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{{ | {{Short description|1st President of India from 1950 to 1962}} | ||
{{Other uses}} | {{Other uses}} | ||
{{EngvarB|date=October 2020}} | {{EngvarB|date=October 2020}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date= | {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} | ||
{{Infobox officeholder | {{Infobox officeholder| | ||
| image = Rajendra Prasad (Indian President), signed image for Walter Nash (NZ Prime Minister), 1958 (16017609534).jpg | | image = Rajendra Prasad (Indian President), signed image for Walter Nash (NZ Prime Minister), 1958 (16017609534).jpg | ||
| office = 1st [[President of India]] | | office = 1st [[President of India]] | ||
| term_start = 26 January 1950 | | term_start = 26 January 1950 | ||
| term_end = 13 May 1962 | | term_end = 13 May 1962 | ||
| primeminister = [[Jawaharlal Nehru ]] | | vicepresident = Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | ||
| primeminister = [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] | |||
| predecessor = ''Position established'' | |||
| successor = [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan]] | | successor = [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan]] | ||
| office1 = 1st [[Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare|Minister of Agriculture]] | |||
|office1 | | primeminister1 = [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] | ||
|primeminister1 = [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] | | term_start1 = 15 August 1947 | ||
|term_start1 | | term_end1 = 14 January 1948 | ||
|term_end1 | | predecessor1 = ''Position established'' | ||
|predecessor1 | | successor1 = [[Jairamdas Daulatram]] | ||
|successor1 | |||
| office2 = President of [[Constituent Assembly of India]] | | office2 = President of [[Constituent Assembly of India]] | ||
| term_start2 = | | term_start2 = 11 December 1946 | ||
| term_end2 = 24 January 1950 | | term_end2 = 24 January 1950 | ||
| primeminister2 = [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] | | primeminister2 = [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] | ||
| vicepresident2 = [[Harendra Coomar Mookerjee]] <br/> [[V. T. Krishnamachari]] | | vicepresident2 = [[Harendra Coomar Mookerjee]] <br/> [[V. T. Krishnamachari]] | ||
| predecessor2 = [[Sachchidananda Sinha]] | | predecessor2 = [[Sachchidananda Sinha]] | ||
| successor2 = Position abolished | | successor2 = ''Position abolished'' | ||
| party = [[Indian National Congress]] | | party = [[Indian National Congress]] | ||
| birth_date = {{birth date|1884|12|03|df=y}} | | birth_date = {{birth date|1884|12|03|df=y}} | ||
| birth_place = [[Ziradei]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]] (present-day | | birth_place = [[Ziradei]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]] <br />(present-day Siwan [[Bihar]], [[India]]) | ||
| death_date = {{death date and age|1963|02|28|1884|12|03|df=y}} | | death_date = {{death date and age|1963|02|28|1884|12|03|df=y}} | ||
| death_place = [[Patna]], [[Bihar]], India | | death_place = [[Patna]], [[Bihar]], [[India]] | ||
| death_cause = | | death_cause = | ||
| spouse = {{marriage|[[ | | spouse = {{marriage|[[Rajvanshi Devi]]|1896}} | ||
| alma_mater = [[University of Calcutta]] | | alma_mater = [[University of Calcutta]] | ||
| awards = [[Bharat Ratna]] (1962) | | awards = [[Bharat Ratna]] (1962) | ||
| children = [[Mrityunjay Prasad]] | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Rajendra Prasad''' (3 December 1884 | '''Rajendra Prasad''' (3 December 1884 – 28 February 1963) was an Indian politician, lawyer, journalist and scholar who served as the first [[president of India]] from 1950 to 1962. He joined the [[Indian National Congress]] during the [[Indian independence movement]] and became a major leader from the region of [[Bihar and Orissa Province|Bihar]] and [[Bombay Presidency|Maharashtra]]. A supporter of [[Mahatma Gandhi]], Prasad was imprisoned by [[United Kingdom|British]] authorities during the [[Salt Satyagraha]] of 1930 and the [[Quit India movement]] of 1942. After the constituent assembly [[1946 Indian provincial elections|1946 elections]], Prasad served as 1st Minister of Food and Agriculture in the central government from 1947 to 1948. Upon independence in 1947, Prasad was elected as President of the [[Constituent Assembly of India]], which prepared the [[Constitution of India]] and served as its provisional [[Parliament of India|Parliament]]. | ||
