Presidents Of India

"His entire personality commanded respect by its example of self-reliance and resolute determination, enabling him to carve a solid reputation for himself in public life."

"His earliest inspiration came from the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh and his companions on 23 March 1931. **In: p. 71."

"In 1938 when he tried to set up a branch of the All India Congress in the state of Faridkot to spearhead the freedom movement, then a princely state under the British, he was proclaimed and treated as an ordinary criminal and sentenced to five years solitary confinement."

"He came under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi and his message of peace, and he restarted the freedom movement in Faridkot. On the rising the national flag during this period there was wave of violence when Jawaharlal Nehru himself came to hoist the tricolor [national flag]. This event was the beginning of his lasting close contact with Nehru."

"During a revolt against the maharaja of Faridkot by setting up a parallel government he was arrested, was tied up and was threatened to be dragged by a jeep through the streets of Faridkot if he did not mend his ways. But peoples' reaction to this action resulted in abandoning the idea."

"Once Faridkot was merged with the state of Patiala and east Punjab states [known as PEPSU], he became a Minister for Revenue and Agriculture. He introduced the revolutionary steps of abolition of absentee landlordism and ensuring the security of tenancy and the rights of tenants, which won him acclaim."

"He worked to defeat the forces of communalism and exploitation in Punjab during the period 1962-72. In 1972, he became the Chief Minister of Punjab and ushered industrialization and green revolution. During this period he was close to Indira Gandhi, and in spite of difficulties and embarrassments he contested for Lok Sabha elections, when Indira Gandhi took him as the Home Minister in the central cabinet. In this capacity he handled the Assam agitation by bringing together the warring parties, and also dealt with communal riots in any part of the country with tact and innate sense of fair play without malice."

"After he became President of India in 1972, the anti-Sikh riots took place in 1984, and his relationship with Rajiv Gandhi soured."

"The year 1984 was the most painful year for my father. He was deeply hurt both by Operation Blue Star and the anti-sikh riots. His agony was that despite being the supreme commander of Indian defense forces, he was neither consulted before Operation Blue Star nor could he, in spite of his best efforts, stop the riots against innocent Sikhs."

"He was a very strong man and he could fight his own battles, but the Operation Bluestar was one that shook him and brought tears to his eyes. Four days after Operation Bluestar, when he visited Golden Temple and Akal Takhat Sahib, he came back devastated and in deep anguish. He was shaken by the damage caused to the sanctum sanctorum."

"He was deeply perturbed over breaking out of riots. He tried calling the PMO, the then Home Minister and other concerned authorities in a concerted effort to stop the atrocities being committed on innocent Sikhs. His calls either were not returned or lines were getting disconnected for reasons unknown, thus revealing helplessness at that time of 'the Most Powerful Man' of independent India who also happened to be the supreme commander of Indian defense force."

"In the first 48 to 72 hours, no one including the Prime Minister turned up at Rashtrapati Bhavan to brief the President as is the convention even now in India."

"He could not pass an executive order to call even a soldier to stop the riots. Pressure was built on him by various Sikh organisations to quit...[but] he took the conscious decision in the larger interest of the nation in general and Sikh community in particular to stay put."

"Had he as supreme commander resigned at that time, there would have been chaos and Sikhs would have suffered immensely. It was because of his decision that Sikhs could become army heads and PM now."

"He wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister urging her to convene a second Constituent Assembly to have a fresh look at the constitution in view of the changed situation and also suggested her the formation of a national government under her leadership to overcome the immediate problems."

"Soon after his unusual election as the fourth President of India, he addressed Srimathi Indira Gandhi as his daughter."

"The former President of India, has made outstanding contributions towards designing and evolving labor policy in India. He was a champion of labor movement and a person who was largely responsible for ensuring that labor and employment issues figured prominently in all policy discussions relating to growth and development."

"He was known for his honesty, straightforwardness and spirit of service. He was outspoken and greatly respected for his views, which were both independent and impartial. If a judge took a partisan or prejudiced view, he did not."

"When he was declared elected [As President of India], a full-dress rehearsal was held a day before. The entire route from Rashtrapathi Bhavan to Parliament House was lined by troops in battle array. The two buildings were also surrounded by troops. Armoured vehicle and light tanks came out and a battery of filed guns was also stationed. I received calls from newspapers and news agencies if there was a coup by me or someone else! I replied to an Editor (who was a friend and whom I asked not to quote me that it was his [Giri’s] coup against Sanjiva Reddy!"

"He became friends with some of the Irish nationalists….he established a Dublin Indian Society with the 100 Indian students who were there at the time. The emebers discarded the hat . They viewed the hat as a symbol of the Britisher. Instead they took to the Fez cap."

"Reading made him [during school days] ready to chose where to study law. His father spoke of Britain. But he set his heart on the National University of Ireland. He decided to enter King’s Inn, Dublin. The choice was deliberate. For Dublin was the center of Irish freedom struggle."

