Ramnath Kovind

Ramnath Kovind
Name	Ramnath Kovind
Office	14th President of India
Term start	25 July 2017
Term end	25 July 2022
Predecessor	Pranab Mukherjee
Successor	Droupadi Murmu
Birth date	1 October 1945
Birth place	Paraunkh, Kanpur Dehat district, United Provinces
Party	Bharatiya Janata Party
Spouse	Savita Kovind
Alma mater	D.A.V. College, Kanpur, Kanpur University, University of Delhi

Ramnath Kovind Ramnath Kovind served as the 14th President of India from 2017 to 2022, having previously held roles as a lawyer, legislator, and Governor. He was associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party and represented the party in the Rajya Sabha before his presidential election. His tenure intersected with administrations led by Narendra Modi and involved interactions with institutions such as the Supreme Court of India, the Parliament of India, and various state governments.

Early life and education

Born on 1 October 1945 in Paraunkh, Kanpur Dehat district within the United Provinces, he hailed from a Kori (caste) family in the Hindi belt and was raised in a rural setting influenced by regional politics such as those of Uttar Pradesh and cultural milieus like Hinduism and Indian nationalism. He completed primary and secondary schooling in Kanpur before attending D.A.V. College, Kanpur and earning a Bachelor of Commerce and a law degree from Kanpur University. Later he pursued post-graduate studies at the University of Delhi and began legal practice at the Delhi High Court and district courts in Uttar Pradesh.

Legal career and advocacy

He practiced as an advocate, appearing before fora including the Supreme Court of India and the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad and engaging with statutes such as the Constitution of India and Indian penal codes in civil and criminal litigation. During his legal career he worked on matters involving rights advocated by organizations like the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and litigated in contexts related to land disputes in Uttar Pradesh, contractual cases in Delhi, and administrative law issues linked to bodies such as the Election Commission of India. He was associated with legal circles that interacted with figures like K. K. Venugopal and institutions including the Bar Council of India.

Political career

He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and rose through party structures, contesting elections and serving as a member of the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh. Within the Parliament of India he participated in legislative debates, committee meetings and contributed to policy discussions touching on welfare schemes by administrations such as the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and inter-party dialogues involving leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L. K. Advani, and Amit Shah. He also engaged with electoral processes overseen by the Election Commission of India and campaigned in states including Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand.

Governorship of Bihar

He was appointed the Governor of Bihar and served in the Raj Bhavan, where his duties brought him into constitutional interactions with the Chief Minister of Bihar, the Bihar Legislative Assembly, and the Governor of Bihar's discretionary powers under articles of the Constitution of India. His tenure involved liaison with state institutions such as the Patna High Court, coordination with central ministries including the Ministry of Home Affairs, and ceremonial responsibilities connected to universities like Patna University and bodies such as the State Election Commission.

Presidency of India

Elected President in 2017 with backing from the Bharatiya Janata Party and allied parties including the National Democratic Alliance, his inauguration involved dignitaries from across the political spectrum and engagements with the office of the Prime Minister of India. As head of state he addressed sessions of the Parliament of India, gave assent to bills passed by the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, and exercised pardoning powers in reference to cases from the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts of India. His foreign visits and state receptions involved bilateral interactions with leaders from countries such as United States, France, Japan, United Kingdom, and multilateral forums involving the United Nations and Commonwealth of Nations. His term overlapped with major national developments, interacting with initiatives like Make in India, Digital India, and welfare measures introduced by the Government of India.

Personal life and beliefs

He is married to Savita Kovind and their personal profile includes social engagements tied to organizations such as the President's Secretariat and patronages of cultural institutions like the Rashtrapati Bhavan's heritage programs. His public statements reflected positions on social justice issues resonant with communities represented by bodies like the National Backward Classes Commission and advocacy groups including the All India Scheduled Castes Federation. He observed cultural practices tied to festivals celebrated across India and engaged with faith-based events in temples and public ceremonies attended by political leaders.

Awards and honours

His public service has been recognized through ceremonial honors associated with the office of the President, interactions with honorific institutions such as the Rashtrapati Awards, and invitations to deliver addresses at universities including Banaras Hindu University and Jawaharlal Nehru University. He received official protocols from foreign missions including the Embassy of India and state honors during visits hosted by foreign heads of state, and was part of national commemorations alongside figures like Pranab Mukherjee, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, and Ram Nath Kovind.

Category:Presidents of India Category:People from Kanpur Dehat district