Dr Rajendra Prasad Birth Anniversary: Some Interesting Facts About India’s First President

Every year, on December 3rd, the birth anniversary of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, India's first President is being observed. This year commemorates the 136th birth anniversary of Prasad.

The great scholar was also a freedom fighter, a teacher, and a lawyer, apart from being involved in politics. During the Indian Independence Movement, Prasad was a member of the Indian National Congress and rose to prominence as a significant leader from Bihar and Maharashtra. Prasad was chosen as President of the Constituent Assembly when India became a republic in 1950. Some interesting facts about the former President are as follows.

• Prasad's father wanted him to learn Persian, Hindi, and arithmetic, thus he was educated by a Maulavi Muslim Scholar when he was a child.
• Prasad is the only President to have served two full terms and for the longest period of time in office, almost 12 years.
• During the Salt Satyagraha and Quit India Movement, Prasad was imprisoned by British authorities because he was an activist in the Independence movement.
• After his term as President ended, he resigned from the National Congress and established new criteria for parliamentarians, which are still followed today.
• Mahatma Gandhi had a profound influence on Prasad, and was tremendously touched by his dedication, courage, and conviction. He was also instrumental in the making of the Indian Constitution.
• He was an English professor at a college in Bihar before deciding to pursue a career in law. He taught Economics at a college in Kolkata while studying law.
• In 1962, Prasad was also given the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.
• Prasad died on February 28, 1983, when he was 78 years old. In Patna, the Rajendra Smriti Sanghralaya is named after him.
• During the Indian Independence Movement, he contributed articles to revolutionary periodicals such as Searchlight and Desh, as well as raised funds for them.
• During his political career, Prasad published several books. He wrote several works, including India Divided, Words of Freedom, Ideas of a Nation: Rajendra Prasad, and At the Feet of Mahatma Gandhi.