Why could Rajagopalachari not become the first President of the country despite getting Nehru’s support? Now ‘Rajaji’ statue installed in place of Lutyens

The statue of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, the first Indian Governor-General of independent India, is in the news. President Draupadi Murmu unveiled the statue of Chakraborty Rajagopalachari at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This statue has been installed in place of British architect Edwin Lutyens. C. Rajagopalachari, popularly known as Rajaji, was appointed the last and first Indian Governor General of India after the departure of Lord Mountbatten in June 1948. With the country being declared a full republic on 26 January 1950, the post of Governor General was replaced by the post of President. Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru wanted Rajagopalachari to become the first President of the country. But despite Nehru’s wishes, this was not possible.

On this question, Nehru had to face strong resistance from the members of the Constituent Assembly. Nehru had even considered resigning after returning from a foreign trip. Read its inside story on the occasion of installation of the statue of C. Rajagopalachari in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

independent thinking

India became free from the colonial structure with the departure of Lord Mountbatten to London in June 1948. By this time the Constitution of India was in the process of being made. Appointment was to be made to the vacant post of Governor General. Rajaji was appointed to this post. Rajaji was known for his independent personality and thinking. On one hand he was imbued with the thinking of nationalism and on the other hand he also had a deep understanding of the British administrative structure. Was knowledgeable in law. Was a writer and scholar. He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi but was not a blind devotee.

He did not hesitate in having thoughts contrary to the mainstream and was ready to face opposition due to this. But even amidst disagreements, the country’s leadership group was convinced of his scholarship, ability and administrative efficiency.

Pandit Nehru missed

After the proclamation of Republic Day on 26 January 1950, the members of the Constituent Assembly (provisional Lok Sabha) were to elect the President. Pandit Nehru wanted that Rajagopalachari, who held the post of Governor General, should be elected as the first President. He had also taken Sardar Patel into confidence in this matter. Initially Patel had also agreed. But further developments upset Nehru and Patel was seen in the opposing camp. In fact, due to most of the members of the Constituent Assembly being vocal in favor of Dr. Rajendra Prasad for the post of President, Patel had to change his thinking.

On the other hand, Nehru failed to understand the stand of the members. New freedom was achieved. Pandit Nehru was at the peak of popularity. He was confident that the members of the Constituent Assembly would respect his wish. But the atmosphere of the meeting with the members was quite the opposite. Most of the members were vocal in their opposition to Rajagopalachari and in favor of Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

Nehru’s letter to Prasad

Pandit Nehru was confident after talking to Sardar Patel some time ago regarding the post of President. Even before the proposed foreign trip in October 1950, he wanted to resolve the issue of appointment of Rajagopalachari to the post of President. On September 10, he sent a letter to Rajendra Prasad expressing his displeasure over the rumors going on about the President. The members not only expressed dissatisfaction over the campaigning in favor of Rajendra Prasad for this post but also called for it to be stopped immediately. It was also written in the letter that he had already discussed this issue with Patel and he felt that it would be safest and better for Governor General Rajagopalachari to assume the post of President.

Rajendra Prasad offers to resign from the Constituent Assembly

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was serving as the President of the Constituent Assembly at that time. Nehru’s letter hurt him a lot. In reply he wrote to Nehru that he was being asked to implement a decision for which even the normal courtesy of consulting him was not considered necessary. Dukhi Prasad offered to resign from the Constituent Assembly. Wrote that after resignation, I will consider myself free from the decision of your choice. Also wrote that they hoped for a better farewell. Of course, Dr. Rajendra Prasad had offered to resign in a letter written to Nehru but he had not yet accepted defeat. He had hopes from Patel.

Rajmohan Gandhi wrote in “Patel – A Life” that after this Rajendra Prasad wrote to Patel for justice. On the other hand, Nehru asked Patel to resolve the issue somehow. Later Nehru admitted to Dr. Rajendra Prasad that he had mentioned Patel’s consent in his letter without consulting Patel. But Nehru did not consider it necessary to give any explanation to Patel for this mistake. This upset Patel and became a major reason for his joining the Rajendra Prasad camp.

