Know How Our 1st President Spent His Last Years of Life

Today is the death anniversary of the first president of India Dr Rajendra Prasad. He died in Patna on 28 February 1963. Before that he was sick. Due to illness, he decided to step down from the post of president after two terms. His last days were spent in simplicity at the Sadakat Ashram in Patna.

Rajendra Prasad became the first President of the country on 26 January 1950. After that in 1952 he started his first term as President. In 1957, he was re-elected as president. During the second term, his health began to deteriorate. Therefore, he decided to resign from the post before his tenure was completed. He then shifted to Patna.

He was always known for his simplicity and high ideals. Even after becoming the president, his life, food and clothing were simple and very inexpensive. He mostly used old clothes. He was a pure vegetarian. He used to get a monthly salary of 10,000 rupees and a monthly allowance of 2,500 rupees as the President.

After returning to Patna, he started living in the ashram. He said, if health permits, he will spend the rest of his life in the service of the country. After taking leave on 12th May 1962, from 14th May he went to live in his old hut at Sadakat Ashram. However, his health continued to deteriorate.

He breathed his last on 28 February 1963 at 10:10 PM. He was 70 years old. On the same day, he was going to deliver a convocation speech at Patna University. The speech was then read in his absence. This was his last will to the country. It contained his valuable suggestions for teachers, students and society. He had a strong belief in new education as he said education is the strongest power one can have.