Moods, Moments and Memories- Former Presidents of India (1950-2017): A Visual History

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

The thirteen former Presidents of India present a profile of the Head of the State that is as rich as it is diverse. Each of these illustrious individuals left an indelible mark on the Republic. When we look back and recall them and their era, a host of images come to mind which usually portray them in their official and ceremonial roles. The other aspects of their personality, however, are remembered only faintly. Here is a collection of images, carefully selected from the rich archives of the Rashtrapati Bhavan , that seeks to bring out the lesser-known but fascinating sides of their personalities. The compilation is also a visual record of the journey of the nation after Independence. The photographs, rare and some rarely seen before, are shared here in the spirit of making the heritage of the Rashtrapati Bhavan more accessible to all citizens.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan in India's great heritage, and I am fortunate to be in the position of carrying forward the initiative undertaken by many of my esteemed predecessors of opening it more to the fellow citizens. The majestic monument is at the heart of the Republic, and this heritage should be more accessible to all. As part of that endeavour, efforts are being made to share some of its archives, especially the rich photo library.

Going through old albums preserved there, I discovered fascinating aspects of the diverse personalities of the previous occupants of this historic building - the thirteen honourable former Presidents of India. They worked tirelessly attending to their official duties, and that is captured in images that have become well known, but they also found time to pursue a range of fascinating activities, from reading to playing golf, from conversing with freedom fighters to studying scriptures.

Some of the old visuals made a deep impact on me, and I wished to share that experience with others. In this book, the readers will find a selection of photographs of the thirteen extraordinary individuals when they spent a part of their lives in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. These images are part of our collective memories as they also delineate the journey of the Republic in their backgrounds. I hope readers and scholars alike will find this volume a source of interest and inspiration.

The recital is over but the echoes of the sitar strains might still be in the air, Pandit Ravi Shankar bat bent forward to better listen to what President Dr. Rajendra Prasad in saying. The atmosphere is relaxed, both are sitting on the floor, engrossed in an animated talk. Fellow musicians are all ear me children are trying to follow the conversation. It is a July evening of 1953, and the dashing musician, all of 33, bas dreams but no clue of the glories that await him.

It is an image tailor-made for a collective nostalgic trip. It is one of the upwards of five lakh images in the photo library of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. If a picture is worth a thousand words, this collection is equivalent of a library- and no words would be enough to give an idea of its richness.

In physical photographs in large and heavy registers, in negatives tucked in small envelopes inside shelves of catalogue boxes, and in scanned images stored in electronic databases, the photo archive is a veritable composite biography of the heads of nation, and their magnificent residence.

We all have seen some of these images, from the formal functions- swearing in ceremonies, the Republic Day parade, homages paid to the Father of the Nation at the Rajghat, State Visits abroad and banquets in honour of visiting dignitaries. Such images are the milestones in the journey of the Republic. But for each image that has already become part of our collective memory, there must be at least fifty that have led a quiet life in a corner of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, in his efforts to further open up the Rashtrapati Bhavan to people of India, also wishes to share this visual history of the place with them. Work is on to place more of them in public domain, so that everybody can savour portions of what is after all our nation's family album.

This publication, part of that mission, presents a selection of unusual and informal photographs of the first 13 Presidents of our Republic. The photo archive, notwithstanding limitations of technology and logistics and the assumed focus on the formal aspects, offers such glimpses of the former Presidents that make them more human, and enrich their portrayal in the nation's collective memory. These are chapters in a pictorial history, capturing myriad moods, moments and memories of the presidency. The images bring out lesser known aspects of the presidential persona that take backseat on ceremonial occasions Joyous, sombre, pensive, lost in a book, spending quality time with family after a hectic official schedule, trying out gardening, lost in thoughts amid official itinerary and sightseeing abroad... The emphasis here is on reproducing the rarely seen photographs, rather than marking a timeline with historic events. Yet, the evolution of the Republic unfolds in the backdrop too. There is no fixed set of criteria here; some pictures stand out for their aesthetic value too.

Each section devoted to a President opens with a small portrait, describing the persona that emerges solely from the large collection of photographs of him or her. Captions accompanying the images are minimal, letting the visuals speak for themselves. The information is sometimes limited in the archive. All efforts have been made to cross-check the facts and add necessary details.

It is hoped that this volume will be useful to scholars and delight all other readers too

**Contents and Sample Pages**