Nehru said he would resign

Even after being informed by Chief Whip Satyanarayan Sinha about the widespread support in favor of Rajendra Prasad among the members, Nehru was confident that if he proposed Rajagopalachari’s name, the majority would accept his offer. His foreign trip was to begin from 6 October 1950. On its eve, he called a meeting of the Constituent Assembly (provisional Lok Sabha) members and proposed the name of Rajagopalachari. Immediately he had to face strong opposition from the members.

Nehru expected Patel’s support but he remained silent. Angered Nehru sat down. Patel then pacified the members opposing Nehru’s proposal by saying that Nehru would respect their sentiments. It was also advised that the decision on the candidature of the President should be postponed till the Prime Minister’s return from abroad.

Nehru considered it his defeat. The same night he wrote a letter to Patel that he would resign from the post of Prime Minister after returning abroad. However, he did not resign on his return. Rajendra Prasad was elected President. But what was the reason for the opposition to Rajagopalachari’s name?

Raja is living separately from the 1942 movement

Rajaji did not agree with Gandhiji’s call for Quit India movement in 1942. He kept himself away from this historical movement. He believed that it would not be strategically appropriate to use the weapon of complete rebellion during a world war. It was also offered that the Muslim League’s demand related to Pakistan should be moved forward by compromise. This proposal was later proposed by C.R. Came to be known as Formula.

Rajaji’s argument was that if Muslim majority areas want to separate on the basis of referendum, then they should not be stopped, but they should first get independence. This approach was not acceptable to the majority leadership of the Congress. Many felt that this was an acceptance of partition. But Rajaji considered this as realistic politics, according to him a solution should be found instead of stubbornness. In later years, Rajagopalachari and Nehru came very close to each other. He also started thinking in the same way about the Hindu-Muslim problem. By this time the relations between Patel and Rajagopalachari had also improved a lot. But Patel never failed to call Nehru “the only nationalist Muslim in Congress” and Rajagopalachari as “half Muslim”.

Fought for freedom and also went to jail

Despite his distance from the 1942 movement and disagreements with the Congress leadership’s approach on the question of Pakistan, Rajaji’s contribution to the freedom struggle and thereafter cannot be forgotten. Joined Congress in 1919. Became a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and led South India in the Salt Satyagraha. Arrested during the salt march from Tiruchirappalli to Vedaranyam in 1930. This was the South Indian version of the Dandi March.

After the provincial elections of 1937, he became the Premier (Chief Minister) of Madras Presidency. During his tenure, emphasis was laid on education and administrative reforms. He was considered a disciplined administrator. His tenure as Governor-General was short-lived. In 1952, he again became the Chief Minister of Madras State. During this time, he tried to implement Kulak Shikshan Yojana (Hereditary Education Scheme), according to which students were to be given vocational training by linking them with the family profession. This plan was widely criticized and ultimately he had to resign.

Again the vocal voice of the opposition

In the following years, Rajaji became a vocal voice of opposition against the government. In 1959 he founded the Swatantra Party. This party was critical of socialist policies and centralized economy. Rajaji was in favor of free market, individual freedom and minimum state interference. At a time when Congress was dominant and socialist ideology was dominant, the Swatantra Party presented an alternative economic vision. He was not only a politician but also a serious thinker and writer.

He translated Mahabharata and Ramayana into simple English. His language reflects clarity and moral insistence. He was a supporter of moral politics, but did not shy away from practicality either. His thinking often clashed with the mainstream. He raised questions on Nehru’s foreign policy, especially his approach towards China. He wrote openly against nuclear weapons and centralization. He believed that in a democracy, dissent is not treason, but the strength of the nation.

Also read: How did Bhamashah become Maharana Pratap’s troubleshooter in the war against the Mughals?