K. R. Narayanan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
K. R. Narayanan
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Narayanan in 2000
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| 10th President of India | |
| In office 25 July 1997 – 25 July 2002 |
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| Prime Minister | |
| Vice President | Krishan Kant |
| Preceded by | Shankar Dayal Sharma |
| Succeeded by | A. P. J. Abdul Kalam |
| 9th Vice President of India | |
| In office 27 October 1992 – 24 July 1997 |
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| President | Shankar Dayal Sharma |
| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | Shankar Dayal Sharma |
| Succeeded by | Krishan Kant |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 1984–1992 |
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| Preceded by | A. K. Balan |
| Constituency | Ottapalam |
| Indian Ambassador to United States | |
| In office 1980–1984 |
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| Preceded by | Nanabhoy Palkhivala |
| Indian Ambassador to China | |
| In office 7 July 1976 – 11 November 1978 |
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| Succeeded by | Ram Sathe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 October 1920 Uzhavoor, Kingdom of Travancore, British India (now Kerala, India) |
| Died | 9 November 2005 (aged 85) New Delhi, Delhi, India |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater |
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| Signature |  |
Kocheril Raman Narayanan (born 27 October 1920 – died 9 November 2005) was an important Indian leader. He served as the ninth Vice President of India from 1992 to 1997. Later, he became the tenth President of India from 1997 to 2002.
Narayanan was born in a small village called Uzhavoor in Travancore (now Kerala, India). He started his career as a journalist. Then, he studied political science at the London School of Economics with a scholarship. After his studies, he joined the Indian Foreign Service. This meant he worked as a diplomat for India in other countries.
He was an ambassador to many nations, including Japan, the United Kingdom, China, and the United States. Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, called him "the best diplomat of the country." Later, he entered politics at the request of Indira Gandhi. He won three elections to the Lok Sabha (India's Parliament) and served as a minister.
In 1992, he was elected Vice President. Then, in 1997, he became President. He was the first person from the Dalit community to hold either of these high positions. Narayanan was known as an independent and strong president. He made important decisions and expanded the role of the President's office. He called himself a "working president" who followed the rules of the Constitution of India. He was the first Indian president to vote in an election while in office.
Contents
Early Life and Education
K. R. Narayanan was born in Uzhavoor. He was the fourth of seven children. His father was a traditional doctor. His family was poor, but his father was respected for his medical knowledge.
Narayanan's early schooling was in Uzhavoor. He often walked about 15 kilometers daily to school. Sometimes, he couldn't pay the small fees. He would listen to lessons from outside the classroom because he was not allowed inside. His elder brother, who was sick, would copy books for him from other students.
He finished his intermediate studies at C. M. S. College, Kottayam. He received a scholarship from the Travancore royal family to help him. Narayanan earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees in English literature from the University of Travancore (now University of Kerala). He was the first Dalit to get a first-class degree from that university.
After college, he worked as a journalist in Delhi for newspapers like The Hindu. He even interviewed Mahatma Gandhi once in Mumbai. In 1944, he received a scholarship from J. R. D. Tata to study in London. He studied politics, economics, and journalism at the London School of Economics. There, he learned from famous thinkers like Harold Laski.
Diplomat and Academician
When Narayanan returned to India in 1948, his professor, Harold Laski, gave him a letter to introduce him to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1949, he joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) at Nehru's request.
He worked as a diplomat in many countries:
- Rangoon (Myanmar)
- Tokyo (Japan)
- London (United Kingdom)
- Canberra (Australia)
- Hanoi (Vietnam)
- Ambassador to Thailand (1967–69)
- Ambassador to Turkey (1973–75)
- Ambassador to People's Republic of China (1976–78)
During his time as a diplomat, Narayanan also taught at the Delhi School of Economics. He retired from the IFS in 1978.
After retiring, Narayanan became the Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi from 1979 to 1980. He later said this experience helped him prepare for public life. He was then asked to return to diplomatic service by Indira Gandhi. He served as the Indian Ambassador to the United States from 1980 to 1984. His work as ambassador to China and the USA helped improve India's relationships with both countries.
Family Life
While working in Rangoon, K. R. Narayanan met Ma Tint Tint. They got married in Delhi in 1951. Their marriage needed special permission from Prime Minister Nehru because Narayanan was a diplomat and she was a foreigner. Ma Tint Tint took the Indian name Usha and became an Indian citizen.
Usha Narayanan (1923–2008) worked on many social programs for women and children in India. She also translated Burmese short stories. She was the second woman of foreign origin to become the First Lady of India. They had two daughters, Chitra Narayanan and Amrita.
Political Journey
Narayanan entered politics because Indira Gandhi asked him to. He won three elections to the Lok Sabha (Parliament) in 1984, 1989, and 1991. He represented the Ottapalam area in Kerala for the Indian National Congress party.
