Rajendra Prasad Swearing in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel; Source: News18

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Hailing from Siwan in Bihar, Rajendra Prasad was the youngest child in a joint family and was immensely loved and pampered by everyone. His father was a scholar in Sanskrit and Persian, whereas his mother drowned herself in the service of the almighty and used to read Ramayana to him every day.

> During his time at college, he was soon approached by Gopal Krishna Gokhale to join the Servants of India society that he had recently established.

After his mother passed away, Prasad's elder sister took care of him and all his needs. As a student, he was extremely dedicated to his academics and was constantly outscoring everyone in his class. His academic brilliance fetched him a 30 rs/month scholarship at Calcutta Presidency College in 1902.

During his time at college, he was soon approached by Gopal Krishna Gokhale to join the Servants of India society that he had recently established. Prasad knew he could lose out on his scholarship if he went against the top brass, and considering his financial situation, and it would get extremely tough for him to afford his fees.

With a heavy heart, he turned Gokhale away because he wanted to stay away from being involved in politics for the meanwhile. He spent endless nights twisting and turning in bed, feeling like he had betrayed the cause of the nation. His dilemma started affecting his life, and his grades started slipping too.

> .......his first encounter with Gandhi came in Champaran, who had been there to address the peasants' grievances. Initially, Prasad was unimpressed with Gandhi, but like everyone else, he was won over by his values, determination, and willingness to sacrifice for the nation.

He decided to get his life back on track and start focusing on making a career for himself if he were to immerse himself in the nation's service. He passed with flying colours and soon completed his doctorate in Law as well.

Unable to keep his life untangled from the agitation against the British, his first encounter with Gandhi came in Champaran, who had been there to address the peasants' grievances. Initially, Prasad was unimpressed with Gandhi, but like everyone else, he was won over by his values, determination, and willingness to sacrifice for the nation.

> As Independence approached, communal tensions threatened to rip the country apart. Prasad, while growing up, had never known such hostility. His village had been an inclusive place that respected everyone's faith. Everyone lived like one big family.

He gave up practising law and opened a college in Bihar in 1921. In Bihar, he devoted himself to spreading Gandhiji's message of Ahimsa throughout Bihar. Over time, he became a popular figure in the Independence Movement and a close aide of Gandhiji's, who admired him for his humility and trusted him with everything.

As Independence approached, communal tensions threatened to rip the country apart. Prasad, while growing up, had never known such hostility. His village had been an inclusive place that respected everyone's faith. Everyone lived like one big family. Seeing the social fabric of the country get torn apart in front of his eyes deeply affected him, and he was never the same again after witnessing the bloody ordeal that the partition turned out to be.

After Independence, he served as the President of the Constituent Assembly and imparted his knowledge of the law to frame the constitution. The Jewel, in his shining career, was serving as the first President of India and the longest-serving one. Under him, India weathered the initial storm that the country faced in transforming from a colony of the British to the world's largest democracy. His contribution to the Independence movement and the Indian Union post-independence is right up there with the likes of Patel, Nehru, and Gandhi.

To err is to human, to run a country, divine. This totally legitimate (read: made-up) quote can only be apt for a few politicians who have been able at juggling a billion dreams. Rajendra Prasad was one of the longest-serving presidents of India and for good reason.