With the announcement of Droupadi Murmu being elected as India’s new president, Indians all across the planet have been very proud and elated. This is an achievement for all Indian women alike. To commemorate this moment in history, we must look back at who laid the path of foundation: Pratibha Patil. Who is Pratibha Patil? Let us learn more about Pratibha Patil. She is a lawyer and politician from India, who was the first woman president of India. Pratibha Patil achievements as president are to be lauded and appreciated. While it is important to discuss Pratibha Patil’s achievements, we shall also discuss some of the controversies of Pratibha Patil, the first woman president of India.
All About Pratibha Patil – First Woman President Of India
On 25 July in 2007, Pratibha Patil became president of India, and she became the first woman to hold the president position. However, the road to this journey was a long one – let us know more about Pratibha Patil, her life, her education, and her career. Let us dive deep into her life, achievements, and controversies.
Who Is Pratibha Patil?
Pratibha Devisingh Patil was born on 19 December in the year 1934. She came into existence to Narayan Rao Patil in the Nandgaon hamlet. During the British Raj, it was the Indian district of Jalgaon in Maharashtra, India. She is an Indian National Congress member. Patil was also the first female governor of Rajasthan, holding that position from 2004 until 2007 before she was elected president. Smt. Patil is married to Dr Devisingh Ramsingh Shekhawat. She is the mother of two children.
Pratibha Patil Education
Pratibha Patil started her education at the R. R. Vidyalaya in Jalgaon and later graduated with a master’s in political science and economics from Mooljee Jaitha College in Jalgaon and a bachelor’s in law from Government Law College in Bombay, a division of the University of Mumbai. Following that, Patil began practicing law in the Jalgaon District Court and became interested in social issues, particularly focusing on those that would improve the lives of Indian women.
Political Career Of Pratibha Patil
After joining the Indian National Congress, she entered politics in 1962 as a member of the Maharashtra legislative assembly. Patil was in charge of public health and social welfare at the time. Smt. Pratibha Patil was particularly notable for her dedication to her party. From 1967 to 1985, she won the Muktainagar (previously Edlabad) constituency four times in a row. From 1985 to 1990, she was a member of the Rajya Sabha. She was elected to the legislature in 1991 after winning the Amravati constituency in the 10th Lok Sabha elections.
Patil served in a variety of Cabinet positions while she was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. While she was a member of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, she held official positions as well. The first woman president of India also held roles as President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee for a period of years, Director of the National Federation of Urban Co-operative Banks and Credit Societies, and Member of the Governing Council of the National Co-operative Union of India.
Then, on November 8, 2004, she was chosen to be the 17th Governor of Rajasthan, making her the first woman to hold the role. A few years later, on July 25th, 2007, Pratibha Patil was sworn in as president of India, becoming the first woman to hold the office.
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Pratibha Patil Achievements
When it comes to Pratibha Patil achievements, it must be emphasized how notable of a presence she had. Her innumerable achievements and accolades make her truly stand apart. In her entire public life, Smt. Patil has actively contributed to the welfare of women, children, and the socially marginalized, playing a crucial role in setting up the music, computer, and sewing programs for the underprivileged and destitute women in Amravati, Maharashtra.
She has a long history of involvement with the public and has held a variety of positions, including Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Water Pollution Control Board. She is also credited for the construction of the Amravati Railway Station. She also had a major contribution to the Amravati Cancer Foundation.
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Presidential Journey Of Pratibha Patil
As the first woman President of India, the journey for Pratibha Patil was a remarkable one. Patil was introduced as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate on June 14th, 2007. Because of her steadfast loyalty to the Indian National Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi family, Sonia Gandhi, the head of the Indian National Congress, picked Patil as a suitable candidate.
The vote was held on July 19, 2007, and Patil won. On July 25th, 2007, she was sworn in as India’s 12th president, the first woman president of India, after receiving more than two-thirds of the vote.
Pratibha Patil Achievements As President
In her presidential tenure, Pratiba Patil had certain notable contributions. Pratibha Patil achievements as President are mentioned below.
- Major business delegation accomplishments under Pratibha Patil’s belt include the signing of MoUs in Brazil, Poland, Mexico, Chile, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, etc.
- Pratibha Patil is also credited for starting women’s hostels in Delhi and Mumbai. She also made an effort to raise agricultural profitability and productivity.
- She is also credited with founding the Shram Sadhana Trust, an organization that does several welfare projects aimed at advancing women. This is one of Pratibha Patil achievements that are most notable.
- She also built schools for the children of the backward classes and the poor Vimukta Jatis.
- In order to increase the productivity of the dryland/rainfed areas, Smt. Pratibha Patil urged businesses and corporate houses to form partnerships with farmers and industry. Additionally, she pushed for public sector businesses (PSEs).
- She also spearheaded the creation of a Committee of Governors in 2008 to research and offer suggestions for the “socio-economic empowerment of women”.
- In Jalgaon, Pratiba Patil founded a vocational school for people with vision impairments.
These were some of Pratibha Patil achievements as President, among the many contributions she has made.
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Controversies Of Pratibha Patil
Pratibha Patil made history when she became the first woman President of India. However, her term wasn’t free from controversies. Under this section, you’ll be guided through some of the controversies of Pratibha Patil.
- When Pratibha was president, she travelled overseas more frequently than any other president in the history of India. She periodically took her entire family (11 members) on a trip. Her total trip costs as of May 2012 were approximately INR 205 crore. This was heavily criticized by many people.
- The Ministry of External Affairs disagreed with the public outcry and backlash. According to a Ministry statement, taking family vacations “was not unusual.”
- She was criticized for commuting the death penalty for a large number of inmates who had been convicted of particularly severe crimes to a life sentence.
- Smt. Pratibha Patil also faced a lot of opposition when she purchased a property in Pune, Maharashtra, on which to erect her retirement residence. The land, which belonged to the Indian military, was to be used by the widows of service members.
- Eventually, Patil gave up on that project and moved to a freshly constructed home in Pune. The ignorance on her part was widely criticized.
- Additionally, she accepted many gifts that were provided to her throughout her service, and she eventually had to return them following the RTI filings.
Few Final Words
If your question was — Who is Pratibha Patil? Now you know. Besides being the first woman President of India, Pratibha Patil was a grave proponent of women’s education and social issues. Besides Pratibha Patil achievements as President, she had a considerable influence and a lot to contribute. While her tenure was detested by many due to the controversies of Pratibha Patil, she was definitely responsible for making history as the first female President of India. This was all about Pratibha Patil.
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