Rajendra Prasad Birth Anniversary

• 03 Dec 2024

Why in News? 

The Prime Minister paid tributes to the country's first President, Bharat Ratna Dr. Rajendra Prasad on his birth anniversary.

Key Points 

• Dr. Rajendra Prasad was born in Zeradei, Siwan, Bihar on 3rd December 1884. 
• Education: 
  • He joined the Calcutta Presidency College in 1902. 
  • In 1915, Prasad appeared in the examination of Master's in Law from the Department of Law, University of Calcutta, passed the examination and won a gold medal. 
  • In 1916, he commenced his legal career in the Patna High Court. He completed his Doctorate in Law from Allahabad University in 1937. 
• Role in Fight for Freedom: 
  • Association with Gandhiji: 
    • While Gandhiji was on a fact-finding mission in Chamaparan district of Bihar to address grievances of local peasants, he called on Rajendra Prasad to come to Champaran with volunteers. 
    • The Champaran Satyagraha not only brought him closer to Mahatma Gandhi, but also changed the entire course of his life. 
    • The Rowlatt Act of 1919 and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919 pushed Rajendra Prasad closer to Gandhiji. 
  • Call for Non-cooperation: 
    • Dr. Prasad called for non-cooperation in Bihar as part of Gandhiji’s non-cooperation movement. 
  • Salt Satyagraha: 
    • In March 1930, Gandhiji launched the Salt Satyagraha. Under the guidance of Dr. Prasad, a salt Satyagraha was launched in Nakhas Pond, Bihar. 
• Dr. Prasad & Indian National Congress: 
  • He officially joined the Indian National Congress in 1911, during its annual session held in Calcutta. 
  • He presided over the Bombay session of the Indian National Congress in October 1934. 
  • Following the resignation of Subhash Chandra Bose as the President of the Congress in April 1939, He was elected President for the second time. 
  • In 1946, he joined the Interim Government of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as the Minister of Food & Agriculture and gave the slogan of “Grow More Food”. 
• Dr. Prasad & Constituent Assembly: 
  • In July 1946, when the Constituent Assembly was established to frame the Constitution of India, he was elected its President. 
  • Committees of Constituent Assembly under the chairmanship of Dr. Prasad includes: 
    • Ad hoc Committee on the National flag 
    • Committee on the Rules of Procedure 
    • Finance and Staff Committee 
    • Steering Committee 
  • On 26th January 1950, the Constitution of independent India was ratified and he was elected India's First President. 
• Awards & Recognition: 
  • In 1962, after 12 years as President, Dr. Prasad retired, and was subsequently awarded the Bharat Ratna, the nation’s highest civilian award. 
  • Dr. Prasad recorded his life and the decades before independence in many books, which includes: 
    • Satyagraha at Champaran 
    • India Divided 
    • His autobiography “Atmakatha” 
    • Mahatma Gandhi and Bihar, Some Reminisences 
    • Bapu ke Kadmon Mein 
• Death: 
  • Dr. Rajendra Prasad spent the last few months of his life in retirement at the Sadaqat Ashram in Patna. He died on 28th February 1963.