Rajendra Prasad
By Illa Vij

RAJENDRA PRASAD, popularly known as "Rajen Babu", belonged to Bihar. He was born on December 3, 1884, and was married at the age of 12. He was hard-working and intelligent. When he stood first in the matriculation examination, his family realised his capabilities and potential.

After attaining his postgraduate degree in law, Rajendra began his practice at the Calcutta High Court. He was then appointed Professor of Law. Later when Bihar was made a separate state, he moved to Patna. He held various important positions. For a while he served as Chairman of the Patna Municipality.

In 1917, when he interacted with Mahatma Gandhi during the satyagraha in Champaran, he realised that it was essential to work for the nation’s freedom. He gave up his practice and turned into a true Gandhian. Rajendra worked on the spinning-wheel every day and off and on he went to jail. During one of his terms in jails, in 1934, a massive earthquake rocked Bihar. The ruling government was compelled to set him free. He helped in organising aid for the victims. His dedication and love for his countrymen, inspired the Congress to make him the president of the Congress at Bombay. During the interim government, headed by Jawaharlal Nehru, he was appointed the Food Minister. His staunch Gandhian principles caused differences between him and Pandit Nehru. In 1947, he became president of the Constituent Assembly.

In 1950 when the Constitution came into effect, Rajendra Prasad became the country’s first President. He got a second term quite against the wishes of Nehru. What appealed to the masses was his gentleness, yet he was strong enough to make them feel secure. The fatherly figure gave his best to the country, when it needed him most — the formative period of our Republic. After his retirement, in 1962, he moved to Patna to live in Sadaqat Ashram. He passed away on February 28, 1963.

Zakir Hussain

ZAKIR HUSSAIN was born on February 24, 1897. Even as a young child, his ability to learn, grasp and retain was commendable. He learnt Arabic, Persian and Urdu. After passing out from school in 1913, Zakir joined Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh, which later developed into Aligarh Muslim University. While studying at the university, Zakir heard about the non-violent national struggle headed by Gandhiji. Zakir joined Jamia Milia Islamia, which came into existence on October 29, 1920. Jamia Milia first functioned on the Aligarh Muslim University campus, but later shifted to Delhi.

Zakir went to Germany and took a Ph.D degree in economics. While at Germany, he also wrote a book in German on Gandhiji. The book was written in collaboration with Dr Ehrentrech.

Zakir returned to India in 1926 and continued to be a part of Jamia. Later he headed the institution and also edited a monthly magazine, Jamia. During the time when communal killings were on the increase, he gave shelter to refugees on the campus and helped them reach camps organised for them. All this while his academic career continued to grow gloriously. He was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University and also became a member of the Indian University Commission.

In 1952, Zakir was nominated a member of the Rajya Sabha. In 1957, he became the Governor of Bihar. He became the Vice-President of India in 1962 and later the President of India. He died in office, on May 3, 1969. He was greatly admired for his intellect, and ability to plan and implement wisely. He was basically an educationist who just happened to step into politics. And he proved himself to be politician with high morals and ethics.