Indian President – History and Legacy of India’s Presidents

Introduction of Indian President

The President of India is the head of the state and the first citizen of the country. He is elected by the members of the Electoral College, composed of elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies of the States. The President’s term of office is 5 years and he is eligible for re-election.

The President of India holds the highest office in the country and exercises considerable influence over the country’s political, social and economic life. He is the Commander-in-Chief of the defence forces of the country and is vested with the power to declare war and peace.

He can also pardon or suspend sentences, grant reprieves, remit punishments or commute sentences. He can also grant awards and honours to those who have served the nation in any field.

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History of Indian Presidents

The office of President of India is a coveted one, with a long and distinguished history. India has had thirteen Presidents since Independence in 1947, each of whom has had a significant impact on the country’s political and economic development.

Rajendra Prasad was the first President of India, serving from 1950 to 1962. He was a leader of the Indian independence movement and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. Prasad was the longest-serving President of India, and during his tenure, India enjoyed a period of rapid economic growth and increased political stability.

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan served as the second President of India from 1962 to 1967. He was an academic and philosopher who had a deep understanding of Indian culture and spirituality. Radhakrishnan was instrumental in establishing India’s reputation as a leader in science and technology, and he was also a strong advocate for the promotion of education and literacy.

The third President of India was Zakir Husain, who held office from 1967 to 1969. He was an educator and a political leader who was known for his commitment to social justice and equal rights. Husain also introduced measures to improve the standard of living in rural areas and made significant strides in the development of India’s industrial sector.

Varahagiri Venkata Giri was the fourth President of India. He held office from 1969 to 1974 and was known for his efforts to make India a more egalitarian society. He was also a strong proponent of India’s nuclear energy program and played a key role in the country’s diplomatic relations with other nations.

Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed was the fifth President of India. He held office from 1974 to 1977 and was known for his commitment to democracy and the rule of law. Ahmed was also an advocate for the development of India’s agricultural sector and was instrumental in the establishment of the Green Revolution, which helped to increase food production in the country.

The sixth President of India was Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, who held office from 1977 to 1982. He was an advocate for the strengthening of India’s economic ties with other nations and was an active participant in international affairs. Reddy was also a strong proponent of the rights of India’s tribal and rural populations.

Giani Zail Singh was the seventh President of India and held office from 1982 to 1987. He was an advocate for the protection of India’s minorities and was a strong proponent of the country’s economic development. He also improved India’s relations with other nations and played a key role in the resolution of the Kashmir conflict.

The eighth President of India was R. Venkataraman, who held office from 1987 to 1992. He was an advocate for the modernization of India’s infrastructure and was instrumental in the introduction of new technologies in the country. Venkataraman was also a strong supporter of the rights of India’s women and was an active participant in international affairs.

The ninth President of India was Shankar Dayal Sharma, who held office from 1992 to 1997. He was an advocate for the promotion of education and the protection of India’s environment. Sharma was also an advocate for the strengthening of the country’s economic ties with other nations and played a key role in the establishment of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.

The tenth President of India was K. R. Narayanan, who held office from 1997 to 2002. He was an advocate for the protection of India’s minorities and was a strong proponent of the country’s economic development. Narayanan was also instrumental in the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission, which helped to protect the rights of India’s citizens.

The eleventh President of India was A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, who held office from 2002 to 2007. He was a scientist and an advocate for the promotion of science and technology in India. Kalam was also a strong proponent of the strengthening of India’s economic ties with other nations and was an active participant in international affairs.

The twelfth President of India was Pratibha Patil, who held office from 2007 to 2012. She was an advocate for the protection of India’s women and children and was a strong proponent of the country’s economic development. Patil was also instrumental in the introduction of new technologies in India and was an active participant in international affairs.

The thirteenth and current President of India is Pranab Mukherjee, who has held office since 2012. He is an economist and a strong supporter of India’s economic development. Mukherjee is also an advocate for the strengthening of India’s ties with other nations and has worked to improve the country’s relations with its neighbors.

The fourteenth president of India is Ram Nath Kovind was elected on July 2017 and sworn in on July 25, 2017, succeeding Pranab Mukherjee. He is the first member of the Bharatiya Janata Party to hold the office and the second non-Congress president after Zakir Hussain. Before his election as president, Kovind served as Governor of Bihar from 2015 to 2017.

The Fifteenth President of India Droupdi Murmu was sworn in as the 15th President of India on 25 July 2022. She is also the first tribal woman to hold the post. She was born in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha and graduated from the University of Delhi in 1979.

