Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first president of Independent India was born in Zeradei, a small village in Bihar on December 3, 1884. After completing his Master of Law examination with honors and winning a gold medal, he went on to complete his Doctorate in Law. In 1917 he joined Mahatma Gandhi in the Champaran Satyagraha. He gave his full support to the Mahatma's constructive programmes to reform society and in his work for humanity. He was recruited by Gandhiji to help in a campaign to improve he conditions for the peasants who were exploited by the British indigo planters. In response to Gandhiji's call of non-cooperation, he gave up his successful practice as a lawyer and started a National College near Patna in 1921. Because of his active participation in the Salt Satyagraha he was sentenced to six months imprisonment.
An active journalist, he wrote for 'Searchlight' in English, founded and edited the Hindi weekly 'Desh' and started his lifelong campaign to establish Hindi as a national language. He was again imprisoned for his active participation in the Quit India Movement in 1942. In 1946 he was sworn in a Minister for food and agriculture in the interim government preceding full independence. From 1946-1949 he presided over the Indian constituent assembly and helped shape the constitution of India. He was unanimously elected as President of republic of India in 1950. As president, Dr. Rajendra Prasad visited many countries on goodwill missions and stressed for peace in a nuclear age. He wrote several books like. 'Satyagraha in Champaran', 'India Divided'. 'Mahatma Gandhi and Bihar', 'Some Reminiscences' and a few more. The Government of India honored him by awarding him the 'Bharat Ratna' in 1962. He chose to spend the last few months of his life at his beloved Sadaqat Ashram in Patna, where he passed away on February 28th 1963.