Youngest President of India?
VerifiedAnswer: Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Explanation:
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy holds the distinction of being the youngest person to assume the office of President of India. He was born on 19 May 1913 and took oath as the sixth President of India on 25 July 1977 at the age of 64 years and 2 months. This makes him significantly younger than most other Presidents who have held this prestigious constitutional position.
Before becoming President, Reddy had an illustrious political career spanning several decades. He served as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh twice and was also the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1967 to 1969. His experience in various constitutional positions made him a suitable candidate for the highest office in the country.
What makes Reddy's presidency even more remarkable is that he was elected unopposed to the office. This happened because the Congress party, which had initially nominated another candidate, withdrew their nomination, leaving Reddy as the consensus candidate. This rare occurrence in Indian political history demonstrated the respect and acceptance he commanded across party lines.
During his presidency from 1977 to 1982, Reddy served during a period of significant political changes in India. His tenure coincided with the post-Emergency era when the country was rebuilding its democratic institutions. He maintained the dignity and neutrality of the office throughout his five-year term, earning respect from all political parties and the general public alike.
