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Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Rajendra Prasad
राजेन्द्र प्रसाद
Food Minister Rajendra Prasad during a radio broadcast in Dec 1947 cropped.jpg
1st President of India
In office
26 January 1950 – 14 May 1962
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
Vice President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Preceded by Position Established
C. Rajagopalachari as the Governor General of India
Succeeded by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Personal details
Born (1884-12-03)3 December 1884
Ziradei, Siwan, Bihar, Bengal Presidency, British India (now in Bihar)
Died 28 February 1963(1963-02-28) (aged 78)
Patna, Bihar, India
Nationality Indian
Political party Indian National Congress
Spouse(s) Rajvanshi Devi (d.1962)
Alma mater University of Calcutta
Religion Hinduism
Awards Bharat Ratna Ribbon.svg Bharat Ratna (1962)

Rajendra Prasad (About this sound listen ; 3 December 1884 – 28 February 1963) was the first President of the Republic of India. An Indian political leader, lawyer by training, Prasad joined the Indian National Congress during the Indian independence movement and became a major leader from the region of Bihar. A supporter of Mahatma Gandhi, Prasad was imprisoned by British authorities during the Salt Satyagraha of 1931 and the Quit India movement of 1942. Prasad served one term as President of the Indian National Congress from 1934 to 1935. After the 1946 elections, Prasad served as minister of food and agriculture in the central government. Upon independence in 1947, Prasad was elected president of the Constituent Assembly of India, which prepared the Constitution of India and served as its provisional parliament.

When India became a Republic in 1950, Prasad was elected its first President by the Constituent Assembly. Following the general election of 1951, he was elected President by the electoral college of the first Parliament of India and its state legislatures. As President, Prasad established a tradition of 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 re-elected to the presidency, becoming the only president to have been in the office twice.


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