"Ruth Renkel once remarked: Never fear shadows. They simply mean there’s light shining somewhere near by. That summarises his [Giri’s] life. He was a young student at Ireland. He watched the freedom struggle by the Irish. That fanned the rebel in him. After independence, he became one of the chosen few who shared the burden of steering the nation through difficult times. Finally he became the nation’s First Citizen. The national conferred on him the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna."

"The destiny of India is the destiny of the masses of the vast population that inhabit this country, and every citizen has a meaningful role in shaping that destiny. There is a sacred duty cast on all of us – not written down in laws, but which is inherent – that we stand by this commitment."

"The youth of the country, who are the most potent force in building India to progress and in preserving its unity, have to be shown the right example and given the right lead. A spirit of self-introspection and dedication to national well-being will make us all go along the right path."

"The parliamentary system is the most responsive and responsible system of government. Let us not allow it to go into disuse."

"The problems of hunger and food, unemployment, a growing and crushing price rise in the commodities needed for one’s day-to-day subsistence have naturally found angry expressions, sometimes violent expression in many parts of the country. Corruption and falling standard in administration and public life have added to their dimension."

"A democratic government can gain strength and vitality only by constant scrutiny and the genuine fear that it may be thrown out of a vigilant public opinion."

"I have not permitted my constitutional niceties in the way of my free functioning in public…given frank expression to views concerning administration so often."

"I am more at home at an assembly like this than sitting inside the splendor of the Rashtrapathi Bhavan or Raj Bhavans."

"I am conscious of my shortcomings, but I have always tried as an honest worker to a do a job to the best of my ability and judgment."

"It is essential condition to maintain mutual trust and confidence between the employer and the employee to obtain the goal of rapid economic development and social justice."

"Unemployment is the problem of problems which has made our youths naxalites. Educated youth are deprived of all deserving comforts and their growing discontent has given scope for the sppedy growth of naxalism."

"Education is the principal tool of socio-economic development and unless all societies are provided with right type of education, adequate in quality and quantity, it will not be possible to tackle satisfactorily the problem of ignorance of health and poverty which afflicts the majority of human beings in the world."

"It is the power to combine that labour has the most effective safeguard against exploitation and the only lasting security against inhuman conditions."

"Strength is unity."

"He must always be remembered for a significant event in Indian History viz., when he appeared in Court as President of India when his election was in dispute."

"He was always remembered as one of the greatest labour Leaders which India ever had...he started his life as a Student associating himself with the Irish Freedom Movement."

"He was never sophisticated. His loyalty to the causes he felt near to his heart, his disarming sincerity, his straight dealing, and above all humanism made him a lovable and unforgettable personality. **In: P.85"

"Starting his career as a Trade Unionist when Trade Unionism was not prominent of public life, he came to occupy the highest office of this country, with dignity and charm. It was a day of Victory for the labour and Weaker Sections of the Society, when he became the President of India winning a political battle with popular support. He was a fearless champion of the cause of the poor and the working classes. He was always insisting upon cleaner methods in public life. As a labour leader he did not allow Trade Unions to be involved in political activities. He was a stalwart of Indian Nationalism."

"India has been more than fortunate in her sons and daughters. You will always be associated with your great warmth and humanity, your heartiness and winning informality, and your habit of zestful dedication –qualities which have endured you to one and all and won for you universal regard and goodwill. You will be remembered always as People’s President. So, indeed were you hailed, signifying thereby your life-long closeness to the common man and particularly your association with the working class in our country, when in an unprecedented and mist keenly-fought election you romped home to victory. And, in the midst of all the pomp and regalia associated with your office, you have remained a great comer at heart."

"He no doubt had a versatile personality, a trade unionist, a freedom fighter, a Minister, a Governor, the Vice-President and above all the President Rashtrapathiji"

"All through his political career he held coveted positions."

"There is at least one man who would not hesitate to take a poison cup from my hands, he is Rajendra Prasad."

"He [Rajan Babu] and Brij Kishore Babu were a matchless pair. Their devotion made it impossible for me to take a single step without their help."

"He was a simple person, a soft spoken personality, with a reserved temperament. He summed up about his own life work himself 'from a lawyer I became a law breaker, and finally a law maker'."

"We often commit mistakes. Our steps falter, our tongues falter and slip and [but] he who had no occasion to withdraw what he once said or was undone what he once did."

"He is like an X-Ray plant"

"He was simple living follower of Gandhi who spent many years in British jails fighting non-violently for Indians freedom. He had a big walrus like mustache and his magnificent face always seemed to be holding back a smile at the strange twist of history which took him from the British viceroy’s jail into the Viceroy’s own palace with the Viceroy’s own bodyguard. He was such a warm and unostentatious person that the great long halls and chambers must have seemed oppressive and unnatural."

"Gandhiji's influence greatly altered many of his views, most importantly on caste and untouchability. Gandhiji made him realize that the nation, working for a common cause, "became of one caste, namely co-workers""

"Whenever the people suffered, he was present to help reduce the pain."