutiny by the Supreme Court of India in broader jurisprudential contexts. As President he performed constitutional functions including assent to bills passed by the Parliament of India, appointments of the Prime Minister of India, members of the Council of Ministers, and ambassadors accredited to states such as the United States, United Kingdom, France, Japan, and Australia. His term saw interaction with major initiatives and institutions like the Goods and Services Tax implementation oversight period, conventions associated with the Reserve Bank of India, and national security matters involving the Cabinet Committee on Security. The presidency included state visits, ceremonies at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, and engagements with civil society groups including representatives from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and principal trade bodies like the Confederation of Indian Industry and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry.

Personal life and honours

He is married to Savita Kovind, with whom he has a daughter, and his family background rooted in Uttar Pradesh informed his public persona. During and after his presidency he received customary honors accorded to the head of state, participated in commemorative events linked to figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, B. R. Ambedkar, and institutions including the Indian Armed Forces at the Rashtrapati Bhavan ceremonial functions. His tenure is noted in discussions across political platforms including the Bharatiya Janata Party, opposition parties such as the Indian National Congress, and regional parties active in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Category:Presidents of India Category:People from Uttar Pradesh Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians