Dr.

Rajendra Prasad
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first President of independent India. His contribution to
the nation runs much deeper. He was one of the prominent leaders of the Indian
Nationalist Movement alongside Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel and Lal Bahadur
Shastri. He was one of those passionate individuals who gave up a lucrative profession
to pursue a greater goal of attaining freedom for the Motherland. He took up the helms
of designing the Constitution of the nascent nation by heading up the Constituent
Assembly post-independence. To say it succinctly, Dr. Prasad was one of the chief
architects in shaping the Republic of India.
Early Life and Education
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was born into a big joint family in Ziradei village of Siwan district
near Chhapra of Bihar. His father, Mahadev Sahay was a scholar of Persian and
Sanskrit language while his mother Kamleshwari Devi was a religious lady.
From an age of five, young Rajendra Prasad was placed under the tutelage of a Maulvi
to learn Persian, Hindi and Mathematics. Later he was transferred to the Chhapra Zilla
School and went on to study at R.K. Ghosh's Academy in Patna along with elder
brother Mahendra Prasad. At the age of 12, Rajendra Prasad was married to
Rajavanshi Devi. The couple had one son, Mrityunjay.
A brilliant student, Rajendra Prasad stood first in the entrance examination to study at
the University of Calcutta. He was awarded a scholarship of Rs.30 per month and he
joined the Presidency College in 1902. He was initially a student of science and his
teachers included J.C. Bose and Prafulla Chandra Roy. Later he decided to switch his
focus to arts stream. Prasad lived with his brother in the Eden Hindu Hostel. A plaque
still commemorates his stay in that room. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was instrumental in the
formation of the Bihari Students' Conference in 1908. It was the first organization of its
kind in the whole of India. The move produced the entire political leadership of the
nineteen twenties in Bihar. In 1907, Rajendra Prasad passed with a Gold medal in the
Masters degree in Economics from University of Calcutta.
Career
Post his post-graduation, he joined as a Professor of English at the Langat Singh
College of Muzaffarpur, Bihar and later became its Principal. He left the job in 1909
and came to Calcutta to pursue a degree in Law. While studying Law at the University
of Calcutta, he taught Economics at the Calcutta City College. He completed his
Masters in Law during 1915. He then went on to pursue a Doctorate degree in Law
from the Allahabad University.
He started his law practice at the Calcutta High Court in 1911. In 1916, Rajendra Prasad
joined the Patna High Court after its establishment. He continued his law practice in
Bhagalpur (Bihar) while continuing his advanced academic degrees. Dr. Prasad
eventually emerged as a popular and eminent figure of the entire region. Such was his
intellect and his integrity, that often when his adversary failed to cite a precedent, the
judges asked Rajendra Prasad to cite a precedent against them.
Political Career
Role in the Nationalist Movement
Dr. Prasad entered the political arena in a quiet, light-footed manner. He attended as
a volunteer in the 1906 Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress and formally
joined the party in 1911. He was subsequently elected to the AICC.
In 1917, Mahatma Gandhi visited Champaran to support the cause of the peasants’
revolting against the forceful cultivation of Indigo by the British authorities. Gandhi
invited Dr. Prasad to the area to undertake a fact finding mission regarding the claims
of both the peasants and the British. Although skeptical initially, Dr. Prasad was
mightily impressed by Gandhi’s demeanor, dedication and philosophy. Gandhi
undertook the ‘Champaran Satyagraha’ and Dr. Prasad offered his whole-hearted
support to the cause.
In 1920, when Gandhi announced the commencement of the Non-cooperation
movement, Dr. Prasad gave up his lucrative law practice and dedicated himself to the
cause of freedom. He led the programs of non-cooperation in Bihar. He toured the
state, holding public meetings and making heartfelt speeches for the support of
movement. He undertook collection of funds to enable the continuation of the
movement. He urged people to boycott Government schools, colleges and offices. As
a gesture of support to Gandhi’s call to boycott attending British sponsored
educational institutions, Dr. Prasad asked his son Mrityunjaya Prasad to leave the
University and join Bihar Vidyapeeth. He started the National College in Patna in
1921. He upheld the ideas of Swadeshi, asking people to boycott foreign goods,
peruse the spinning wheel and wear only khadi garments.
Nationalist India expressed its admiration by electing Rajendra Prasad as the
President of the Bombay session of the Indian National Congress in October 1934.
He was elected President for a second time in 1939 when Subhash Chandra Bose
resigned from the post. His third stint as the President of All India Congress Party
was in 1947 when J. B. Kripalani resigned from the post.
He became very much involved in the Quit India movement launched by Gandhi in
1942. He led protests and demonstrations in Bihar (Patna in particular). The
nationwide uproar demanding independence instigated the British Government to
undertake mass arrest of all influential Congress leaders. Dr. Prasad was arrested
from Sadaqat Ashram, Patna and was sent to Bankipur Central Jail where he spent 3
years imprisonment. He was released on 15 June 1945.
Relationship with Gandhi
Like many of his contemporaries, the political consciousness of Dr. Rajendra Prasad
was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. He was deeply impressed by how
Gandhi took up the cause of people and gave them his all. His interactions with the
Mahatma led him to alter his views on untouchability. Following his example, Dr.
Prasad embraced an austere and simplified life. He readily gave up on luxuries like
servants and riches. He renounced his pride and ego, even started performing
household chores like sweeping, washing and cooking.
As President of Independent India
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was selected as the Food and Agriculture Minister in the interim
Government headed by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946. Soon he was elected President of
the Constituent Assembly on December 11, the same year. He presided over the
Constituent Assembly from 1946 till 1949 and helped frame the Constitution of India.
On January 26, 1950, the Republic of India came into existence and Dr. Rajendra
Prasad was elected to be the first ever President of the country. Unfortunately, on the
night of 25 January 1950, a day before the Republic Day of India, his sister Bhagwati
Devi passed away. He set about the cremation but only after his return from the
parade ground.
As President of India, he duly acted as per the Constitution, independent of any
political party. He travelled the world extensively as an ambassador of India, building
diplomatic rapport with foreign nations. He was re-elected for 2 consecutive terms in
1952 and 1957, and remains only President of India to achieve this feat.
The Humanitarian
Dr. Prasad was always ready to help people who were in distress. He volunteered his
services for the relief work during the great flood that affected Bengal and Bihar in
1914. He distributed food and clothes to the victims himself. When the earthquake of
Bihar occurred on January 15, 1934, Rajendra Prasad was in jail. He was released
two days later. He set himself for the task of raising funds and set up the Bihar
Central Relief Committee on January 17. He oversaw collection of relief funds and
collected over Rs 38 Lakhs. During the Quetta earthquake in 1935, he set up the
Quetta Central Relief Committee in Punjab, although he was prevented by the British
to leave the country.
Death
In September 1962, Dr. Prasad's wife Rajavanshi Devi passed away. The incident led
to deterioration of his health and Dr. Prasad retired from public life. He resigned from
office and returned to Patna on May 14, 1962. He spent the last few months of his life
in retirement at the Sadaqat Ashram in Patna. He was awarded the "Bharat Ratna",
the nation's highest civilian award, in 1962.
Dr. Prasad passed away, after suffering from brief illness for around six months, on
February 28, 1963.