by Rajendra Prasad was born in early February of 1861 in Benares, Uttar Pradesh, India. His parents were Brahmans, a very high caste that was respected and held more power than people of any other lower class. Rajendra’s dad had to quit his job as a Brahman and became an outcast but he still made sure Rajendra received a good education from the Christian missionaries that came often to Benares at the time. He would go on to become the first President of independent India, securing independence for its people soon after its creation.”
Rajendra Prasad was one of the first Indian leaders who contributed immensely to its nation’s society, economy and politics during his lifetime.
About Rajendra Prasad
Rajendra Prasad was the first president of India. He has also been a prominent advocate of Hinduism. He was also a politician who had participated in the Indian freedom struggle and played crucial roles in the Indian National Congress. Rajendra Prasad, who was born on February 3, 1861, in Zeradei, Bihar was one among five sons born to Kedarnath Datta and his wife Bhurso Devi. Rajendra Prasad’s father worked as a clerk in courts and an attorney in Kolkata where he died due to tuberculosis while setting out to take part in the freedom struggle.
Life of Rajendra Prasad
His Birth
Rajendra Prasad was born on February 3, 1887 at the village of Bakshi in Benares. He was a Brahmin from his father’s side and from his mother’s side he was a Kayastha. His parents gave him the name of Rajendra. His father, who served as a priest for a temple, was named Shri Ishwara Chandra and his mother’s name was Shrimati Sarada Devi (Benarasi). When he was five years old, Rajendra began to go to school.
His Education
Rajendra Prasad was educated at a missionary school. As his father had to stop his priestly services, he could not afford to provide a good education for his son. The missionaries noticed Rajendra and decided to give him free education. He became very close friends with them and even later served as their treasurer.
He passed his matriculation examination in 1884 from Benaras Hindu University (BHU). Then he also studied at Samaldas College of Ghazipur (1885) and later at Muir Central College in Allahabad (1886).
His Career
Rajendra Prasad was a very educated leader, who gave a great contribution to Indian society and politics. He became a leader in the freedom struggle.
He dedicated his entire life for the cause of the freedom struggle. His life and career are filled with many achievements.
Rajendra Prasad As a teacher
In 1885 he started to work at a mission school in Benaras as a teacher. Later he served as a teacher at Mayo College (1886) in Allahabad and then started his long career at Muir Central College (1886). In 1888 he also completed his post graduation from Muir Central College, where he learned under many teachers such as Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, Sir K .S. Krishna Rao and Sir William Muir. Although he was not a good orator he was a very dedicated worker, who never missed his lecture.
Rajendra Prasad As a lawyer
In 1889 he joined the Inner circle of national leader, Pandit Motilal Nehru. Later during his stay in Allahabad he took part in the activities that helped in establishing a revolutionary network among revolutionaries from different parts of India.
Rajendra Prasad As a Congress Leaders
He became a member of Congress in 1895. He moved up the Congress hierarchy very quickly, becoming an adviser to one of its leaders and then its president (1921-1925). Prasad also tried his hands on several other issues including civil liberties, prison reforms and religious pluralism. In 1919 he inaugurated a college for women at Agra, whose principal was Miss Sarla Thakur.
In the freedom movement
He was among the top leaders who worked hard for India’s independence from Britain. He took part in the 1885 Simla Conference, which was a meeting of Indian National Congress (INC), where he opposed the idea of keeping the British Queen as the head of India’s council. From 1906 to 1917 he served as one of the secretaries for INC and then in 1920-22 and 1927-28 he became its president. In 1926 Prasad and Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya, who was the INC national president, attended the Round Table Conference at London.
Missions at Champaran
Rajendra prasad visited Champaran district in Bihar, where he was appointed as a pensioner member of the Champaran Development Committee. He was one of the members who worked hard to help people in the area. He went on to hold many positions like secretary and treasurer of INC.
Rajendra became a president three times(1921-1925, 1928-29 and 1930-32). From 1921 to 1922 he also served as one of the ministers during INC’s ministries.
Presidency
When Mahatma Gandhi and the INC gained power in India in 1937, Prasad was elected as the first president (1937-1938). Later Indira Gandhi became the second woman to serve as the president of India.
In 1944 Prasad also took part in India’s provincial elections, where he led INC to victory.
Awards and Honours
Rajendra Prasad continued to take part in politics until his last days. He was a very dedicated and disciplined leader who never compromised with his beliefs and values. Rajendra prasad was a very influential leader too. He got Bharat ratna, India’s highest civilian award in 1962.
Awards and honours from other countries included, Soviet Land Nehru Award (1961), The United Nations Peace Medal (1962) and the Grand Cross of the National Order of the Legion of Honour (France).
He was also given honorary degrees by many universities across the world. He got honorary doctorates from Banaras Hindu University, Calcutta University, Delhi University, Lucknow University and Patna University.
Death
He suffered a stroke on July 29, 1962 that left him partially paralyzed. On February 28, 1963 he passed away at his residence in Patna at the age of 93.
