NEWS

President of India Pays Homage to Dr Rajendra Prasad on His Birth Anniversary

About

• Born in Bihar on 3 December 1884.
• Went to the Chapra District School
• Won a scholarship to study at the University of Calcutta and joined the Presidency College in Calcutta.
• Completed his MA in Economics in 1907
• Was an active social activist and joined the Dawn Society and the Servants of India Society.
• Pursued a career as a teacher in various institutions following which he pursued a law degree.
• Won a doctorate in law from the Patna University
• In 1916 commenced his legal career in the Patna High Court.

ROLE IN FREEDOM MOVEMENT

• Started during his student days
• Attended an Indian National Congress session as a volunteer in 1906.
• Joined the organisation in 1911
• Inspired by the Mahatma
• Quit his legal career and jumped into the freedom movement
• Participated in the non-cooperation movement in 1920
• Deeply moved by Gandhi’s dedication and conviction.
• Active part in the rehabilitation work after the 1914 floods and the 1934 earthquake in Bihar
• Released two days after the earthquake after which he formed the Bihar Central Relief Committee.
• Became the Congress president in 1934 at its Bombay session
• Chosen president once again in 1939.
• 3 years in jail after the Quit India Movement.

POLITICS

• Jawaharlal Nehru Interim Government in 1946 – in charge of the Food and Agriculture Department.
• In December 1946 – elected as the Constituent Assembly’s President.
• After the Constitution of India was ratified – chosen to be India’s first President.
• Remained president till 1962 for a period of 12 years( longest-serving president till date)
• Awarded Bharat Ratna in 1962

Literary Works

• Mahatma Gandhi and Bihar, Some Reminiscences
• Satyagraha at Champaran
• Atmakatha
• Division of India
• Since Independence