When India became a republic in 1950, Prasad was [[1950 Indian presidential election|elected]] its first president by the Constituent Assembly. As president, Prasad established a tradition for non - | When India became a republic in 1950, Prasad was [[1950 Indian presidential election|elected]] as its first president by the Constituent Assembly. As president, Prasad established a tradition for non-partisanship and independence for the office-bearer and retired from Congress party politics. Although a ceremonial head of state, Prasad encouraged the development of education in India and advised the Nehru government on several occasions. In 1957, Prasad was [[1957 Indian presidential election|re-elected to the presidency]], becoming the only president to serve two full terms. Prasad stayed in office for the longest term of around 12 years. Post the completion of his tenure, he quit the Congress and set up new guidelines for parliamentarians which are still followed. | ||
==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
Rajendra Prasad was born in a [[Kayastha]] family in Ziradei, in the [[Siwan district]] of Bihar.<ref>{{cite book|author=Janak Raj Jai |title=Presidents of India, 1950–2003 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r2C2InxI0xAC&pg=PA1 |date=1 January 2003 |publisher=Regency Publications |isbn=978-81-87498-65-0 |pages=1–}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= Dr. Rajendra Prasad: A Brief Biography |author= Tara Sinha |year= 2013 |publisher= Ocean Books |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=tZ8wBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA13 |isbn= 978-81843-0173-1 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180510204127/https://books.google.com/books?id=tZ8wBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA13 | Rajendra Prasad was born in a [[Chitraguptavanshi Kayastha |Kayastha]] family in Ziradei, in the [[Siwan district]] of Bihar during the [[British Raj]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Janak Raj Jai |title=Presidents of India, 1950–2003 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r2C2InxI0xAC&pg=PA1 |date=1 January 2003 |publisher=Regency Publications |isbn=978-81-87498-65-0 |pages=1–}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= Dr. Rajendra Prasad: A Brief Biography |author= Tara Sinha |year= 2013 |publisher= Ocean Books |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=tZ8wBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA13 |isbn= 978-81843-0173-1 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180510204127/https://books.google.com/books?id=tZ8wBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA13 |archive-date= 10 May 2018 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> His father, Mahadev Sahai Srivastava, was a scholar of both [[Sanskrit]] and [[Persian languages]]. His mother, Kamleshwari Devi, was a devout woman who would tell stories from the [[Ramayana]] and [[Mahabharata]] to her son. He was the youngest child and had one elder brother and three elder sisters. His mother died when he was a child, and his elder sister then took care of him.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X3cc0mlKiBwC&pg=PA2|title=Biographies of the First Three Presidents of India|publisher=Sura Books|year=2007|pages=2–4|author=N. Sundarajan|isbn=9788174787361}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedia Of Indian War Of Independence (1857-1947)|editor=M.K. Singh|publisher=Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd|year=2009|page=99|quote=His father, Mahadev Sahai, was a Persian and Sanskrit language scholar; his mother, Kamleshwari Devi, was a devout women who would tell stories from the Ramayana to her son. }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presidentofindia.nic.in/former.html |title=The President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811235644/http://presidentofindia.nic.in/former.html |archive-date=11 August 2013 |website=Presidentofindia.nic.in |access-date=12 December 2013}}</ref><ref>[[President of India|President's Secretariat]] [[National Informatics Centre]]</ref> | ||
==Student life== | ==Student life== | ||
After the completion of traditional elementary education, he was sent to the Chapra District School. Meanwhile, in June 1896, at the early age of 12, he was married to Rajavanshi Devi. He, along with his elder brother, Mahendra Prasad, then went to study at T.K. Ghosh's Academy in [[Patna]] for a period of two years. He secured first in the entrance examination to the [[University of Calcutta]] and was awarded Rs. 30 per month as a scholarship. | After the completion of traditional elementary education, he was sent to the Chapra District School. Meanwhile, in June 1896, at the early age of 12, he was married to Rajavanshi Devi. He, along with his elder brother, Mahendra Prasad, then went to study at T.K. Ghosh's Academy in [[Patna]] for a period of two years. He secured first in the entrance examination to the [[University of Calcutta]] and was awarded Rs. 30 per month as a scholarship. | ||
