भारत के राष्ट्रपति :: चित्रावली

[abhisays]

Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma (1918-1999): Term (July 25, 1992 - July 25, 1997) Sharma was known to be a stickler for parliamentary norms. He is known to have broken down in the Rajya Sabha once while witnessing the members of the House create a din on an issue. During his last year as President, it was his responsibility to swear in three Prime Ministers.

[abhisays]

K R Narayanan (1920-2005): Term (July 25, 1997 - July 25, 2002) A magazine described K R Narayanan's journey from a 'chetta kudil' (meanest hut) to Rashtrapathi Bhavan as a saga which has no parallel in India and is certainly more remarkable than that of Abraham Lincoln from a log cabin to the White House. Known as an activist President, his interventions during the Gujarat pogrom of 2002 is unparalleled by the otherwise non-partisan standards of the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Seen here with the BJP veteran Atal Behari Vajpayee.

[abhisays]

Dr A P J Abdul Kalam (born 1931): Term (July 25, 2002 - July 25, 2007) Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam's popularity as President is unparalleled. Being a bachelor, he literally threw open the haloed doors of the Rashtrapati Bhawan for people from all walks of life, and of course children. It was because of his popularity that he was reconsidered for the post by the NDA - and Mamata Banerjee - for the current elections, but Kalam declined to contest.

[abhisays]

Pratibha Patil (born 1934): Term (July 25, 2007 - till date) Pratibha Devisingh Patil created history by becoming the country's first woman President. Patil surprised the nation by being chosen the UPA-Left's consensus candidate for the Presidential election. Although hers was a largely insignificant presidency, Patil's foreign tours that allegedly cost the public exchequer a whopping Rs 205 crore created a lot of controversy during her tenure.