Dr. Rajendra Prasad (December 3, 1884-February 28, 1963) was the first President of India.
Prasad was born in Zeeradei, Bihar. His father, Mahadev Sahay was a Persian and Sanskrit language scholar; his mother, Kamleshwari Devi was a devout lady who would tell stories from the Ramayana to her son. At the age of 5, the young Rajendra Prasad was sent to a Maulavi for learning Persian. After that he was sent to Chapra Zilla School for further primary studies.
He was married at the age of 12 to Rajvanshi Devi. He then went on to study at R.K. Ghosh’s Academy in Patna to be with his elder brother Mahendra Prasad. Soon afterward, however, he rejoined the Chapra Zilla School, and it was from there that he passed the entrance examination of Calcutta University, at the age of 18. He topped that examination.
He then joined the Presidency College, Calcutta. He lived with his brother in the Eden Hindu Hostel. A plaque still commemorates his stay in that room. He
had been initiated into the Swadeshi movement by his brother. He then joined the Dawn Society run by Satish Chandra Mukherjee and Sister Nivedita.
In 1911, he joined the A.I.C.C. However, his family estate was in bad condition. He was looked upon as the saviour. But he sought permission from his brother in a letter to join the Indian freedom movement. The shock of his brother, however, held him to the family. In 1916, Rajendra Prasad joined the High Court of Bihar and Orissa.
When the earthquake of Bihar occured on January 15, 1934, Rajendra Prasad was in jail. He was released two days later. He set himself for the task of raising funds. The Viceroy has also raised a fund. However, while Rajendra Prasad’s fund collected over 38 lacs, the Viceroy could only manage one-third of that amount.
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 years after independence, on January 26, 1950, the Constitution of independent India was ratified and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected the nation’s first President.
As President, he used his moderating influence so silently and unobtrusively that he neither reigned nor ruled. His sister Bhagwati Devi passed away on the night of 25 January 1960. She doted on her dearly-loved younger brother. It must have taken Rajendra Prasad all his will power to have taken the Republic Day salute as usual, on the following day. It was only on return from the parade that he set about the task of cremation.
In 1962, after 12 years as President, Dr. Prasad retired, and was subsequently awarded the Bharat Ratna, the nation’s highest civilian award. With the many tumults of his vigorous and accomplished life, Dr. Prasad recorded his life and the decades before independence in many books.
Dr. Prasad spent the last few months of his life in retirement at the Sadaqat Ashram in Patna. He died on February 28, 1963.