Prasad joined the [[Presidency College, Calcutta]] in 1902, initially as a science student. He passed the F. A. under the [[University of Calcutta]] in March 1904 and then graduated with a first division from there in March 1905.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rss.bih.nic.in/rss_drp_life_events.htm|title=Major Life Events of Dr. Rajendra Prasad - First President of India|first=Rajendra Smriti|last=Sanghralaya|website=rss.bih.nic.in|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303105548/http://rss.bih.nic.in/rss_drp_life_events.htm|archive-date=3 March 2013}}</ref> Impressed by his intellect, an examiner once commented on his answer sheet that the "''examinee is better than examiner''".<ref name=TOIMiglani>{{cite news|last1=Miglani|first1=Neha|title=Evaluators for preserving flawless answer sheets|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Evaluators-for-preserving-flawless-answer-sheets/articleshow/13309297.cms|access-date=28 February 2015|work=The Times of India|date=20 May 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927053547/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Evaluators-for-preserving-flawless-answer-sheets/articleshow/13309297.cms|archive-date=27 September 2016}}</ref> Later he decided to focus on the study of arts and did his M.A. in Economics with a first division from the University of Calcutta in December 1907. There he lived with his brother in the [[Eden Hindu Hostel]]. A devoted student as well as a public activist, he was an active member of [[Dawn (Bengali educational society)|The Dawn Society]].<ref>{{cite book|author=राजेंद्र प्रसाद |title=राजेंद्र बाबू: पत्रों के आईने में |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XsynRkUMJT4C |year=2007 |publisher=प्रभात प्रकाशन |isbn=978-81-7315-654-0}}</ref> It was due to his sense of duty towards his family and education that he refused to join [[Servants of India Society]], as it was during that time when his mother had died as well as his sister became a widow at the age of nineteen and had to return to her parents' home. Prasad was instrumental in the formation of the Bihari Students Conference in 1906 in the hall of Patna College. It was the first organisation of its kind in India and produced<ref>{{cite | Prasad joined the [[Presidency College, Calcutta]] in 1902, initially as a science student. He passed the F. A. under the [[University of Calcutta]] in March 1904 and then graduated with a first division from there in March 1905.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rss.bih.nic.in/rss_drp_life_events.htm|title=Major Life Events of Dr. Rajendra Prasad - First President of India|first=Rajendra Smriti|last=Sanghralaya|website=rss.bih.nic.in|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303105548/http://rss.bih.nic.in/rss_drp_life_events.htm|archive-date=3 March 2013}}</ref> Impressed by his intellect, an examiner once commented on his answer sheet that the "''examinee is better than examiner''".<ref name=TOIMiglani>{{cite news|last1=Miglani|first1=Neha|title=Evaluators for preserving flawless answer sheets|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Evaluators-for-preserving-flawless-answer-sheets/articleshow/13309297.cms|access-date=28 February 2015|work=The Times of India|date=20 May 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927053547/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Evaluators-for-preserving-flawless-answer-sheets/articleshow/13309297.cms|archive-date=27 September 2016}}</ref> Later he decided to focus on the study of arts and did his M.A. in Economics with a first division from the University of Calcutta in December 1907. There he lived with his brother in the [[Eden Hindu Hostel]]. A devoted student as well as a public activist, he was an active member of [[Dawn (Bengali educational society)|The Dawn Society]].<ref>{{cite book|author=राजेंद्र प्रसाद |title=राजेंद्र बाबू: पत्रों के आईने में |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XsynRkUMJT4C |year=2007 |publisher=प्रभात प्रकाशन |isbn=978-81-7315-654-0}}</ref> It was due to his sense of duty towards his family and education that he refused to join [[Servants of India Society]], as it was during that time when his mother had died as well as his sister became a widow at the age of nineteen and had to return to her parents' home. Prasad was instrumental in the formation of the Bihari Students Conference in 1906 in the hall of Patna College. It was the first organisation of its kind in India and produced<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/First-president-Rajendra-Prasad-remembered/articleshow/55779017.cms|title=First president Rajendra Prasad remembered - Times of India|website=[[The Times of India]]|date=4 December 2016 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205041048/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/First-president-Rajendra-Prasad-remembered/articleshow/55779017.cms|archive-date=5 December 2016}}</ref> important leaders from [[Bihar]] like [[Anugrah Narayan Sinha]] and [[Krishna Singh (politician)|Krishna Singh]] who played a prominent role in the Champaran Movement and [[Non-cooperation Movement]]. | ||
