Dr. Rajendra Prasad

On December 3, 1884, Rajendra Prasad was born in Ziradei, Bihar's Siwan district, during the British Raj. His father, Mahadev Sahai Srivastava, was a scholar fluent in both Sanskrit and Persian who came from a Kayastha household. He heard tales from the Ramayana and Mahabharata from his pious mother, Kamleshwari Devi. Rajendra Prasad experienced the loss of his mother as a small child, and his older sister took on the job of taking care of him. Rajendra Prasad was the youngest of four children, with one older brother and three older sisters.

Student Life

Rajendra Prasad continued his schooling after completing his primary education.When he was only twelve years old, he wed Rajavanshi Devi.He spent two years studying at T.K. Ghosh's Academy in Patna together with his older brother Mahendra Prasad.His intellectual prowess enabled him to obtain the top spot in the University of Calcutta's admission exam, which resulted in a scholarship worth Rs. 30 per month.

At Presidency College in Kolkata, where he first majored in physics, he graduated with first-class honors in 1905. He performed so admirably that one of the examiners said he was "better than the examiner." He then changed his attention to the arts and graduated with honors with an M.A. in Economics in 1907. Rajendra Prasad was an active participant in The Dawn Society throughout his academic career, demonstrating both academic commitment and community involvement.

Career Path

Beginning his career in teaching, Rajendra Prasad first worked as an English professor at the Langat Singh College in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, where he later rose to the position of principal. However, his thirst for study prompted him to enroll in legal studies at Ripon College in Kolkata. He received a gold medal in 1915 for his outstanding performance in the University of Calcutta's master of law examination.

After completing his doctoral studies in law at Allahabad University, he was appointed to the Bihar and Odisha High Court in 1916. He was also given appointments to Patna University and the Senate.In Bhagalpur, a renowned silk town in Bihar, Prasad had a law business.

Participation in the Freedom Movement

The Indian Independence Movement saw a big contribution from Rajendra Prasad. In 1911, he first became involved with the Indian National Congress, and in 1916, at the Lucknow Session, he formally joined the organization. The same year he met Mahatma Gandhi, he actively participated in fact-finding trips in Champaran, and in 1920, he joined the Non-Cooperation Movement.

He founded Bihar Vidyapeeth using a conventional Indian paradigm, according to Gandhi's appeal to boycott Western educational institutions. Anugrah Narayan Sinha and Krishna Singh, who were crucial figures in the Champaran Movement and Non-Cooperation Movement, were among the significant leaders that Prasad's devotion and dedication helped produce when the Bihari Students Conference was established in 1906.

As a Teacher and Lawyer

Rajendra Prasad maintained his dual career as a teacher and lawyer by working as an economics professor at Calcutta City College while also attending law school there. He was hired as an English lecturer at Muzaffarpur's Langat Singh College in 1909, and he ultimately rose to become the school's principal. He continued his academic endeavors in the University of Calcutta's Department of Law, where he earned a gold medal for passing the master's in law test.

In the end, he received a Doctor of Law from Allahabad University, enhancing his standing as a preeminent legal expert. In Bhagalpur, where he started his legal career, Prasad made significant contributions to academic institutions and the legal community.

Presidency

Rajendra Prasad was chosen to serve as India's first president following the creation of the Indian Republic on January 26, 1950. He traveled widely as India's ambassador to promote diplomatic relations with other countries while carrying out his responsibilities freely and in accordance with the standards of the Constitution. He was re-elected for two consecutive terms in 1952 and 1957, a feat unequaled by any previous Indian President, during his spectacular reign. The Rashtrapati Bhavan's Mughal Gardens were made accessible to the general public under his administration and quickly gained popularity. Despite playing a mostly ceremonial position, Prasad became more involved in state matters, especially during the conflict over the adoption of the Hindu Code Bill.

After serving for 12 years, he made the decision to resign in 1962, and upon leaving office, he was given the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor. Tragically, a month before the Indo-China War, his wife passed away in September 1962. At the age of 78, Rajendra Prasad passed away on February 28, 1963, leaving behind a lasting legacy of important contributions to India's independence campaign and the country's early years as a republic.