The First President of India. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Biography

Born on 3 December 1884, the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad at the Siwan district of Bihar. He was an influential political leader; he was involved with the Indian Freedom Struggle and was associated with Non-Cooperation Movement and the Satyagraha. He was in teaching line for a brief period of time. As a teacher, he taught English at Langat Singh College of Muzaffarpur, Bihar and was later promoted to the post of principal. After that, he pursued legal studies. He took admission in Ripon College at Calcutta; while he continued to teach Economics at Calcutta City College. He was awarded gold medal and later on went for Ph.D. in legal studies at Allahabad University. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi he became interested in politics and later on joined Indian National Congress.

He was a crucial member of Indian National Congress and was continuously involved in Indian Politics. He also had a very kind heart. He helped the victims and the people in need. He helped people from the flood-affected regions of Bengal and Bihar in 1914. He acted as the president for Constituent assembly which was responsible for making Indian Constitution. Later on, he was chosen as the President of Indian Republic and he remained in office from the year 1950 to the year 1962 when he resigned from the office. He was awarded Bharat Ratna in the year 1962. Childhood and Early Life:

• Born in British India on 3rd Day of December of the year 1884 to Kayastha Hindu family. Born to Mahadev Sahai (Father) and Kamleshwari Devi (Mother).
• He was an exceptional student. He was taught Persian language, Arithmetic, and Hindi by a Moulvi at the age of 5.
• He was married at the young age of twelve to Rajalakshmi Devi.
• He held first in the entrance examination to the University of Calcutta and was awarded Rs. 30 per month as an allowance by the University.
• Studied Science at first, and got the degree of F.A. from the University of Calcutta in the year 1904. After that, his interest shifted to Humanities and he concluded his M.A. in the field of Economics.
• He was also a great public activist and was related to Bihari Students Conference and The Dawn Society.
• · In 1916, he first met Mahatma Gandhi. It was the Lucknow session of INC. Mahatma Gandhi persuaded him to volunteer for Champaran Movement. Later on, in the year 1920, when Mahatma Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement, he joined it willingly. He gave his job at the university and also quit being a lawyer.
• He also involved his family in the Freedom Movement. For instance, he asked his son to leave the educational institutions run by British and join the Indian school for education called Bihar Vidyapeeth. Later Years:
• During the Bombay Session of October 1934, he was elected as the President of Indian National Congress and again in 1939 when Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose left the INC.
• He remained in jail for almost 3 years (1942-1945), when the conspicuous leaders were detained by the British Government on the account of hurling the Quit India Movement.
• On 11 December 1946, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the President of Constituent Assembly. He was also re-elected as the President of INC when J.B. Kriplani quit it.
• He was immensely involved in the making of the constitution.
• On 26th January 1950 when India adopted its constitution, he was elected as the First President of India. He continued to be the President of India for the next twelve years.
• His spouse Rajavanshi Devi died in the year 1962; greatly affected by her death, he willingly resigned from the office and moved to Patna, Bihar.
• He was given Bharat Ratna, in the same year (1962).
• He died on 28th February 1963 due to illness.
• A memorial was erected to honor him, located in Patna, Bihar; “Rajendra Smriti Sangrahalaya”, Major Works:
• As the President of Constituent Assembly, he contributed to the making of Indian constitution.
• He wrote his biography “Atmakatha” during his time in prison. It was written during 1942 and 1945.
• His book “Bapu Ke Kadmon Mein” is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi’s thoughts.
• Satyagraha at Champaran (1922), a book that is dedicated to Satyagraha in the Champaran. It describes the methods of non-violence that Mahatma Gandhi used. It is also an effective delineation of Mahatmaji’s method of a work-the technique of Satyagraha, which, later organized through the length and breadth of the country, won India freedom from foreign rule.
• Mahatma Gandhi and Bihar, Some Reminiscences” (1949), it’s dedicated the book to Mahatma Gandhi.
• Division of India (1946), this one revolves around the factors that were responsible for the division of India and how it affected the lives of people. Bharatiya Shiksha, a book dedicated to Indian Education. Personal Life and Legacy:
• Married at the age of 12 to Rajvanshi Devi.
• He was succeeded by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He was the first Vice-President of India and the second President of India (1962-1967).
• Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s birthday is celebrated as “Teachers’ Day” on 5th September.
• His son was named Mrityunjaya Prasad and he was also involved with Indian National Movement.
• He was given highest civilian award the Bharat Ratna for his contributions and his services to his motherland.