==Career== | ==Career== | ||
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===As a teacher=== | ===As a teacher=== | ||
[[Image:Dr Rajendra Pd. DR.Anugrah Narayan Sinha.jpg|thumb|(Sitting L to R) Prasad and [[Anugrah Narayan Sinha]] during [[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s 1917 Champaran Satyagraha]] | [[Image:Dr Rajendra Pd. DR.Anugrah Narayan Sinha.jpg|thumb|(Sitting L to R) Prasad and [[Anugrah Narayan Sinha]] during [[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s 1917 Champaran Satyagraha]] | ||
Prasad served in various educational institutions as a teacher. After completing his M.A in economics, he became a professor of English at the [[Langat Singh College]] of [[Muzaffarpur]] in [[Bihar]] and went on to become the principal. However, later on he left the college to undertake legal studies and entered the [[Ripon College, Calcutta]] (now the [[Surendranath Law College]]). In 1909, while pursuing his law studies in [[Kolkata]] he also worked as Professor of Economics at [[City College, Kolkata|Calcutta City College]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rss.bih.nic.in/rss_drp_life_events.htm |title=Major Life Events of Dr. Rajendra Prasad – First President of India |publisher=Rss.bih.nic.in |access-date=10 July 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303105548/http://rss.bih.nic.in/rss_drp_life_events.htm |archive-date=3 March 2013 }}</ref> | |||
===As a lawyer=== | ===As a lawyer=== | ||
In 1915, Prasad appeared in the examination of | In 1915, Prasad appeared in the examination of master's in law from the [[Department of Law, University of Calcutta]], passed the examination and won a gold medal. He completed his Doctorate in Law from [[Allahabad University]]. In 1916, he joined the High Court of Bihar and Odisha. In 1917, he was appointed as one of the first members of the Senate and of the Patna University. He also practised law at [[Bhagalpur]], the famous silk town in Bihar. | ||
===Role in the freedom Movement=== | ===Role in the freedom Movement=== | ||
Prasad had a major role in the Independence Movement. Prasad's first association with [[Indian National Congress]] was during 1906 annual session organised in Calcutta, where he participated as a volunteer, while studying in Calcutta. Formally, he joined the [[Indian National Congress]] in the year 1911, when the annual session was again held in Calcutta.<ref name="Joining">{{cite news |title=Remembering Dr Rajendra Prasad, First President of Independent India |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/remembering-dr-rajendra-prasad-first-president-of-independent-india-2410213.html |access-date=24 May 2020 |work=News18 |agency=Network18 Media & Investments Limited |publisher=Network18 Group |date=3 December 2019}}</ref> During the Lucknow Session of Indian National Congress held in 1916, he met [[Mahatma Gandhi]]. During one of the fact-finding missions at [[Champaran]], [[Mahatma Gandhi]] asked him to come with his volunteers.<ref name="Weekly"/> He was so greatly moved by the dedication, courage and conviction of Mahatma Gandhi that as soon as the motion of [[Non-cooperation movement|Non-Cooperation]] was passed by [[Indian National Congress]] in 1920, he retired from his lucrative career of lawyer as well as his duties in the university to aid the movement. | |||
He also responded to the call by [[Gandhi]] to boycott Western educational establishments by asking his son, Mrityunjaya Prasad, to drop out of his studies and enrol himself in Bihar Vidyapeeth, an institution he along with his colleagues founded on the traditional Indian model.<ref> | He also responded to the call by [[Gandhi]] to boycott Western educational establishments by asking his son, Mrityunjaya Prasad, to drop out of his studies and enrol himself in [[Bihar Vidyapeeth]], an institution he along with his colleagues founded on the traditional Indian model.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sethi |first1=Atul |title=Distant dads? |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/deep-focus/distant-dads/articleshow/2274611.cms |access-date=28 June 2023 |work=The Times of India |date=12 August 2007}}</ref> | ||
[[Image:Nehru bhulabhaidesai rajendraprasd aicc.png|thumb|left|Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhulabhai Desai, and Rajendra Prasad (centre) at the AICC Session, March 1939]] | [[Image:Nehru bhulabhaidesai rajendraprasd aicc.png|thumb|left|Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhulabhai Desai, and Rajendra Prasad (centre) at the AICC Session, March 1939]] | ||