Draupadi Murmu has held various positions in the state government of Odisha, including Secretary of Social Security and Empowerment of the PWD, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Women and Child Development and Special Secretary of Energy Department. She has also served as the Governor of Jharkhand since 2015.

Each of India’s thirteen Presidents has made significant contributions to the development of the country. They have all played an important role in the nation’s political and economic growth, and their legacy will continue to shape India’s future.

List of the Presidents of India

No.	Name(Birth–Death)	Home State	Term of Office			Election	Vice President	Appointed by	Political Party
			Assumed Office	Time in Office
Interim	Rajendra Prasad (1884–1963)	Bihar	26 January 1950	13 May 1952	12 years, 107 days	–	–	Harilal Jekisundas Kania	Indian National Congress
1			13 May 1957	1952		Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan	M. Patanjali Sastri
			13 May 1957	1957			Sudhi Ranjan Das
2	Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888–1975)	Tamil Nadu	13 May 1962	13 May 1967	5 years	1962	Zakir Husain	Bhuvneshwar Prasad Sinha	Independent
3	Zakir Husain (1897–1969)	Andhra Pradesh	13 May 1967	3 May 1969[†]	1 year, 355 days	1967	Varahagiri Venkata Giri	K. N. Wanchoo
Acting	Varahagiri Venkata Giri (1894–1980)	Odisha	3 May 1969	20 July 1969	78 days	–	–	M. Hidayatullah
Acting	M. Hidayatullah (1905–1992)	Uttar Pradesh	20 July 1969	24 August 1969	35 days	–	–	J. C. Shah
4	Varahagiri Venkata Giri (1894–1980)	Odisha	24 August 1969	24 August 1974	5 years	1969	Gopal Swarup Pathak	M. Hidayatullah
5	Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (1905–1977)	National Capital Territory of Delhi	24 August 1974	11 February 1977[†]	2 years, 171 days	1974	Gopal Swarup PathakB. D. Jatti	A. N. Ray	Indian National Congress
Acting	B. D. Jatti (1912–2002)	Karnataka	11 February 1977	25 July 1977	164 days	–	–	M. Hameedullah Beg
6	Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (1913–1996)	Andhra Pradesh	25 July 1977	25 July 1982	5 years	1977	B. D. JattiM. Hidayatullah		Janata Party
7	Giani Zail Singh (1916–1994)	Punjab	25 July 1982	25 July 1987	5 years	1982	M. HidayatullahR. Venkataraman	Y. V. Chandrachud	Indian National Congress
8	R. Venkataraman (1910–2009)	Tamil Nadu	25 July 1987	25 July 1992	5 years	1987	Shankar Dayal Sharma	R. S. Pathak
9	Shankar Dayal Sharma (1918–1999)	Madhya Pradesh	25 July 1992	25 July 1997	5 years	1992	K. R. Narayanan	M. H. Kania
10	K. R. Narayanan (1920–2005)	Kerala	25 July 1997	25 July 2002	5 years	1997	Krishan Kant	J. S. Verma
11	A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (1931–2015)	Tamil Nadu	25 July 2002	25 July 2007	5 years	2002	Krishan KantBhairon Singh Shekhawat	B. N. Kirpal	Independent
12	Pratibha Devisingh Patil (1934–)	Maharashtra	25 July 2007	25 July 2012	5 years	2007	M. Hamid Ansari	K. G. Balakrishnan	Indian National Congress
13	Pranab Mukherjee (1935–2020)	West Bengal	25 July 2012	25 July 2017	5 years	2012		S. H. Kapadia
14	Ram Nath Kovind (1945–)	Uttar Pradesh	25 July 2017	25 July 2022	5 years	2017	M. Hamid AnsariM. Venkaiah Naidu	J. S. Khehar	Bharatiya Janata Party
15	Droupadi Murmu (1958–)	Odisha	25 July 2022	Incumbent	262 days	2022	M. Venkaiah NaiduJagdeep Dhankhar	N. V. Ramana

First Indian President

The first Indian President was Rajendra Prasad, who was in office from 1950 to 1962. He was the first president of the Republic of India, and is considered to be one of the most influential leaders of the country. During his tenure, he focused on modernizing India and introducing reforms to improve the quality of life for its citizens. He was a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress and was instrumental in the formulation of the Constitution of India. He is widely respected for his role in India’s independence movement and his dedication to national service.

Legacy of Indian Presidents

The legacy of Indian Presidents has been one of great pride and dignity. The first Indian President was Dr. Rajendra Prasad, who served from 1950-1962. He was a lawyer and political leader, who was at the forefront of the Indian independence movement. He was also a strong advocate for democracy and secularism in India.

