Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, late President of India, was born in 1918. He, like many Madhya Pradesh’s politicians, moved to the former princely state of Bhopal from Uttar Pradesh during the State People’s Movement against feudal tyranny. Dr. Sharma had an illustrious career in the fields of education and politics. He actively took part in the Quit India Movement. He was Bar-at-Law from the Lincoln’s Inn and subsequently taught law at Cambridge University in 1946-47. For nine years, he taught law at Lucknow University.
Dr. Sharma was the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh from 1952 to 1956 during which, he abolished all jagirdaris with one stroke. As the Education Minister he made education free for backward classes as well as for girls. Dr. Sharma was absorbed into the Union Cabinet in 1975 as Communication Minister. Later, he was appointed as Governor of various states. In 1987, he was elected the Vice President of India and later became the President of India in 1992. He passed away on December 27, 1999.