During the course of the independence movement, he interacted with [[Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan|Rahul Sankrityayan]], a writer, and polymath. Rahul Sankrityayan was greatly influenced by Prasad's intellectual powers, finding him to be a guide and guru. In many of his articles he mentioned about his meeting with Sankrityayan and narrated about his meetings with Sankrityayan. He wrote articles for the revolutionary publications '''''Searchlight''''' and the '''''Desh''''' and collected funds for these papers. He toured widely, explaining, lecturing, and exhorting the principles of the independence movement.<ref name="Weekly">{{cite news |title=Dr Rajendra Prasad |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000409/spectrum/main2.htm |access-date=24 May 2020 |work=The Tribune (Chandigarh) |agency=Tribune Trust |publisher=Tribune India |date=9 April 2000}}</ref> | During the course of the independence movement, he interacted with [[Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan|Rahul Sankrityayan]], a writer, and polymath. Rahul Sankrityayan was greatly influenced by Prasad's intellectual powers, finding him to be a guide and guru. In many of his articles he mentioned about his meeting with Sankrityayan and narrated about his meetings with Sankrityayan. He wrote articles for the revolutionary publications '''''Searchlight''''' and the '''''Desh''''' and collected funds for these papers. He toured widely, explaining, lecturing, and exhorting the principles of the independence movement.<ref name="Weekly">{{cite news |title=Dr Rajendra Prasad |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000409/spectrum/main2.htm |access-date=24 May 2020 |work=The Tribune (Chandigarh) |agency=Tribune Trust |publisher=Tribune India |date=9 April 2000}}</ref> | ||
He took an active role in helping people affected by the 1914 floods that struck Bihar and [[Bengal]]. When an earthquake affected Bihar on 15 January 1934, Prasad was in jail. During that period, he passed on the relief work to his close colleague [[Anugrah Narayan Sinha]].<ref name="Vibhuti">{{cite web |title=Remembering the Bihar Vibhuti A. N. Sinha |url=https://www.patnadaily.com/index.php/opinions/readers-write/5726-remembering-the-bihar-vibhuti-a-n-sinha.html |publisher=Patna Daily |access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref> He was released two days later and set up Bihar Central Relief Committee on 17 January 1934 | He took an active role in helping people affected by the 1914 floods that struck Bihar and [[Bengal]]. When an earthquake affected Bihar on 15 January 1934, Prasad was in jail. During that period, he passed on the relief work to his close colleague [[Anugrah Narayan Sinha]].<ref name="Vibhuti">{{cite web |title=Remembering the Bihar Vibhuti A. N. Sinha |url=https://www.patnadaily.com/index.php/opinions/readers-write/5726-remembering-the-bihar-vibhuti-a-n-sinha.html |publisher=Patna Daily |access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref> He was released two days later and set up Bihar Central Relief Committee on 17 January 1934 and took on the task of raising funds to help the affected people. After the 31 May [[1935 Quetta earthquake]], when he was forbidden to leave the country due to government's order, he set up the Quetta Central Relief Committee in [[Sindh]] and [[Punjab region|Punjab]] under his own presidency. | ||
He was elected as the President of the [[Indian National Congress]] during the Bombay session in October 1934.<ref name="presidency"/> He again became the president when [[Subhash Chandra Bose]] resigned in 1939.<ref name="1939 Crisis">{{cite journal |last1=Sharma |first1=Arvind K. |title=Subhas Chandra Bose and Tripuri Congress Crisis (1939) |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |year=1986 |volume=47 |pages=498–506 |publisher=JSTOR |jstor=44141585 }}</ref> On 8 August 1942, Congress passed the Quit India Resolution in Bombay which led to the arrest of many Indian leaders.<ref name="Bankipur"/> Prasad was arrested in [[Sadaqat Ashram]], Patna and sent to [[Bankipur Central Jail]]. After remaining incarcerated for nearly three years, he was released on 15 June 1945.<ref name="Bankipur">{{cite news |title=Remembering India's first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, on his 55th death anniversary |url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/remembering-indias-first-president-dr-rajendra-prasad-on-his-55th-death-anniversary-2085341.html |access-date=24 May 2020 |work=Zee Media Bureau |agency=Essel Group |publisher=Zee News |date=28 February 2018}}</ref> | He was elected as the President of the [[Indian National Congress]] during the Bombay session in October 1934.