Zail Singh

Trivia

• He was the President of India from1982 to1987 and the first Sikh to hold India`s highest public office and honour.
• Zail Singh`s public life was long and varied.
• He was a freedom fighter, state Congress leader, Chief Minister and Union Home Minister.
• A prominent fighter against principality, feudalism (political, economic, or social order similar to the medieval system) and foreign domination in the pre-independence days, he is also remembered for his campaign against communalism, economic inequality and social injustice in the country.
• Giani Zail Singh Ramgarhia was elected to the highest office of the President of India on July 15, 1982
• He took the oath of President on July 25, 1982.
• He was critiqued for his domineering attitude towards Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.
• He was on state that "he will even sweep floors for Indira Gandhi, who eventually created a rubber-stamp President, a complete symbolic head.
• When Zail Singh was the President, Indira Gandhi launched Operation Blue Star to attack the highest holy shrine of Sikhs and drived out the terrorists.
• His relations with Rajiv Gandhi who became Prime Minister after the death of his mother Indira Gandhi were rocky at best.