The nation pays tribute to Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first president of India, on his 56th death anniversary on Thursday.
Dr Rajendra Prasad, who held the highest office in the country from January 26, 1950 to May 13, 1962, was born on 3rd December 1884 in Siwan district of Bihar. A staunch Gandhian, he gave up his lucrative law career to aid the freedom movement.
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Here is all you need to know-
- As a child, Rajendra Prasad was taught by a Maulavi (Muslim scholar), as his father wanted him to learn the Persian language, Hindi and arithmetic.
- He played an instrumental role in forming the Bihari Students Conference at the hall of Patna College in 1906.
- He held a postgraduate in Economics from the University of Calcutta and used to stay at the Eden Hindu Hostel in Calcutta (Kolkata).
- In 1911, Dr. Prasad joined the Indian National Congress and became the leader of the Bihar and Odisha region.
- He was jailed by the Britishers for his role in Salt Satyagraha Movement of 1931 and the Quit India Movement of 1942.
- In 1946 Dr. Prasad became the first Minister of Food and Agriculture in the interim national government.
- On becoming the President of India Dr. Prasad quit the Congress and set up new guidelines for the parliamentarians and that are still followed in Parliament.
- He was awarded the highest civilian award in India, the Bharat Ratna in 1962.
- His autobiography is titled ‘Aatmakatha’
- Dr Rajendra Prasad died on 28th February 1963 after suffering from illness for 6 months. He spent his last few days in Sadaqat Ashram situated in Patna.
(From NewsMobile archives)