<ref name="presidency"/> He again became the president when [[Subhash Chandra Bose]] resigned in 1939.<ref name="1939 Crisis">{{cite journal |last1=Sharma |first1=Arvind K. |title=Subhas Chandra Bose and Tripuri Congress Crisis (1939) |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |year=1986 |volume=47 |pages=498–506 |publisher=JSTOR |jstor=44141585 }}</ref> On 8 August 1942, Congress passed the Quit India Resolution in Bombay which led to the arrest of many Indian leaders.<ref name="Bankipur"/> Prasad was arrested in [[Sadaqat Ashram]], Patna and sent to [[Bankipur Central Jail]]. After remaining incarcerated for nearly three years, he was released on 15 June 1945.<ref name="Bankipur">{{cite news |title=Remembering India's first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, on his 55th death anniversary |url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/remembering-indias-first-president-dr-rajendra-prasad-on-his-55th-death-anniversary-2085341.html |access-date=24 May 2020 |work=Zee Media Bureau |agency=Essel Group |publisher=Zee News |date=28 February 2018}}</ref> | ||
After the formation of [[Interim Government of India|Interim Government]] of 12 nominated ministers under the leadership of [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] on 2 September 1946, he was allocated the Food and Agriculture department. He was elected as the President of [[Constituent Assembly]] on 11 December 1946.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/debates/vol1p3.htm |title= | After the formation of [[Interim Government of India|Interim Government]] of 12 nominated ministers under the leadership of [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] on 2 September 1946, he was allocated the Food and Agriculture department. He was elected as the President of [[Constituent Assembly]] on 11 December 1946.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/debates/vol1p3.htm |title=Constituent Assembly of India - Volume I |access-date=23 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024081909/http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/debates/vol1p3.htm |archive-date=24 October 2014 }}</ref> On 17 November 1947 he became Congress President for a third time after [[J. B. Kripalani]] submitted his resignation.<ref name="presidency">{{cite news |last1=Radhakrishnan |first1=Sruthi |title=Presidents of Congress past: A look at the party's presidency since 1947 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/presidents-of-congress-past-a-look-at-the-partys-presidency-since-1947/article21639174.ece |access-date=24 May 2020 |work=The Hindu |agency=The Hindu Group |date=14 December 2017}}</ref> | ||
== Presidency == | == Presidency == | ||
[[File:State Visits by President Rajendra Prasad.png|thumbnail|Between 1958 and 1960, President Prasad led 5 state visits to Japan, [[Ceylon]], [[USSR]], [[Indo-China]], [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]] and Indonesia.<ref>{{cite web|title= | [[File:State Visits by President Rajendra Prasad.png|thumbnail|Between 1958 and 1960, President Prasad led 5 state visits to Japan, [[Ceylon]], [[USSR]], [[Indo-China]], [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]] and Indonesia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Details of media persons accompanying the president in his/her visits abroad since 1947 to 2012|url=http://rashtrapatisachivalaya.gov.in/media_abroad.pdf|publisher=The President's Secretariat|access-date=5 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817094728/http://rashtrapatisachivalaya.gov.in/media_abroad.pdf|archive-date=17 August 2013}}</ref>]] | ||
Two and a half years after independence, on 26 January 1950, the Constitution of independent India was ratified and he was [[1950 Indian presidential election|elected]] as the first President of India. | Two and a half years after independence, on 26 January 1950, the Constitution of independent India was ratified, and he was [[1950 Indian presidential election|elected]] as the first [[President of India]]. On the night of 25 January 1950 (a day before the [[Republic Day (India)|Republic Day of India]]), his sister Bhagwati Devi died. He arranged her cremation but only after his return from the parade ground. | ||
