Women are one of the organizers and driving forces of a nation. Women are also a decisive force in socio-economic development and political arena. One of the most relevant issues of the present is the participation of women in parliamentary politics. Many women have actively participated in parliamentary politics as part of the democratic system in India, the largest democratic country. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil is one of the strong women who has made a significant impact on Indian national politics.
Importantly, Pratibha Patil is the first woman President of India to be elected so far. Pratibha Patil was sworn in as the first woman President of India on July 25, 2007. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil tried to work on women empowerment, modern education and overall development of the nation besides focusing on carrying out work for the welfare of citizens during her tenure as President. Pratibha Devi who was elected president in a large democratic nation like India was a positive message on women empowerment.
Biography of Pratibha Devi Singh Patil
| Name | Pratibha Devi Singh Patil[1] |
| Date of Birth | December 19, 1934 |
| Place of Birth | Nadgaon, Jalgaon District, Maharashtra |
| Father’s Name | Narayan Patil |
| Education | 1/ RR School, Jalgaon District 2/ Mulji Jetha College (under Pune University) 3/ Government Law College (under University of Mumbai) |
Early Life of Pratibha Devi Singh Patil
Pratibha Patil, who occupied a distinct position in national politics, was born on December 19,1934 in Nadgaon in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra. Her father’s name is Narayan Patil. It may be recalled that Narayan Patil was a politically active person. He played an important role in regional politics.
Pratibha Devi started her formal education at R.R School in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra. Pratibha Patil later graduated with a master’s degree in political science and economics from Mulji Jetha College in Jalgaon under Pune University at that time. It may be recalled that Pratibha Devi Singh Patil won the ‘College Queen’ title from Mulji Jetha College in 1962.
Pratibha Patil graduated in law from Bombay University and now government law college under Mumbai University after completing her master’s degree. Importantly, Pratibha Patil showed her interest in the field of sports in parallel with the study while studying in college. She did well in table tennis and also won various inter college tournaments.
Also Read : Biography of A.P.J Abdul Kalam
Achievements
Pratibha Patil after graduating from law made her professional life a result through practice in Jalgaon district court. Importantly, since starting her professional career as an advocate, she has taken various steps in the field of social, political, economic and socio-economic development of poor women by taking various steps in the field of women empowerment, in addition to engaging in various social activities, including the philosophy of social responsibility.
Pratibha Patil, a social-minded talent, entered active politics at a very young age i.e. at the age of 27. Pratibha Patil was elected to the Maharashtra Assembly as the youngest member of the assembly from Jalgaon assembly constituency in 1962. Pratibha Devi Patil became known as a “Tai” in the constituency as well as in the home state as she attempted to solve every problem in the constituency with limited experience. The word “Tai” in Marathi means elder sister.
Pratibha Devi Singh Patil was elected to the assembly after winning Muktai Nagar (formerly Edlabad) constituency four times in a row from 1967 to 1985 after being elected as MLA for the first time. Importantly, during this period Patil held various portfolios of the Maharashtra government.
Pratibha Devi Singh Patil was given the charge of public health, tourism, housing, parliamentary affairs and social welfare during her second term as MLA from 1967 to 1972.
During her third term as MLA, Pratibha Patil took over as cabinet minister from 1972 to 1976 and took over as minister of social welfare, public health, rehabilitation and cultural affairs, education portfolio. Importantly, during this period she was seen focusing on financial freedom and women’s progress through education.
Importantly, the Congress party lost the assembly elections in Maharashtra in 1978. It was during this time that the Congress party held the charge of the opposition and Pratibha Devi Singh Patil led the opposition. She participated in various debates in the assembly besides adequately examining, evaluating and criticizing the policies of the government when Pratibha Patil was leader of the opposition.
The Congress came back to power in the Maharashtra assembly elections in 1980. And Pratibha Devi Singh Patil served as minister of urban development, civil and supply till 1985.
