Ram Nath Kovind has been one of the most active people in the political arena in India for decades. Kovind, who is currently the President of India, is a notable figure loved by all because of his work and personality.
Biography of Ram Nath Kovind
| Name | Ram Nath Kovind[1] |
| Date of Birth | October 1, 1945 |
| Place of Birth | Paraunkh Village, Kanpur District, Uttar Pradesh |
| Father’s Name | Maiku Lal |
| Mother’s Name | Kalawati |
| Education | Dev College (under Kanpur University) |
| Awards | 1/ National Order of Madagascar, 2018 2/ Order of Independence, 2018 3/ Order of the Lion, 2018 4/ Grand Order of King Tomislav, 2019 5/ Order of the Condor of the Andes, 2019 6/ National Order of Merit (Guinea), 2019 |
Early Life and Education of Ram Nath Kovind
Ram Nath Kovind, who served as the 14th President of India, was born to a Koli family in Uttar Pradesh on October 1, 1945. His father’s name is Maiku Lal and his mother’s name is Kalawati. Ram Nath Kovind’s father Maiku Lal was a farmer and his mother Kalawati was a housewife. Kovind, the youngest of five brothers and two sisters, had spent his childhood through tough challenges. Kovind, who lived in a dilapidated (mud) residence, eventually collapsed he also lost his mother in childhood. He was only five years old when his mother died of burns when their thatched dwelling caught fire.
Also Read: Biography of Pratibha Devi Singh Patil
Kovind studied at a junior school in Kanpur village after completing his primary education. It may be recalled that he studied by walking a distance of 8 km every day due to the lack of bicycles at that time to go to school. He subsequently graduated in commerce and law from Dev College affiliated with Kanpur University.
Achievements
Ram Nath Kovind traveled to Delhi to prepare for the Civil Service competitive examination after graduating. It may be recalled that he succeeded in the Civil Service test on the third attempt even though he did not succeed in the first two attempts. However, Kovind got the opportunity to work in other allied services instead of IAS. He subsequently started practicing law.
Ram Nath Kovind started his professional career as an advocate of the Bar Council of Delhi in 1971. It may be recalled that Kovind served as a central government advocate in the Delhi High Court from 1977 to 1979. He also served as a legal assistant to the then Prime Minister of India Morarji Desai from 1977 to 1978.
Ram Nath Kovind served as a permanent adviser to the Central Government in the Supreme Court of India from 1980 to 1993. He also practiced in the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court till 1993. It may be recalled that Kovind as an advocate had provided assistance to the weaker sections of the society, women and the poor under the Free Legal Aid Society of New Delhi.
Ram Nath Kovind got married on May 30, 1974. His wife’s name is Savita Kovind. It may be recalled that Kovind is the father of two children. His son’s name is Prashant Kumar and his daughter’s name is Swati.
Ram Nath Kovind officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1991 and entered active politics. Kovind served as president of the BJP’s Dalit Morcha from 1998 to 2002 after joining the Bharatiya Janata Party and also served as president of the All India Koli Samaj. Importantly Kovind also served as the BJP’s national spokesperson.
Ram Nath Kovind was elected as Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh state in April 1994. It may be recalled that he had served as an MP for a total of twelve years i.e. two consecutive terms till March 2006. As a member of Parliament, Kovind served in the Parliamentary Committee of the Department of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, Home Affairs, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Social Justice and Empowerment, Law.
Ram Nath Kovind also served as chairman of the House Committee of the Rajya Sabha. It may be recalled that during his tenure, Kovind had focused on building school buildings in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand as well as education in rural areas under the Local Area Development Scheme. As a member of Parliament, Kovind visited Thailand, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Germany, Switzerland, France, and various parts of the US.
Importantly, Ram Nath Kovind filed his nomination for the 14th President’s post of India while serving as governor of Bihar and resigned to quit as governor of Bihar. On June 20, 2017, the then-President of India Pranab Mukherjee accepted his resignation.
It may be recalled that Kovind had received 65.675% of the valid votes, against former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar, the opposition presidential candidate. He won with 6 percent of the votes. On the contrary UPA candidate Meira Kumar got 34.35 percent votes. Kovind is the second person to be elected president from the Dalit community after KR Narayanan. Importantly, Ram Nath Kovind is the first President to take over as president from Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha. Kovind was sworn in as president on July 25, 2017.
Another highlight is that to date nine persons from Uttar Pradesh have served as Prime Ministers of India. But Kovind is the first person from Uttar Pradesh to hold the president’s post with responsibility. He has visited about 28 countries so far as president. He has received the highest state honors from countries like Madagascar, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Croatia, Bolivia, and the Republic of Guinea, etc.
Kovind had represented India at the international level in various fields despite his active participation in parliamentary politics. It may be recalled that he addressed the UN General Assembly in New York in 2002 representing India. Apart from these he also served as a board member at Dr° Bhim Rao Ambedkar University in Lucknow and Indian Institute of Management located in Kolkata.
Conclusion
Ram Nath Kovind, is an exemplary personality for future generations, overcoming various challenges. He is the path for the new generations of India.
FAQ
1. Where was Ram Nath Kovind born?
Ans: Ram Nath Kovind was born in Uttar Pradesh on October 1, 1945, in a very ordinary family of Dalit community.
2. When was Ram Nath Kovind sworn in as president?
Ans: Kovind was sworn in as president on July 25, 2017, after winning over his nearest rival and former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar, the opposition presidential candidate.
3. Who is the first person to be sworn in as president from Uttar Pradesh?
Ans: Ram Nath Kovind is the first person to be sworn in as president of Uttar Pradesh. He has been sworn in as the 14th President of India.
4. What is the name of Ram Nath Kovind’s father and mother?
Ans. Ram Nath Kovind’s father’s name is Maiku Lal and his mother’s name is Kalawati.
5. How many countries has Ram Nath Kovind visited as President?
Ans: Kovind has visited about 28 countries so far as president. These include Djibouti, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Madagascar, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, etc.
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