The Rashtrapati Bhavan
Main Gate
General information
Location	Raisina Hill New Delhi 110004 Republic of India
Construction started	January 13, 1911; 101 years ago  (1911-01-13)
Design and construction
Architect	Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens

The Rashtrapati Bhavan (Sanskrit for Presidential House) or The Official Residence of the Head of the State is the official residence of the President of India, located at Raisina Hill in New Delhi, India. Until 1950 it was known as "Viceroy's House" and served as the residence of the Viceroy and Governor-General of India. It is amidst an area known as Lutyens' Delhi.

The construction of the building was planned for 4 years, but World War I intervened and construction required 19 years to complete. Its first occupant, Lord Irwin, moved into the premises on January 23, 1931.^[1]

History[link]

Origin[link]

Wide-angle front view.

During the Delhi Durbar year of 1911, it was decided that the capital of India would be relocated from Calcutta to Delhi. This was announced on December 12 by King George V. As the plan for New Delhi was developed, the Governor-General's residence was given an enormous scale and prominent position. The British architect Edwin Landseer Lutyens, a major member of the city-planning process, was given the primary architectural responsibility. The palace developed very similarly to the original sketches which Lutyens sent Herbert Baker from Simla on June 14, 1912. Lutyens' design is grandly classical overall, with colours and details inspired by Indian architecture.

Meanwhile, between 1911 and 1916, 300 families were evicted under the "1894 Land Acquisition Act" from Raisina and Malcha villages, thus clearing about 4,000 acres to begin the construction the Viceroy’s House.^[2] Lutyens and Baker who had been assigned to work on the Viceroy's House and the Secretariats, began on friendly terms. Baker had been assigned to work on the two secretariat buildings which were in front of Viceroy's House. The original plan was to have Viceroy's House on the top of Raisina Hill, with the secretariats lower down. It was later decided to build 400 yards back, and put both buildings on top of the plateau. While Lutyens wanted the Viceroy's house to be higher, he was forced to move it back from the intended position, which resulted in a dispute with Baker. After completion, Lutyens argued with Baker, because the view of the front of the building was obscured by the high angle of the road.

Cannon outside the entrance to Rashtrapati Bhawan

Lutyens campaigned for its fixing, but was not able to get it to be changed. Lutyens wanted to make a long inclined grade all the way to Viceroy's house with retaining walls on either side. While this would give a view of the house from further back, it would also cut through the square between the secretariat buildings. The committee with Lutyens and Baker established in January 1914 said the grade was to be no steeper than 1 in 25, though it eventually was changed to 1 in 22, a steeper gradient which made it more difficult to see the Viceroy's palace. While Lutyens knew about the gradient, and the possibility that the Viceroy's palace would be obscured by the road, it is thought that Lutyens did not fully realise how little the front of the house would be visible. In 1916 the Imperial Delhi committee dismissed Lutyens's proposal to alter the gradient. Lutyens thought Baker was more concerned with making money and pleasing the government, rather than making a good architectural design.

Lutyens travelled between India and England almost every year for twenty years, to work on the building of the Viceroy's house in both countries. Lutyens had to reduce the building size from 13,000,000 cubic feet (370,000 m³) to 8,500,000 cubic feet (240,000 m³). because of the budget restrictions of Lord Hardinge. While he had demanded that costs be reduced, he nevertheless wanted the house to retain a certain amount of ceremonial grandeur.

Architecture Designs[link]

Site[link]

The Rashtrapati Bhavan is a large and vast mansion with four floors and has 360 rooms. It is built on a floor area of 200,000 square feet (19,000 m²). Situated to the west of India Gate, the building faces east.

Design[link]

Rashtrapati Bhawan central dome

Jaipur Column, Rashtrapati Bhavan

The ancillary dome-like structure on top of the building is known as a Chuttri, an integral part of Indian architectural design. (This picture shows one of the Secretariats, designed by Baker, which are not part of Rashtrapati Bhavan.)