Importantly, Pratibha Devi Singh Patil entered national politics instead of state politics in 1985. She was elected as Rajya Sabha MP in 1986 as well
From 1986 to 1988, she served as vice-chairman of Rajya Sabha and chairman of privileges committee and member of the business advisory committee of Rajya Sabha. She later served as president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee from 1988 to 1990.
Pratibha Devi was elected as Lok Sabha MP from Amaravati constituency in 1991 in the 10th Lok Sabha elections and served as the chairman of the House Committee of the Lok Sabha from 1991 to 1996. Pratibha Patil, who has been actively participating in state and national politics for a long time, was nominated as the first woman Governor on November 8, 2004 and governor of 24th Rajasthan after retiring from politics for some time and served till 2007.
On July 25, 2007 after participating in a long politics, Pratibha Devi defeated her rival Bhairon Singh Shekhawat by more than 300,000 votes to be sworn in as the 12th President of India. Importantly, Pratibha Patil, continued her efforts to strengthen the structure of the society from the women’s grassroots level, emphasized the importance of making every section of society – especially the weak and disadvantaged – equal partners and beneficiaries of the development process for economic development. Apart from this the focus was also on modern education and health sector. Pratibha Patil who also focused on women empowerment believed that women empowerment is a very important issue for the development of the nation.
Importantly, Pratibha Patil established various institutions for the progress of women and children’s. She set up hostels for women working in Mumbai and Delhi, played an important role in establishing an engineering college in Jalgaon for rural youth, besides also being involved in several welfare activities for the betterment of women and setting up labour practice trust.
Importantly, Pratibha Devi Singh Patil established a cooperative bank called Pratibha Mahila Sahakari Bank, however, subsequently RBI cancelled the license of this bank for various reasons. Apart from this Pratibha Patil also established a jail called Sant Muktabai Assistant Branch Factory in Muktaynagar.
Pratibha Devi Singh Patil was also involved in various social activities in parallel with parliamentary affairs. She served as chairman of the Maharashtra State Water Pollution Control Board from 1982 to 1985. Apart from this, Pratibha Devi Singh Patil held the post of Director and Vice Chairman of National Urban Cooperative Bank and Credit Society Federation as well as a member of the Governing Council of The National Cooperative Union of India and chairman of the 20-point Programme Implementation Committee of the Government of Maharashtra.
Pratibha Devi Singh Patil played an important role in imparting knowledge on music, computers and sewing machines for poor women in Amaravati, Maharashtra. She also formed a women home guard in Jalgaon district.
Conclusion
Pratibha Devi Singh Patil also represented India in the international arena. She participated for India at the International Social Welfare Council Summit held at Nairobi and at Puerto Rico. Apart from this she was also a member of the AICC(I) delegation to Bulgaria in 1985. She also attended the Commonwealth Presiding Officer’s Conference held in London in 1988.
Pratibha Devi Singh Patil is an example of women empowerment. Strengthening her position in national politics, she has set up an example to the future generation and women’s society.
FAQ
1. Who is the first female president of India?
Ans: Pratibha Devi Singh Patil is the first Woman president of India.
2. When and where was Pratibha Devi Singh Patil born?
Ans: She was born on December 19,1934 in Nadgaon at Jalgaon district of Maharashtra.
3. When Pratibha Patil was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the Jalgaon constituency?
Ans: In 1962, at the age of 27, she was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the Jalgaon constituency.
4. When did Pratibha Patil was nominated as the first woman Governor?
Ans: She was nominated as the first woman Governor on November 8, 2004. She was appointed the 17th Governor of Rajasthan, the first woman to hold that office.
5. When did Pratibha Devi Singh Patil sworn in as the 12th President of India?
Ans: On July 25, 2007 after participating in a long politics, Pratibha Devi defeated her rival Bhairon Singh Shekhawat with 638,116 votes and sworn in as the 12th President of India.
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