# rajendra prashad biography of abraham
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When the earthquake of Bihar occurred on January 15, 1934, Rajendra Prasad was in jail. He resigned from office and returned to Patna on May 14, 1962. To say it succinctly, Dr. Prasad was one of the chief architects in shaping the Republic of India. During the Quetta earthquake in 1935, he set up the Quetta Central Relief Committee in Punjab, although he was prevented by the British to leave the country.
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Death
In September 1962, Dr.
Prasad's wife Rajavanshi Devi passed away. Rajendra Prasad was a political leader and the first President of India. Later he was transferred to the Chhapra Zilla School and went on to study at R.K. Ghosh's Academy in Patna along with elder brother Mahendra Prasad. He presided over the Constituent Assembly from 1946 till 1949 and helped frame the Constitution of India.
Despite being invited to join the Servants of India Society, Prasad prioritised his family responsibilities and education.
This decision was influenced by personal tragedies, including his mother's death and his sister's return home as a young widow at the age of 19.
In 1906, he played a pivotal role in founding the Bihari Students Conference in the hall of Patna College, marking the establishment of the first organisation of its kind in India.
This conference nurtured future leaders from Bihar, such as Anugrah Narayan Sinha and Krishna Singh, who would later contribute significantly to the Champaran Movement and the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Role in the Independence Movement
Prasad joined the Indian National Congress in 1911 and became an influential leader in Bihar.
Subsequently, he and his elder brother, Mahendra Prasad Srivastava, enrolled at T.K. Ghosh's Academy in Patna, where they studied for two years.
Prasad excelled academically, securing the top rank in the entrance examination for the University of Calcutta, earning a monthly scholarship of Rs. 30.
In 1902, Prasad joined Presidency College, Calcutta, initially pursuing science.
He also played a crucial role in journalism, writing for nationalist publications, and advocating for Hindi as a national language.
Contributions to Constitution-Making
After India's independence in 1947, Prasad was elected as the President of the Constituent Assembly, which drafted the Constitution of India.
His leadership was instrumental in shaping the document that established India as a sovereign republic.
He completed his Masters in Law during 1915. He was released on 15 June 1945.
Relationship with Gandhi
Like many of his contemporaries, the political consciousness of Dr. Rajendra Prasad was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. Unfortunately, on the night of 25 January 1950, a day before the Republic Day of India, his sister Bhagwati Devi passed away.
As a gesture of support to Gandhi’s call to boycott attending British sponsored educational institutions, Dr. Prasad asked his son Mrityunjaya Prasad to leave the University and join Bihar Vidyapeeth. He continued his law practice in Bhagalpur (Bihar) while continuing his advanced academic degrees. The couple had one son, Mrityunjay.
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A brilliant student, Rajendra Prasad stood first in the entrance examination to study at the University of Calcutta.
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The nationwide uproar demanding independence instigated the British Government to undertake mass arrest of all influential Congress leaders. His interactions with the Mahatma led him to alter his views on untouchability. He oversaw collection of relief funds and collected over Rs 38 Lakhs. He actively participated in key movements such as the Champaran Satyagraha in 1917, where he provided legal assistance to indigo farmers facing exploitation by British planters.
Key Movements
- Non-Cooperation Movement: In 1920, after Congress passed the Non-Cooperation resolution, Prasad abandoned his legal career to fully commit to the freedom struggle.
in Economics, University of Calcutta (1907, First Division)
- Master's in Law, University of Calcutta (1915)
- Doctorate in Law, Allahabad University
Spouse
Rajavanshi Devi
Career
- Teacher: Professor at Langat Singh College and Calcutta City College
- Lawyer: Practiced in the High Court of Bihar and Odisha
- Professor of Economics
- Founding member of Patna University Senate
Freedom Movement Role
- Joined the Indian National Congress in 1911
- Key role in Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
- Boycotted Western education during the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920)
- Played an active role in the Quit India Movement (1942)
Positions Held
- President of Constituent Assembly (1946-1950)
- Minister of Food and Agriculture (1947-1948)
- President of Indian National Congress (1934, 1939, 1947)
- First President of India (1950-1962)
Presidency Highlights
- First President of India (1950-1962)
- Re-elected for two consecutive terms (1952, 1957)
- Advocated education reforms
- Acted as an independent and non-partisan head of state
Key Contributions
- Chaired the Constituent Assembly helped frame the Indian Constitution
- Relief work during the 1934 Bihar earthquake and the 1935 Quetta earthquake
- Established Bihar Central Relief Committee
Awards and Honours
Bharat Ratna (1962)
Books Written
- Satyagraha at Champaran (1922)
- Division of India (1946)
- Atmakatha (1946, autobiography)
- Since Independence (1960)
- Bapu Ke Qadmon Mein (1954)
- Bharatiya Shiksha
Legacy
- Rajendra Smriti Sangrahalaya in Patna dedicated to him
- The subject of the documentary Babu Rajendra Prasad (1980)
What were Dr Rajendra Prasad's Major Contributions to Indian Independence?
Dr Rajendra Prasad made significant contributions to the Indian independence movement through various roles and initiatives.
He then went on to pursue a Doctorate degree in Law from the Allahabad University.
He started his law practice at the Calcutta High Court in 1911.