Elephant statues on the outer wall

Various Indian designs were added to the building. These included several circular stone basins on top of the building, as water features are an important part of Indian architecture. There was also a traditional Indian chujja or chhajja, which occupied the place of a frieze in classical architecture; it was a sharp, thin, protruding element which extended 8 feet (2.4 m) from the building, and created deep shadows. It blocks harsh sunlight from the windows and also shields the windows from heavy rain during the monsoon season. On the roofline were several chuttris, which helped to break up the flatness of the roofline not covered by the dome. Lutyens appropriated some Indian designs, but used them sparingly and effectively throughout the building. There were also statues of elephants and fountain sculptures of cobras in the gar of the retaining walls, as well as the bas-reliefs around the base of the Jaipur Column, made by British sculptor, Charles Sargeant Jagger.^[3] The column has a "distinctly peculiar crown on top, a glass star springing out of bronze lotus blossom",^[4]

There were grilles made from red sandstone, called jalis or jaalis. These jalis were inspired by Rajasthani design. The front of the palace, on the east side, has twelve unevenly spaced columns with the Delhi order capitals. These capitals have a fusion of acanthus leaves with the four pendant Indian bells. The bells are similar in style to Indian Hindu and Buddhist temples, the idea being inspired from a Jain temple at Moodabidri in Karnataka. One bell is on each corner at the top of the column. It was said that as the bells were silent British rule in India would not end. The front of the building does not have windows, except in the wings at the sides. Lutyens established ateliers in Delhi and Lahore to employ local craftsmen, The chief engineer of the project was Sir Teja Singh Malik, and four main contractors included Sir Sobha Singh.^[1]

Lutyens added several small personal elements to the house, such as an area in the garden walls and two ventilator windows on the stateroom to look like the glasses which he wore. The Viceregal Lodge was completed largely by 1929, and (along with the rest of New Delhi) inaugurated officially in 1931. Interestingly, the building took seventeen years to complete and eighteen years later India became independent. After Indian independence in 1947, the now ceremonial governor-general continued to live there, being succeeded by the president in 1950 when India became a republic and the house was renamed "Rashtrapati Bhavan".

Lutyens stated that the dome is inspired by the Pantheon of Rome.^[5] There is also the presence of Mughal and European colonial architectural elements. Overall the structure is distinctly different from other contemporary British Colonial symbols. It has 355 decorated rooms and a floor area of 200,000 square feet (19,000 m²). The structure includes 700 million bricks^[6] and 3.5 million cubic feet (85,000 m³) of stone, with only minimal usage of steel.

Plan[link]

Rashtrapati Bhavan illuminated for Indian Republic Day

The plan of the building is designed around a massive square with multiple courtyards and open inner areas within. The plan called for two wings; one for the Viceroy and residents and another for guests. The residence wing is a separate four-storey house in itself, with its own court areas within. This wing was so large that the first Indian governor-general, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, opted to live the smaller guest wing, a tradition that has since been followed by subsequent presidents. The original residence wing is now used primarily for state receptions and as a guest wing for visiting heads of state.^[7]

The centre of the main wing of the building, underneath the main dome, is the Durbar Hall, which was known as the Throne Room during British rule when it had thrones for the Viceroy and Vicereine (his wife). The interior of this room and almost all the rooms of the palace are bare, relying on stonework and shapes to show austerity rather than intricate decoration. In the hall, the columns are made in Delhi order which combines vertical lines with the motif of a bell. The vertical lines from the column were also used in the frieze around the room, which could not have been done with one of the traditional Greek orders of columns. The hall has a 2-ton chandelier which hangs from a 33-metre height. The two state drawing rooms, the state supper room and the state library are each on the four corners of the hall. There are also other rooms such as many loggias (galleries with open air on one side) which face out into the courtyards, a large dining hall with an extremely long table, sitting rooms, billiards rooms, and a large ball room, and staircases. Water features are also through the palace, such as near the Viceroy's stairs, which has eight marble lion statues spilling water into six basins. These lions were symbolic of the heraldry of Great Britain. There is also an open area in one room to the sky, which lets in much of the natural light.

Dome[link]

Dome

The dome in the middle involved a mixture of Indian and British styles. In the centre was a tall copper dome surmounted on top of a drum, which stands out from the rest of the building, due to its height. The dome is exactly in the middle of the diagonals between the four corners of the building. The dome is more than twice the height of the rest of the building.

