PM Modi pays tribute to Rajendra Prasad on 134th birth anniversary; facts about first President of India

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tribute to the country's first President, Rajendra Prasad on his birth anniversary on December 3.

"Tributes to the first President of India, Bharat Ratna Dr Rajendra Prasad. A man of high talent and symbol of simple life-high thinking Rajendra Babu will always be a source of inspiration for the citizens of the country," PM Modi tweeted in Hindi.

देश के प्रथम राष्ट्रपति भारत रत्न डॉ. राजेन्द्र प्रसाद को उनकी जयंती पर कोटि-कोटि नमन।अप्रतिम प्रतिभा के धनी एवं सादा जीवन-उच्च विचार के प्रतीक राजेन्द्र बाबू देशवासियों के लिए सदा प्रेरणास्रोत रहेंगे।

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)

Here are a few facts about Rajendra Prasad on his 134th birth anniversary

• Rajendra Prasad was the first President of India, in office from January 26, 1952, to May 13, 1962.
   
• Prasad joined the Indian National Congress during the Indian Independence Movement and became a major leader from the region of Bihar.
   
• After the 1946 elections, Prasad served as Minister of Food and Agriculture in the central government.
   
• Upon independence in 1947, Prasad was elected as President of the Constituent Assembly of India, which prepared the Constitution of India and served as its provisional parliament.
   
• As President, Prasad established a tradition of non-partisanship and independence for the office-bearer and retired from Congress party politics.
   
• Prasad encouraged the development of education in India and advised the Nehru government on several occasions.
   
• In 1957, Prasad was re-elected to the presidency, becoming the only president to serve two full terms.

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