2018-05-05 Sat

In 1947, India gained its independence from the brutal British rule. It was the historic year for India. Later on, in the year 1950 India has adopted its constitution and in the same year, Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected as the first constitutional head of the state, the President of India. Since 1950, India had its 14 full-time Presidents. Today, we will talk about one of the greatest President Giani Zail Singh, who remembers as a ‘True Giani’.

Giani Zail Singh, who served as the seventh President of the Republic of India was born on 5th May 1916 in Sandhwan, Faridkot district. He was the first Sikh to serve this post.

Prior to this position, he served several ministerial posts in the Union Cabinet, including Home Minister, Secretary-General of the Non-Aligned Movement, Revenue Minister and Minister of Agriculture. Later on, he was also elected as a Chief Minister of Punjab.

He earned the title 'Giani' which means 'a learned person', as he was well versed in Sikh doctrines and philosophies and had taught the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs.

One incident for which he is popular was used on a Pocket Veto Power. Zail Singh used Pocket Veto to refuse assent to the “Indian Post Office Bill” in 1986 to show his opposition. Through this, he became the first President to use the Pocket Veto Power in India.

He died in November 1994 in a road accident in Ropar district of Punjab. The Government of India announced seven days of official mourning following his death. He was cremated at the Raj Ghat Memorial in Delhi.

A commemorative postage stamp was issued by India's Department of Posts on the occasion of Singh's first death anniversary in 1995.

Image Courtesy: Mintage World