Dr. Rajendra Prasad

December 3, 1884 - February 28, 1963

Biography

Dr. Rajendra Prasad, son of Mahadev Sahai, was born in Zeradei, Saran district North Bihar on December 3, 1884. Rajendra Prasad's father, Mahadev Sahay, was a country gentleman, a scholar of Persian and Sanskrit.Dr Rajendra Prasad's mother's name was Kamleshwari Devi.At the age of five young Rajendra was, according to the practice in the community to which he belonged, put under a Maulavi who taught him Persian.

Later, he was taught Hindi and arithmetic. After the completion of this traditional education he was put in the Chapra Zilla School, from which he moved to R.K. Ghosh's Academy in Patna in order to be with his only brother, Mahendra Prasad, who was eight years older than him and who had joined the Patna College. When Mahendra Prasad moved to Calcutta in 1897, Rajendra was admitted into the Hathwa High School Soon he rejoined the Chapra Zilla School. Rajen was married when he was barely 12 years old to Rajvanshi Devi.

Rajendra was a brilliant student; standing first in the entrance examination to the University of Calcutta , he was awarded a Rs.30/month scholarship. He joined the famed Calcutta Presidency College in 1902. His scholarship, ironically, would pose the first test of his patriotism. Gopal Krishna Gokhale had started the Servants of India Society in 1905 and asked Rajendra to join. So strong was his sense of duty toward his family and education that he, after much deliberation, refused Gokhale.

Dr. Rajendra parsad was instrumental in the formation of the Bihari Students' Conference followed in 1908. It was the first organization of its kind in the whole of India . It not only led to an awakening, it nurtured and produced practically the entire political leadership of the twenties in Bihar .

At the time he set himself up as a legal practitioner in Calcutta in 1911, apprenticed to Khan Bahadur Shamsul Huda, he also joined the Indian National Congress and was elected to the AICC. Rajendra passed the Masters in Law examination with honors, winning a gold medal. Subsequently, he completed his Doctorate in Law as well.

He started practice in Patna on the establishment of the High Court of Bihar and Orissa. As an accomplished lawyer, however, Rajendra realized it would be only a matter of time before he would be caught up in the turmoil of the fight for independence.

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. Dr. Prasad went to Champaran. Initially he was not impressed with Gandhiji's appearance or conversation. In time, however, Dr. Prasad was deeply moved by the dedication, conviction and courage that Gandhiji displayed.

Gandhiji's influence greatly altered many of Dr. Prasad's views, most importantly on caste and untouchability. Dr. Prasad reduced the number of servants he had to one, and sought ways to simplify his life. He no longer felt shame in sweeping the floor, or washing his own utensils.Dr. Prasad became a volunteer distributing food and cloth to the flood victims.

He was in jail when on 15 January, 1934 the devastating earthquake in Bihar occurred. He was released two days later. Though ailing, he set himself immediately to the task of raising funds and organizing relief. The Viceroy also raised a fund for the purpose. While his fund swelled to over 38 lakhs, the Viceroy's fund, despite his great influence, resources and prestige, remained at one third of the amount. The way relief was organized left nothing to be desired. Nationalist India expressed its admiration by electing him to the President of the Bombay session of the Indian National Congress.

In 1935, an earthquake hit Quetta . Dr. Prasad was not allowed to lend a hand because of Government restrictions. Nevertheless, he set up relief committees in Sind and Punjab for the homeless victims who flocked there.

When the Congress Ministries were formed in 1937, it was the Parliamentary Board consisting of Sardar Patel, Rajendra Babu and Maulana Azad, which really and effectively provided guidance and control. In 1939 when Subhas Chandra Bose had to be relieved of the office of the Congress President, it was Rajendra Prasad who was persuaded to take over the presidentship and to face the crisis. The Congress faced another crisis when Acharya Kripalani resigned. Again Rajendra Babu had to step into the breach. His stewardship of the Constituent Assembly was exemplary.

Dr. Prasad called for non-cooperation in Bihar as part of Gandhiji's non-cooperation movement. Dr. Prasad toured the state, holding public meeting after another, collecting funds and galvanizing the nation for a complete boycott of all schools, colleges and Government offices. He urged the people to take to spinning and wear only khadi. Bihar and the entire nation was taken by storm, the people responded to the leaders' call. The machinery of the mighty British Raj was coming to a grinding halt.

Lala Lajpat Rai, Jawaharlal Nehru, Deshbandhu Chittranjan Das and Maulana Azad were arrested. Then the peaceful non- cooperation turned to violence in Chauri Chaura, Uttar Pradesh. In light of the events at Chauri Chaura, Gandhiji suspended the civil disobedience movement. The entire nation was hushed. A murmur of dissent began within the top brass of the Congress. Gandhiji was criticized for what was called the "Bardoli retreat."

As the freedom struggle progressed, the dark shadow of communalism which had always lurked in the background, steadily grew. To Dr. Prasad's dismay communal riots began spontaneously burst all over the nation and in Bihar . He rushed from one scene to another to control the riots. Independence was fast approaching and so was the prospect of partition.

In July 1946, when the Constituent Assembly was established to frame the Constitution of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected its President. Two and a half years after independence. On January 26, 1950, the Constitution of independent India was ratified and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected the nation's first President.

He never worried about what people said about him. He never looked into the mirror of history. There were occasions when he differed from the Prime Minister. But that was nothing new. They had differed for almost three decades and yet worked together in the Congress. The differences never embittered their personal relations. Perhaps, both realized that they arose out of their differing backgrounds, beliefs, approaches and attitudes.

It was in 1960 that he announced his intention to retire, and though there were many regrets and many tried to persuade him to continue for a third term, his mind was made up.

In 1962, after 12 years as President, Dr. Prasad retired, and was subsequently awarded the Bharat Ratna, the nation's highest civilian award.

Within months of his retirement, his wife Rajbanshi Devi passed away in September 1962.

Dr. Prasad spent the last few months of his life in retirement at the Sadaqat Ashram in Patna . He died on February 28, 1963 after a brief illness.