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Shankar Dayal Sharma
Shankar Dayal Sharma was born on 19th August 1918 in the city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh State. He became the Vice President of India in 1987 and occupied the seat of the President of India in 1992. He was the ninth President of the Republic of India.
He had been the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and Union Cabinet Minister holding important portfolios earlier. He was also the State Governor for three States at different periods. He was known for his integrity and his outstanding contribution to legal fraternity. He was the recipient of the globally prestigious award of ‘Living Legends of Law Award of Recognition’ conferred by the International Bar Association.
Mr. Sharma passed away on 26th December 1999 at New Delhi and was cremated at Karma Bhumi there.
Early Life
Bhopal born Shankar Dayal Sharma had his education in Allahabad, Agra, Punjab and Lucknow Universities in India, while he also had his education in Cambridge and Harvard Universities abroad.
He was also teaching Law at the Lucknow and Cambridge University, having received the degree of Doctor of Law (Honoris Causa) from the latter.
During 1940s, he had participated in India’s Independence movement and after Independence, he was known for his contribution for consolidating India efforts by undertaking agitations and undergoing imprisonment for merging Bhopal Princely State with the Indian Union.
Political Career
For participating in freedom struggle activities, Shankar Dayal Sharma got initiated to Indian National Congress to which party he was loyal and continuing membership till he took up public offices. He became the Chief Minister of Bhopal State till the time it was merged with re-organised Madhya Pradesh in 1956.
He got elected as AICC President in 1972 and presided over its Calcutta Session. He got elected to Lok Sabha in 1971 and from 1974, he took responsibilities as the Union Cabinet Minister for Communications. He also returned to Lok Sabha in 1980 elections, thereafter holding a number of ceremonial posts.
From 1984, he held position as the State Governor starting with Andhra Pradesh, moving to Punjab and later to Maharashtra. He continued in these positions till he took over as the eighth Vice President of India, when R Venkataraman was the President. When he was the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, he met with calamities of daughter and son-in-law getting killed by militants. Likewise, when he was the Governor of Punjab, he had to handle the situation amidst violence created by Sikh militants.
Right from the day of his entry to politics, it was always the days of turbulence, such as undergoing Imprisonment for Bhopal merger struggles and his political career was without blemishes all the time.
As President
Shankar Dayal Sharma took over as the ninth President of India from Ramaswamy Venkataraman, which responsibility he held for five years. He did not choose to take up another term.
During the period he was the President, three Prime Ministers were sworn in and he held the Parliamentary affairs with utmost dignity.
Shankar Dayal Sharma had the unique privilege of getting the ‘Rashtra Ratnam’ award conferred on him by Sri Sankaracharya of Sringeri, while the Pontiff of Shravanabelagola conferred on him the title of ‘Dharmaratnakara’. He has also held honorary positions in a number of Cultural Organisations and his career throughout his life was inimitable.
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