As the President of India, Prasad duly acted as required by the Constitution and was independent of any political party. He travelled the world extensively as an ambassador of India, building diplomatic rapport with foreign nations. He was re-elected for two consecutive terms in [[1952 Indian presidential election|1952]] and [[1957 Indian presidential election|1957]] and is the only President of India to achieve this feat. The [[Mughal gardens|Mughal Gardens]] at the [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]] were open to public for about a month for the first time during his tenure, and since then it has been a big attraction for people in Delhi and many other parts of the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/20visit.htm|title=Record visitors at Mughal Garden|website=www.rediff.com|access-date=2 March 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101180617/http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/20visit.htm|archive-date=1 January 2011}}</ref> | |||
Prasad acted independently of political parties, following the expected role of the president as required by the constitution. Following the tussle over the enactment of the [[Hindu Code Bill]], he took a more active role in state affairs. In 1962, after serving 12 years as president, he announced his decision to retire. After relinquishing the office of the President of India in May 1962, he returned to [[Patna]] on 14 May 1962 and stayed on the campus of Bihar Vidyapeeth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rss.bih.nic.in/rss_about.htm |title=About Rajendra Smriti Sanghralaya, Sadakat Ashram, Patna, Bihar, India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826102336/http://rss.bih.nic.in/rss_about.htm |archive-date=26 August 2011 |website=Rss.bih.nic.in. |access-date=12 December 2013}}</ref> His wife died on 9 September 1962, a month before [[Sino-Indian War|Indo-China War]]. He was subsequently honoured with [[Bharat Ratna]], the nation's highest civilian award. | |||
He died on 28 February 1963, aged 78. [[Rajendra Smriti Sangrahalaya]] in [[Patna]] is dedicated to him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianpoliticians.com/profile/1/ |title=Dr Rajendra Prasad |access-date=12 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325010222/http://www.indianpoliticians.com/profile/1/ |archive-date=25 March 2008 }}. Indian Politicians Biography</ref> | |||
He died on 28 February 1963, aged 78. [[Rajendra Smriti Sangrahalaya]] in [[Patna]] is dedicated to him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianpoliticians.com/profile/1/ |title=Dr Rajendra Prasad |access-date=12 March 2010 |url-status= | |||
== In popular culture == | == In popular culture == | ||
''Babu Rajendra Prasad'' is 1980 [[Short film|short]] [[documentary film]] directed by Manjul Prabhat and produced by the [[Films Division of India]] which covers the life of the first president of India.<ref>{{Cite web|title= | ''Babu Rajendra Prasad'' is 1980 [[Short film|short]] [[documentary film]] directed by Manjul Prabhat and produced by the [[Films Division of India]] which covers the life of the first president of India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Babu Rajendra Prasad {{!}} Films Division|url=https://filmsdivision.org/shop/babu-rajendra-prasad|access-date=11 June 2021|website=filmsdivision.org}}</ref> | ||
==Bibliography== | ==Bibliography== | ||
[[File:Chandamama 1948 01.pdf|page=47|thumb|200px|Prasad's portrait as [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] president by Swamy (1948) issue of [[Chandamama]] magazine]] | [[File:Chandamama 1948 01.pdf|page=47|thumb|200px|Prasad's portrait as [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] president by Swamy (1948) issue of [[Chandamama]] magazine]] | ||
[[File:Rajendra Prasad 1962 stamp of India.jpg|thumb| | [[File:Rajendra Prasad 1962 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|Prasad on stamp of India issued in 1962.]] | ||
* [[Champaran Satyagraha|''Satyagraha at Champaran'']] (1922) | * [[Champaran Satyagraha|''Satyagraha at Champaran'']] (1922) | ||
* ''Division of India'' (1946) | * ''Division of India'' (1946) | ||
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* [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] | * [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] | ||
* [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan]] | * [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan]] | ||
* [[List of politicians from Bihar]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* {{PM20|FID=pe/013799}} | * {{PM20|FID=pe/013799}} | ||
*{{IMDb name|id=1518775}} | *{{IMDb name|id=1518775}} | ||
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[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]] | [[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]] | ||
[[Category:Surendranath Law College alumni]] | [[Category:Surendranath Law College alumni]] | ||
[[Category:University of Calcutta | [[Category:Academic staff of the University of Calcutta]] | ||
[[Category:City College, Kolkata | [[Category:Academic staff of City College, Kolkata]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Members of the Council of the Governor General of India]] | ||