First ladies and gentlemen of India facts for kids
Quick facts for kids First Gentlemen/Ladies of India |
|
|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
Incumbent
Vacant since 25 July 2022 |
|
| Residence |
|
| Inaugural holder | Rajvanshi Devi |
| Formation | 26 January 1950 |
| Deputy | Spouse of the Vice President of India |
The First Lady of India or First Gentleman of India is a special title. It is given to the person who acts as the host or hostess of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. This is usually the husband or wife of the President of India.
There are no official jobs or duties for the First Lady or First Gentleman. However, they often attend important ceremonies and events with the President. Currently, the position of First Lady or Gentleman is empty. This is because President Droupadi Murmu is a widow.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the First Spouses
The role of the First Lady or Gentleman has changed over time. Let's explore how it began and grew.
The First First Lady
Rajvanshi Devi was India's very first First Lady. She was the wife of India's first president, Rajendra Prasad. She held this role from 1950 to 1962. During her time, she preferred to stay out of the public eye. She did not often attend public events with the President.
A Public Role Begins
After a period when the position was empty, Shah Jahan Begum became the First Lady. She was the wife of India's third president, Zakir Husain.
Later, Saraswati Bai, the wife of the fourth president, V. V. Giri, changed things. She was the first First Lady to take on a more public role. She started attending and hosting public events. People across India began to recognize her.
Expanding the Role
Begum Abida Ahmed was the First Lady from 1974 to 1977. She made the role even more public. She organized many ceremonies and official events at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. She was also the first First Lady to hold a public office. She became a Member of Parliament from 1980 to 1989.
Usha Narayanan was special because she was the first First Lady who was born in another country.
India's First Gentleman
In 2007, Pratibha Patil became the first female President of India. Before her, the wives of presidents were the main hostesses of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. When President Patil took office, her husband, Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat, became India's first "First Gentleman." His office room at the Rashtrapati Bhavan was updated for him.
Sadly, former First Lady Suvra Mukherjee, wife of President Pranab Mukherjee, passed away in 2015 while her husband was still in office. The position remained empty for the rest of his term.
The position is currently vacant since 2022. This is because President Droupadi Murmu is a widow.
What Does a First Spouse Do?
The First Lady or First Gentleman's role is mostly about attending events. They do not have any official government duties. They usually go to official ceremonies and functions at the Rashtrapati Bhavan with the President. Most first spouses have chosen to keep a low profile.
When There Is No Spouse
Sometimes, a President might not have a spouse. In such cases, another family member might act as the host or hostess for official events. However, this is not a rule. For example, during the time of President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the role of hostess was empty.
Zail Singh's daughter sometimes served as hostess for some events. Also, Pranab Mukherjee's daughter, Sharmistha Mukherjee, helped as hostess during her mother's illness.
List of First Ladies and Gentlemen of India
| President No. |
Portrait | Name | Tenure | President |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rajvanshi Devi 17 July 1886 – 9 September 1962 (aged 76) |
26 January 1950 – 12 May 1962 |
Rajendra Prasad m. 1896 |
|
| 2 | Vacant | 12 May 1962
– 13 May 1967 |
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | |
| 3 | Shah Jahan Begum | 13 May 1967 – 3 May 1969 |
Zakir Husain m. 1915 |
|
| Acting | Saraswati Bai | 3 May 1969 – 20 July 1969 |
V. V. Giri m. 1917 |
|
| Acting | Pushpa Shah | 20 July 1969 – 24 August 1969 |
Mohammad Hidayatullah m. 1948 |
|
| 4 | Saraswati Bai | 24 August 1969 – 24 August 1974 |
V. V. Giri m. 1917 |
|
| 5 | Begum Abida Ahmed 17 July 1923 – 7 December 2003 (aged 80) |
24 August 1974 – 11 February 1977 |
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed m. 1945 |
|
| Acting | Sangamma Jatti | 11 February 1977 – 25 July 1977 |
B. D. Jatti m. 1922 |
|
| 6 | Neelam Nagaratnamma Reddy |
25 July 1977 – 25 July 1982 |
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy m. 1935 |
|
| 7 | Pardhan Kaur |
25 July 1982 – 25 July 1987 |
Zail Singh m. 1934 |
|
| 8 | Janaki Venkataraman 1921 – 13 August 2010 (aged 88–89) |
25 July 1987 – 25 July 1992 |
Ramaswamy Venkataraman m. 1938 |
|
| 9 | Vimala Sharma 1927 – 15 August 2020 (aged 93) |
25 July 1992 – 25 July 1997 |
Shankar Dayal Sharma m. 1950 |
|
| 10 | Usha Narayanan 1922 — 24 January 2008 (aged 85–86) |
25 July 1997 – 25 July 2002 |
K. R. Narayanan m. 1951 |
|
| 11 | Vacant | 25 July 2002 – 25 July 2007 |
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam | |
| 12 | Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat 1934 – 24 February 2023 (aged 88–89) |
25 July 2007 – 25 July 2012 |
Pratibha Patil m. 1965 |
|
| 13 | Suvra Mukherjee 17 September 1940 – 18 August 2015 (aged 74) |
25 July 2012 – 18 August 2015 |
Pranab Mukherjee m. 1957 |
|
| Vacant | 18 August 2015
– 25 July 2017 |
|||
| 14 | Savita Kovind April 15, 1952 |
25 July 2017 – 25 July 2022 |
Ram Nath Kovind m. 1974 |
|
| 15 | Vacant | 25 July 2022
– Present |
Droupadi Murmu | |
.jpg)
.png)
See also
- President of India
- Spouse of the prime minister of India
- Second ladies of India
