Rajendra Prasad's life subject of great curiosity: President

The life of India's first president Rajendra Prasad was still a subject of great curiosity, President Pranab Mukherjee said Wednesday.

Prasad made enormous contributions not only to the freedom struggle but also in drafting the Constitution, Mukherjee said at a book release function on Prasad's birth anniversary.

The president received the first copy of coffee table book "Remembering Baba - Dr. Rajendra Prasad", which was released by Rajya Sabha member Karan Singh.

Mukherjee recalled the inspiring saga of Prasad's life and said it was an occasion to "pay our tribute to this noble son of India".

He said the book would serve not just to keep his memory alive but also be of value to researchers and historians.

"The life of Babu Rajendra Prasad is still a subject of great curiosity to this generation as well as the next. Rajen Babu made enormous contribution to not only the freedom struggle but also in drafting of the Constitution," he said.

Mukherjee said Prasad was also a brilliant student.

"He was not just the topper but also received record marks in his exams."

As he was born in 1935, Mukherjee said he never had a chance to meet Rajen Babu who was already president of the Indian National Congress in 1934-35 and 1939.

But, he did know his son Mritunjaya Prasad when he was elected to parliament in 1969.

Like his father, Mritunjaya Prasad was a simple man who did not own a car and both of them used to travel by bus to parliament, he said.

Mukherjee said Rajendra Prasad's simplicity was passed down to the entire family.

The president said he continues to use the writing table used by Rajendra Prasad in his personal study and has decided that it should be moved to the museum after his term.

--Indo-Asia News Service

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