Yes President!

Even I am an apolitical person but always like to keep a tab on the current political scenario of the globe. At present the scenario in India is very messy. The UPA’s coalition Government is very shaky, often by the peoples like Mamata Banerjee and often by the unlimited scams. While, following drama and proceeding in the parliament keenly, hardly bothered about our Presidents. The President of India is with his limited power still is our country’s head of state. It is not for the greatest interest but for shear knowledge I decided to sneak peek into the list of presidents. Here is all thirteen Presidents we had till now.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1884–1963)       

 In office : 26 January 1950 to 13 May 1962

Dr. Prasad was the first President of independent India from Bihar. He was also an independence activist of the Indian Independence Movement. Dr.  Prasad was the only president to serve for two terms in office.

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888–1975)    

In Office : 13 May 1962 to 13 May 1967  

Dr. Radhakrishnan was a prominent philosopher, writer, a Knight of the Realm and also held the position of vice chancellor of the Andhra University and Banaras Hindu University. He was also made a Knight of the Golden Army of Angels by Pope Paul VI.

Dr. Zakir Hussain (1897–1969)  

In Office : 13 May 1967 to 3 May 1969   

Zakir Hussain was vice chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University and a recipient of Padma Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna. He died before his term of office was ended.

Varahagiri Venkata Giri (1894–1980)                

In Office : 24 August 1969 to 24 August 1974

V. V. Giri is the only person to have served as both an acting president and president of India. He was a recipient of the Bharat Ratna, and has functioned as Indian Minister of Labour and High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.

Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (1905–1977)    

In Office : 24 August 1974 to 11 February 1977

Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed served as a Minister before being elected as president. He died in 1977 before his term of office ended, and was the second Indian president to have died during a term of office.

Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (1913–1996)     

In Office : 25 July 1977 to 25 July 1982 

N. S. Reddy was the first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh State. Reddy was the only Member of Parliament from the Janata Party to get elected from Andhra Pradesh. He was unanimously elected Speaker of the Lok Sabha on 26 March 1977 and relinquished this office on 13 July 1977 to become the 6th President of India.

Giani Zail Singh (1916–1994)

         

In Office : 25 July 1982 to 25 July 1987 

In March 1972, Singh assumed the position of chief Minister of Punjab, and in 1980, he became Union Home Minister.

Ramaswamy Venkataraman (1910–2009)      

In Office :  25 July 1987 to 25 July 1992

In 1942, R. Venkataraman was jailed by the British for his involvement in the India's independence movement. After his release, he was elected to independent India’s Provisional Parliament as a member of the Congress Party in 1950 and eventually joined the central government, where he first served as Minister of Finance and Industry and later as Minister of Defence.

Shankar Dayal Sharma (1918–1999)    

In Office : 25 July 1992 to 25 July 1997

Shakar Dayal Sharma was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, and the Indian Minister for Communications. He has also served as the governor of Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Maharashtra.

Kocheril Raman Narayanan (1920–2005)      

In Office : 25 July 1997 to 25 July 2002 

K. R. Narayanan served as India's ambassador to Thailand, Turkey, China and United States of America. He received doctorates in Science and Law and was also a chancellor in several universities. He was also the vice-chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (1931)     

In Office : 25 July 2002 to 25 July 2007

A. P. J. Kalam, is a scientist who played a leading role in the development of India's ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs. He also received the Bharat Ratna. Kalam was affectionately known as the People's President.

Pratibha Patil (1934)       

In Office : 25 July 2007 to 25 July 2012 

Patil is the first woman to become the President of India. She was also the first female Governor of Rajasthan.

Pranab Mukherjee (1935)  

In Office : 25 July 2012    

Pranab Mukherjee held various posts in the cabinet ministry for the Government of India such as Finance Minister, Foreign Minister, Defence Minister and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.

!!!He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still. - Lao Tzu !!!

!!!Who is wise? He that learns from everyone. Who is powerful? He that governs his passions. Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody. - Benjamin Franklin !!!