Tributes paid to Dr Rajendra Prasad on his birth anniversary

Bharat ratna, Dr. Rajendra Prasad

• Rajendra Prasad was born in Bihar in 1884.
• His father was a scholar of Persian and Sanskrit language.
• A brilliant student, Rajendra Prasad stood first in the entrance examination to study at the University of Calcutta.
• He passed away in 1963.
• Career:
  • After his post-graduation, he joined as a Professor of English at the Langat Singh College of Muzaffarpur, Bihar and later became its Principal.
  • He started his law practice at the Calcutta High Court in 1911.
  • He joined Patna High Court in 1916, after its establishment.
  • He eventually emerged as a popular and eminent figure of the entire region.
• Role in Nationalist Movement:
  • He attended as a volunteer in the 1906 Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress and formally joined the party in 1911.
  • In 1917, Mahatma Gandhi undertook the ‘Champaran Satyagraha’ and Dr. Prasad offered his whole-hearted support to the cause.
  • During the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920, Dr Rajendra Prasad gave up his lucrative law practice and dedicated himself to the cause of freedom.
  • He started the National College in Patna in 1921.
  • He was elected as the President of the Bombay session of the Indian National Congress in October 1934.
  • He was elected to the post again in 1939 and 1947.
  • He became very much involved in the Quit India Movement launched by Gandhi in 1942.
  • 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.
• Work in Independent India:
  • On January 26, 1950, the Republic of India came into existence and Rajendra Prasad was elected to be the first ever President of the country.
  • 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.
  • In 1962, he was awarded the “Bharat Ratna”, India’s highest civilian award.

Q1) What are the humanitarian services of Rajendra Prasad?

Dr. Rajendra Prasad took an active part in the rehabilitation work after the 1914 floods and the 1934 earthquake in Bihar. During the earthquake, despite being in jail, he coordinated relief work from there and formed the Bihar Central Relief Committee following his release after 2 days.

Source: PIB