He served as a minister under Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. His roles included Planning, External Affairs, and Science and Technology. As a Member of Parliament, he worked to protect India's patent laws from international pressure.
When the Congress party lost power from 1989 to 1991, he sat in the opposition. He was not made a minister when Congress returned to power in 1991. Some people thought he was too close to Communist ideas, but he pointed out that he had defeated Communist candidates in all his elections.
Vice Presidency (1992 - 1997)
K. R. Narayanan was elected as the Vice President of India on 21 August 1992. Shankar Dayal Sharma was the President at that time. His name was first suggested by former Prime Minister V. P. Singh. Many parties, including the Congress, supported his election, making it a unanimous decision.
Narayanan explained that he was not a blind follower or opponent of Communism. He received support from the Left parties due to special political situations in the country. When the Babri Masjid was destroyed in December 1992, he called it the "greatest tragedy India has faced since the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi."
Presidency (1997 - 2002)
K. R. Narayanan was elected President of India on 17 July 1997. He won with 95% of the votes. He was sworn in on 25 July 1997 by Chief Justice J. S. Verma.
Celebrating India's Milestones
During his presidency, India celebrated 50 years of independence. President Narayanan gave a special speech on 14 August, calling democracy India's greatest achievement.
He also became the first sitting president to vote in a general election. He cast his vote in 1998 and again in 1999, standing in line like any other citizen. This changed a long-standing tradition where presidents did not vote.
In 2000, India celebrated 50 years of being a Republic. President Narayanan gave a landmark speech. He talked about how India had failed to provide economic fairness to all its people, especially those in rural areas. He warned that unhappiness could lead to violence among disadvantaged groups. He also praised Babasaheb Ambedkar for his work on the Constitution of India. He cautioned against changing the Constitution's basic structure.
Using Presidential Powers Wisely
President Narayanan started a new practice. He would explain his decisions when using his special powers. This made the President's office more open and clear.
- Choosing the Prime Minister: During his time, Narayanan dissolved the Lok Sabha (Parliament) twice. He did this after checking that no party could form a stable government. He asked parties to show written proof of support before appointing a Prime Minister. This was a new approach compared to previous presidents.
- President's Rule in States: He also sent back advice from the government twice, asking them to rethink imposing "President's rule" in a state. This rule allows the central government to take control of a state. He referred to a Supreme Court judgment that set rules for this power.
- Kargil Conflict: In 1999, during the Kargil conflict with Pakistan, the government was a caretaker government (meaning new elections were coming). Narayanan suggested that the Rajya Sabha (another part of Parliament) meet to discuss the conflict. He also received briefings from the heads of the Indian Armed Forces.
Caring for Social Justice
President Narayanan often spoke about the importance of helping Dalits, Adivasis, minorities, and the poor. He highlighted social problems like violence against women, caste discrimination, and corruption. He believed that education was key to development.
He felt that policies to reserve places for backward sections in education and jobs needed to be implemented properly. He said these benefits were not charity but a matter of human rights and social justice. He urged the private sector to also promote fair representation for these groups.
He believed that Babasaheb Ambedkar's call to "educate, organise, agitate" was still important. He felt that the future of disadvantaged groups was in their own hands, if they were organized.
When an Australian missionary and his two sons were killed in 1999, President Narayanan strongly condemned it as a terrible crime. Towards the end of his term, there were communal riots in Gujarat in 2002. He was deeply saddened and called it a serious crisis for the nation.
He chose not to seek a second term as president because he did not have enough support from the ruling government. Throughout his presidency, he made it a policy not to visit places of worship or spiritual leaders.
Later Years
After his term as president ended, K. R. Narayanan lived in New Delhi. He continued to support movements for a fairer world, like the World Social Forum. In 2004, he spoke at the forum in Mumbai. He praised the forum for seeking freedom and fighting against a few large companies controlling the world's resources. He believed that ordinary people could non-violently fight against unfair globalization.
K. R. Narayanan passed away on 9 November 2005, at the age of 85, due to illness. He was cremated with full state honors in New Delhi.
The K. R. Narayanan Foundation
The K. R. Narayanan Foundation (K.R.N.F) was started in December 2005. Its goal is to spread the ideas and keep alive the memory of K. R. Narayanan. The foundation works to help vulnerable people in Kerala, such as women, children, and the disabled. It does this by providing education, health protection, and improving living conditions.
The Foundation also plans to honor people who show integrity in public life, journalism, and other important areas. It is producing a documentary about K. R. Narayanan's life to share his story.
Images for kids
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K. R. Narayanan's autograph
See also
In Spanish: Kocheril Raman Narayanan para niños
