2. DR RAJENDRA PRASAD
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first
president of independent India. He was the
president of independent India. He was the
president of the constituent assembly that
grafted the constitution. He had also served
as a cabinet minister briefly in the first
Government of Independent India.
Dr.Rajendra Prasad was one of the formist
disciples of Gandhiji and he played a
critical role in Indian freedom struggle.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was born on
December 3 1884 in Ziradei Village in siwan district of Bihar. His father’s Name
was Mahadev Sahay and his mother’s name was Kamaleswari Devi. Rajeendra
Prasad was youngest among his siblings. Mahadev sahay was a Persian and
Sanskrit language scholar. Dr. Rajeendra Prasad was greatly attached to his mother
and elder brother Mahendra.
At the age of five Rajendra Prasad was, according to the practice in the
community to which he belonged, put under a Maulavi who taught him Persian
Later, he was taught Hindi and arithmetic. At the age of 12, Rajendra Prasad was
married to Rajvanshi Devi.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was a brilliant student. He stood first in the entrance
examination to the University of Cultural and was awarded a monthly scholarship
of Rs.30. He joined the famous Calcutta presidency college in 1902. Here his
teachers included the great scientist.
Jagdish Chandra Bose and the highly respected Prafulla Chandra Roy. Later
on he switched from science to Arts and completed his MA and Masters in Law.
Meanwhile, in 1905, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was initiated in the Swadeshi Movement
by his eldr brother Mahendra. He also joined the Dawan Society run by satish
Chandra Mukherjee and sister Nivedita.
3. The arrival of Mahathma Gandhi on the Indian National Scene greatly
influenced Dr. Rajendra Prasad. While Gandhiji was on a fact finding mission in
Champaran district of Bihar, he called on Rajendra Prasad to come to champaran
with volunteers. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was greatly impressed by the dedication,
conviction and courage that Gandhiji displayed. Gandhiji’s influence greatly
altered Dr. Rajeendra Prasad’s out look. He Sought ways to simplify his life and
reduce the number of Servants he had to one. He started doing his daily chres such
as sweeping the floor, washing the utensils the tasks he had all along assumed
other would do for him.
After coming into contact with Gabdhiji Dr. Rajendra Prasad, immersed
himself fully into the freedom struggle. He played a active role during Non Co
operation movement. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was arrested in 1930 while participating
in Salt Sathyagraha. He was in jail when on 15 January 1934 a devastation
earthquake struck Bihar. Rajendra Prasad was leleased from the jail two day later
and he immediately set himself for the task of raising funds and organizing relief.
The viceroy also raised a fund for the purpose. However while Rajendra Prasad’s
fund collected over Rs3.8 million the viceroy could only manage was organized, it
amply demonstrated the administrative acumen of Dr. Rajendra Prasad. Soon after
this Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the National Congress. He was elected as
congress president again in 1939 in the following the resignation of Netaji Subash
Chandra Bose.
In July 1946, when the constituent Assembly was established to frame the
constitution of india Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected its president Two and a half
year after independence on January 26, 1950, the constitution of independent India
was ratified and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as India’s first president. As a
president, he used his moderating influence silently and unobtrusively and set a
healing president for other to follow during his tenure as president he visited many
countries on missions of goodwill and sought to establish and nourish new
relationship.
In 1962, other 12 years as president, Dr. Rajendra Prasad retested and was
subsequently awarded the Desh Ratna, the nation’s highest civilian award. He
spent the last few months of his life in retirement at the sadaqat Ashram in patna.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad died on February 28, 1963.
