33)Dr.Rajendra Prasad : Honouring the First President of India (1950-1962):

Dr.Rajendra Prasad : Honouring the First President of India (office term :1950-1962):

(03.12.1884 to 28.02.1963)

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was born in Zerdari village in Siwan District, Bihar (India) on 3^rd December 1884.

As a young boy, he studied Hindi, Persian and Sanskrit. He was a brilliant scholar and studied at the Calcutta (now Kolkata) University on a scholarship and  later on at the Presidency College, Calcutta. He had a M.A. Degree in Economics and taught as a Professor in English and later as Principal at the Bhumihar Brahman College in Muzaffarpur.  Later he acquired a Masters degree and a Doctorate in Law He then started practicing as an attorney at Law and worked at the High Court of Bihar and Orissa, as well as at Bhagalpur.

Participation in India’s Freedom Struggle :

During the Freedom movement for India, he left his Law Practice and joined the Indian National Congress in 1911 and rose to the status of President of the Indian National Congress in 1934, an office he was to hold three times in all. He wrote several articles for the Freedom of India related publications “Searchlight” and “Desh” (Country) which were termed as “Revolutionary” by the British India Government.

In 1930, when Mahatma Gandhi led his march from Sabarmati Ashram to the Dandi sea-coast to protest against/break the British India Salt Tax Laws, a salt Satyagrah was launched in Bihar under Dr.Rajendra Prasad at Nakhas Pond/lake in Patna. Several persons participated in the symbolic act of making salt in violation of the Salt Tax laws and courted arrest. The sheer number of participants forced the Government to let them carry out the salt making process without hindrance.  Dr. Prasad served a six-month jail term for this activity.

Due to his extensive tours and lectures for garnering support for the Freedom Movement in India, he was jailed in 1934, but was released with restrictions on his movements, including on leaving the country. At the time of the floods in Bengal and Bihar in 1914 and the Quetta Earthquake in 1934, he dedicated himself to raising funds and material help and also set up committees to help out the affected persons/areas. He participated whole-heartedly and effectively in India’s Freedom struggle. 

He was very moved by the British India Government’s atrocities at Jallianwala Bagh, where a massacre of peacefully gathered citizens of India took place and gave a call for non-cooperation in Bihar, as a part of Gandhiji’s non-cooperation movement. He was incarcerated when he participated in the Quit India Movement based on a Resolution passed by the Indian National Congress on 8thAugust 1942. He remained in Bankipur Jail and was released in 1945. He penned a work titled“Atmakatha (“Autobiography “– written while he was serving a three year jail term in Bankipur Jail).

Important Positions held at All-India level:

He took up various positions at the Centre, including as a Central Government Minister holding the portfolio of Food and Agriculture in 1946, President of the Constituent Assembly which drafted the Constitution of India  (from 1948 to 1950) and later, President of India (1950-1962). Prior to these appointments, he lived in a house with a thatched ceiling. After he left office as the President of India, he returned to the same house with the thatched roof. Would you believe this??  In today’s era of scams and Cabinet Ministers of the ruling coalition led by the Congress Party being jailed for allegedly unscrupulous activities, this kind of sterling example setting by the First President of India ( and three times President of the very same Indian National Congress , which is now in its  new “Avatar”) sounds, simply unbelievable. Later, friends and well wishers at the initiative of Jai Prakash Narayan built up a dwelling for him in the campus of the Bihar Vidyapeeth.

He did not live long thereafter, and passed away on 22.02.1963 in the satisfaction that he had achieved his life’s tremendous contribution to the Indian Nation and Society in general.

Literary works:

He is credited to have penned several papers and publications at various stages of his remarkable life,  apart from “Atmakatha” and “India Divided”. He was, very impressed by Mahatma Gandhi’s dedication, courage and commitment to India’s Freedom struggle and even boycotted Western Colleges/Schools by getting his son admitted to Bihar Vidyapeeth. He, also, wrote his version on Mahatma Gandhi’s work at Champaran titled “Satyagrah at Champaran” (“Insistence of a Right” through “fasting/peaceful means” – which is a Gandhian Philosophy) and the impact that Gandhiji had on him and Bihar titled, “Mahatma Gandhi and Bihar – Some Reminiscences” and “Bapu ke Kadmon mein (In the footsteps of the Father of the Nation – Mahatma Gandhi).

Awards and Honours:

He was honoured with the “Bharat Ratna” (Jewel of India) India’s highest civilian Award in 1962.

Many monuments and roads are there in Bhagalpur, the town where he practiced Law and left his practice to join the Indian Freedom movement. 

The Reserve Bank of India, to commemorate the 125^th Anniversary of his birth, has brought out a five rupee cupro-nickel coin in 2010 for general circulation. 

The obverse of the coin has the Lion Capital in the centre together with the words “Satyameva Jayate “ (Truth always Prevails) which together forn the emblem/Coat of Arms of India.The numeral “5” denoting the denomination of the coin is below the emblem. On the left periphery are the words “Bharat” and “Rupiye” in Hindi and on the right periphery are the words “India” and “Rupees” in English.

On the reverse of the coin is a portrait/image of Dr.Rajendra Prasad with the words “Dr. Rajendra Prasad 125vin jayanti “ in Hindi and Dr. Rajendra Prasad and 125 Birth Anniversary” in English. The years 1884-2009 are mentioned indicating the year of his birth and the year of his 125^th Birth Anniversary. This coin was minted at Mumbai mint. Notice the “diamond” mint mark above the Anniversary years.

  Posted on 17.09.12:

Today I have received a Commemorative coin (Proof) from the India Government Mint ,Hyderabad .The coin album as well as the coin image and specifications are given below:

  The Front of the  coin album .
 

      

The details about Dr. Rajendra Prasad  given overleaf in the Album.

The obverse of the Commemorative five-rupee coin.

The Reverse of the Commemorative five-rupee coin.

 

The specifications of this coin are:

 

Composition: 

Copper  : 75%

Zinc       : 20%

Nickel    :   5%

Dimensions of the coin:

Diameter: 23 mm

Weight   : 6 gms

Serrations: 100

 The last inner leaf of the album showing Dr. Rajendra Prasad's portrait which has been used on the coin face.