New Delhi: Rajendra Prasad was the first President of India and he served in that role from 1952 to 1962. He was an Indian politician, lawyer, journalist and scholar who also took part in the Indian freedom struggle. Born on December 3, 1884, in Bihar, his father was a scholar of both Sanskrit and Persian languages. He lost his mother when he was a child and his elder sister took care of him. On this birth anniversary, let us take a look at some interesting facts about this great man.
Interesting facts about Rajendra Prasad, India’s first President
His days in Kolkata
Rajendra Prasad stood first in the University of Calcutta’s entrance examination and joined the Presidency College in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1902. Besides being a student, he was also a public activist but did not join the Servants of India Society due to his commitment to the family.
Bihari Students Conference
In 1906, Prasad played a key role in forming the Bihari Students Conference at Patna College. It was India’s first organisation of its kind and it gave important leaders from Bihar like Krishna Singh and Anugrah Narayan Sinha who took part in the Champaran Movement and Non-cooperation Movement.
Rajendra Prasad and the freedom struggle
In 1911, Prasad joined the Congress and during the 1916 Lucknow Session, he met Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi asked him to come with his volunteers in Champaran and Prasad was so influenced by Gandhi that during the Non-Cooperation Movement, he quit his job as a lawyer and took part in the freedom struggle. The British authorities imprisoned Prasad during the Salt Satyagraha of 1930 and the Quit India movement of 1942.
Rajendra Prasad and the President of India
After India gained Independence in 1947, Prasad became the Constituent Assembly’s President which prepared the Indian Constitution. In 1950, India became a Republic and the Constituent Assembly elected Prasad as the country’s first President. He encouraged educational development and advised the government. In 1957, Prasad was once again elected as the President of India and he is the only President to serve two full terms. He served in the post for the longest term around 12 years.
After India gained Independence in 1947, Prasad became the Constituent Assembly’s President which prepared the Indian Constitution. In 1950, India became a Republic and the Constituent Assembly elected Prasad as the country’s first President. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
