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Bihar with Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Portraying India
Into this landscape stepped Dr. Rajendra Prasad. His vision expanded beyond governance as he saw the awakening of minds and hearts as essential to nation-building. His commitment to learning, literature, and fostering unity for diversity shaped India’s approach to education and cultural harmony. A lawyer by training and a Gandhian by conviction, he embodied restraint and moral authority at a time when the nation was still defining its democratic character. Through his writings and active leadership, he modelled a path of intellectual growth and humanitarian values – a path still vital for India’s ongoing journey.
Rajendra Prasad was born in Ziradei village in Bihar’s Saran district, where he spent his formative years surrounded by a close-knit rural community. Observing the daily struggles of farmers, craftsmen, and shopkeepers gave him an understanding of the lives of ordinary people, which developed a desire in him to make education accessible to everyone. His father, Mahadev Sahai, a scholar of Persian and Sanskrit, fostered discipline and learning, while his mother, Kamleshwari Devi, shaped his values through stories from the Ramayana and daily acts of faith. Their household was one where education was seen as both duty and devotion.
In late nineteenth-century Bihar, schooling was still a privilege, and he stood out early for his brilliance, performing well in district schools. At the age of twelve, he married according to local customs, but soon returned to academics, topping the University of Calcutta entrance exam and earning a generous scholarship. At Presidency College, he studied economics and law, earning top honours at every level. Rajendra Prasad returned to Bihar and took up roles as a teacher and lawyer, determined to build opportunities in his home state.
In independent India, Rajendra Prasad played a central role in shaping India’s democratic and cultural framework. As President of the Constituent Assembly, he guided the drafting of the Constitution, ensuring that it reflected India’s diversity and commitment to equality. Under his watch, the early Republic strengthened its independent institutions, from the Election Commission to the Auditor General, so that governance remained accountable. Between 1958 and 1960, he undertook five major visits to Japan, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), the USSR, Indochina, Malaya, and Indonesia to establish India’s diplomatic presence.
He helped organize relief for those displaced by Partition and those affected by recurring floods in Bihar. He delivered several speeches at universities across India, emphasizing the need for vernacular languages in higher education. His active support for institutions such as Patna University and Visva-Bharati illustrated his belief that schools are hubs of intellect and cultural exchange.
During his twelve-year tenure (1950-1962), the longest of any Indian President, he maintained strict constitutional decorum. Throughout his tenure, he reduced his staff to just one, accepted only half his official salary and later reduced it further.
Rajendra Prasad wrote extensively on India’s social and cultural fabric, often reflecting on what held the nation together. His seminal work “The Unity of India” explored how the nation’s strength emerged from its composite identity. In “India Divided,” he analyzed the roots of religious conflict and advocated for coexistence built on mutual respect and shared history. His essays on philosophy and ethics conveyed the same conviction that India’s future depended on moral responsibility and a sense of belonging that transcended religion and region.
His approach to cultural unity was practical and lived. Growing up in Bihar, he witnessed harmony among various ethnic groups during village festivals. In his speeches as President, he consistently emphasized that unity did not require homogeneity but rather respect for multiple languages, traditions, and beliefs. Moreover, he actively promoted vernacular languages in education and governance, arguing that it would help tribal communities participate on the national level. His vision continues to influence India’s approach to pluralism and remains relevant in contemporary discussions about national identity.
“The main object of education, in my opinion, is the establishment of a twofold harmony in every individual—harmony within his own self and harmony with other living beings in the whole world.”
Rajendra Prasad saw governance as an extension of public service. His years in office were marked by consistent efforts to strengthen systems that could serve people beyond his lifetime. During his tenure, national academies for music, dance, literature, and visual arts were established, giving formal spaces for independent India to nurture its creative spirit. He also supported reforms in agriculture and rural development, urging universities to engage directly with India’s villages. He continued to advocate khadi, local industries, and cooperative efforts that upheld India’s ideal of rural self-reliance.
After stepping down from the presidency in 1962, Rajendra Prasad returned to Patna, choosing a modest life at the Sadaqat Ashram on the banks of the Ganga. The ashram had once been a centre for the freedom movement in Bihar and had become his final home. In recognition of his service, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1962, India’s highest civilian honour. He passed away the following year, in 1963, leaving behind a vision of leadership grounded in empathy and morality.
Bihar, along the fertile banks of the Ganges, has been a centre of power, learning, and faith for millennia. It was the seat of the ancient Magadha kingdom, home to empires that shaped Indian history, and a birthplace of Buddhism, where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya. The state hosted Nalanda and Vikramshila, two of the world’s earliest universities, attracting students from across Asia. Patna, the state capital, developed as an administrative and trading hub. Towns like Rajgir, Nalanda, and Saran preserve temples, forts, and educational institutions that trace centuries of scholarship and governance. Agriculture and local crafts continue to define daily life across the state.
Walk the grounds of Bodh Gaya, where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. The Mahabodhi Temple rises above, its pyramidal tower visible from across the plains. Reflect under the Bodhi tree, take part in a guided meditation session and explore the surrounding monasteries.
To Read
India Divided by Dr. Rajendra Prasad
An Autobiography
Speeches of President Dr. Rajendra Prasad by the Archaeological Survey of India
At Tushita, we marvel at India with you. After 45 years of travelling the country, we’re still enamoured by its beauty every day. From Ladakh, where Tushita was anointed by a Buddhist monk in 1977, to Tamil Nadu, where we worked with locals to showcase one of the oldest cultures in the world, we are partners in your journey to discover our part of the world.
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