Zail Singh
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| Image:Zail Singh.jpg | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth: | 5 May, 1916 |
| Date of Death: | 25 December, 1994 |
| President of India | |
| Tenure Order: | 7th President |
| Took Office: | 25 July, 1982 |
| Left Office: | 25 July, 1987 |
| Predecessor: | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy |
| Successor: | Ramaswamy Venkataraman |
Giani Zail Singh (Template:Lang-pa, May 5 1916 - December 25 1994) was the President of India (1982-1987), and the first Sikh to hold India's highest public office and honor.
Zail Singh's public life was long and varied - freedom fighter, state Congress leader, Chief Minister and Union Home Minister. A remarkable fighter against princedom, feudalism and foreign domination in the pre-independence days, he is also remembered for his crusade against communalism, economic disparities and social injustice in the republic.
President of India
Giani Zail Singh was elected to the highest office of the President of India on July 15, 1982 and took the oath of office on July 25, 1982. He was quite critiqued for his subservient attitude to the then imperious Prime Minister- Indira Gandhi. He was credited to have stated " if Indira orders, I will carry her slippers".
After her assassination and the subsequent anti-Sikh riots in the capital, he was not able to influence the next government to institute a credible enquiry and ensure the perpetuators were punished. His relations with Rajiv Gandhi- the next Prime Minister- were rocky at best. He was cremated in the vicinity of the Raj Ghat.
External links
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