In India, every year on December 3rd, 2019, Advocate’s Day is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of independent India and a very eminent lawyer. He was born on 3rd December 1884 in Zeradei, in the Siwan district of Bihar near Chapra. He was awarded the master’s degree in Law with the gold medal in 1915. He used to practice law in Bihar but in 1921 he was greatly moved by the dedication, courage, and conviction of Mahatma Gandhi and he quit as a Senator of the University in 1921 and was drawn into the Indian freedom struggle. His father, Mahadev Sahai, was a Persian and Sanskrit language scholar; his mother, Kamleshwari Devi, was a devout lady. He was married at the age of 12 to Rajvanshi Devi.
Advocates’ Day brings together labor officials, labor representatives, public and private sector managers, management representatives and labor relations neutrals from across the States and Territories to hear national and regional speakers addressing the key issues of the day. He was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress during the Bombay session in October 1934 and took an active role in meeting its objectives. He set several important precedents for later Presidents to follow. In 1962, after 12 years as President, he announced his decision to retire and was succeeded by Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He was subsequently awarded the ‘Bharat Ratna’, the nation’s highest civilian award in 1962, the order which was established by himself, on January 2nd, 1954.
All the knowledge Mr. Prasad powered into the development of his home country India. While Mahatma Gandhi had always been a great inspiration for his, Prasad became a role model for later presidents to come.