Dr. Prasad was followed by Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who was in office from 1962-1967. He was a philosopher, scholar and statesman, who served as India’s first Vice-President and second President. He was also a great proponent of education and was instrumental in the establishment of the Indian Institute of Technology.

The third President of India was Dr. Zakir Hussain, who held office from 1967-1969. He was a great scholar and educationist, who was committed to the cause of education and social justice. He was also the founder of the National Institute of Technology, which is now one of the leading educational institutions in India.

Contributions to India of Indian Presidents

The Presidents of India have contributed to the nation in many ways, both directly and indirectly, since the 1950s. The first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, was instrumental in helping India acquire its independence, and since then, each President has worked hard to promote and protect the nation’s democracy. Presidents have played a vital role in fostering national unity, promoting communal harmony, and safeguarding the interests of the marginalized sections of society.

Various Presidents have also made immense contributions to India’s economic development. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was instrumental in setting up India’s first five-year plan and was a strong advocate of the public sector. Dr. Zakir Hussain helped to establish the Indian Institute of Technology, while Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was a great proponent of India’s space programme and the development of nuclear technology.

Presidents have also contributed to India’s cultural and religious development. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was instrumental in popularizing the Vedic literature, while Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma was a great proponent of secularism and a strong advocate of religious tolerance. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam also promoted and popularized India’s scientific heritage, and encouraged young people to take up research and development.

Impact of Indian Presidents on International Relations

The impact of Indian Presidents on international relations has been far-reaching. During their terms in office, Indian Presidents have strived to foster friendly diplomatic relations with other countries, promote mutual understanding and cooperation, and build bridges between India and other nations.

The former President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, was particularly active in fostering better international ties. He visited multiple countries, including the US, to improve India’s relationship with the world. He also helped establish the Indian Institute of Technology, a prestigious educational institution that has become an important platform for global exchange.

The current President, Ram Nath Kovind, has also been a strong advocate for international relations. He has made diplomatic visits to many countries, including Thailand, Myanmar, Bahrain, and Ethiopia. He has also hosted foreign dignitaries in India, such as the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, and the Prime Minister of Nepal, K.P. Sharma Oli.

The Indian Presidents’ dedication to international relations has not gone unnoticed. In 2017, the United Nations honoured President Kovind with their highest award for his contribution to international cooperation. In 2018, the President was presented with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers by the Japanese government.

The impact of Indian Presidents on international relations will continue to shape the future of India and its relationships with other countries. Their efforts to bridge the gap between India and the rest of the world will undoubtedly have a lasting effect.

Impact of Indian Presidents on India

The Indian Presidents have had a major impact on the country. From the moment of their election, their first duty is to uphold the Constitution of India. This means that they have the power to ensure that all laws, policies and actions of the government are in line with the Constitution. They also play an important role in setting the overall tone of the nation and have the power to appoint the Prime Minister, Chief Justice and other top government officials.

The Indian Presidents have also had a significant impact on Indian society. They have taken a proactive role in promoting national unity and equality, ensuring that all citizens are treated fairly and with respect. They have also taken steps to reduce poverty, improve education and health care, and promote economic development. By encouraging these initiatives, the Indian Presidents have helped to create a better, more prosperous India.

Future of Indian Presidential Office

The future of the Indian Presidential Office is likely to be an important topic of discussion for many years to come. With the current president in office, it is likely that the office will continue to be a symbol of national pride and a source of unifying strength. It is also likely that the president’s role as a leader of the nation will continue to be of paramount importance.

However, India is also likely to continue to see changes in the way the office is organized and structured. The current president’s term is set to end in 2024, so it is likely that the government will take this opportunity to make changes to the office to reflect the needs of the country. It is possible that the president will be given the authority to appoint their own cabinet members, as well as be given more power to influence national policy.

Additionally, the president may be given a greater role in international affairs, as India continues to become an important player in the global economy.

Overall, the future of the Indian Presidential Office is likely to be an important area of discussion for many years to come. The president’s ability to lead the nation and represent the country on the international stage will be critical to India’s success in the future.

Conclusion

Indian Presidents have had a long and fascinating history, from the earliest days of the Republic to the present day. They have been a diverse group of individuals, from all walks of life, who have been elected to lead India and its people. Their contributions to the nation and its people have been many and varied, ranging from promoting social and economic reforms to tackling poverty and promoting education.

They have also been instrumental in the development of India’s foreign policy, forging strong relationships with other countries and creating a more secure and prosperous India. The stories of the Indian Presidents are an integral part of India’s history and they will continue to be remembered and celebrated in the years to come.