The height of the dome was increased by Lord Hardinge in the plan of the building in 1913. The dome combines classical and Indian styles. Lutyens said the design evolved from that of the Pantheon in Rome, while it is also possible that it was modeled partly after the great Stupa at Sanchi. The dome is supported by evenly spaced columns which form a porch with open area between the columns. In the New Delhi summer heat haze this gives an impression of the dome being afloat. The reinforced concrete shell of the outer dome began to be formed at the beginning of 1929. The last stone of the dome was laid on April 6, 1929.

Location[link]

The main entrance to Rashtrapati Bhavan is known as Gate 35, and is located on Prakash Vir Shastri Avenue, renamed from North Avenue in November 2002, as a memorial to the politician Prakash Vir Shastri (1923–1977), who served here during his tenure as a Member of Parliament for the state of Uttar Pradesh.^[8]

Mughal Gardens[link]

The Mughal Gardens situated at the back of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, incorporates both Mughal and English landscaping styles and feature a vast variety of flowers. The Rashtrapati Bhavan gardens are open to public in February every year.

Main garden-Two channels running North to South and two running East to West divide this garden into a grid of squares. There are six lotus shaped fountains at the crossings of these channels. Wheresas the energetic fountains rising up to a height of 12 feet create soothing murmur that enthralls the visitor, the channels are so tranquil in their movement that they seem frozen. In the channels at appropriate times of day can be seen reflections of the imposing building and the proud flowers. There are wooden trays placed on stands in the centre of the channels where grain is put for the birds to feed upon.

Terrace garden-There are two longitudinal strips of garden at a higher level on either side of the Main Garden forming the Northern and Southern boundary. The plants grown are the same as in the Main Garden. At the centre of both the strips is a fountain which falls inwards forming a well. On the Western tips are located two gazebos and on the Eastern tips two ornately designed sentry posts.

Long Garden or the 'Purdha Garden'-This is located to the West of the Main Garden, and runs along on either side of the central pavement which goes to the circular garden. Enclosed in walls about 12 feet high this is predominantly a rose garden. It has 16 square rose beds encased in low hedges. There is a red sandstone pergola in the centre over the cental pavement which is covered with Rose creepers, Petrea, Bougainvillea and Grape Vines. The walls are covered with creepers like Jasmine, Rhyncospermum, Tecoma Grandiflora, Bignonia Vanista, Adenoclyma, Echitice, Parana Paniculata. Along the walls are planted the China Orange trees.

Around the circular garden there are rooms for Office of the horticulturist, a green house, stores, nursery etc. Here is housed the collection of Bonsais, one of the best in the country.

All the Presidents who have stayed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan have taken keen interest in the maintenance and upkeep of the Mughal Gardens. All have contributed in their own way. The underlying themes however have remained unaltered.

In popular culture[link]

• The song Des Rangila from Fanaa was shot at Rashtrapati Bhavan including its rehearsal scenes.

Restoration[link]

First restoration project at the Rashtrapati Bhavan was performed in 1985 and ended in 1989, during which the Ashoka Hall was stripped of its latter additions and restored to its original state by the work done by architectural restorer, Sunita Kohli. The second restoration project, begun in 2010, involved Charles Correa and Sunita Kohli.^[1][9][10]

See also[link]

• Rashtrapati Nilayam
• The Retreat Building
• Government Houses of India

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Davies, P. (1985). Splendours of the Raj: British Architecture in India, 1660 to 1947, John Murray Ltd, London.
• Gradidge, R. (1981). Edwin Lutyens, Architect Laureate, George Allen & Unwin, London.
• Irving, R. (1981). Indian Summer: Lutyens, Baker, and Imperial Delhi, Yale University Press, New Haven.
• Nath, A. (2002). Dome over India: Rashtrapati Bhevan, India Book House Pvt Ltd, New Delhi.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rashtrapati Bhavan

• President of India: Rashtrapati Bhavan, Official website
• http://www.cs.jhu.edu/~bagchi/delhi/writing/lutyens.html
• She does Chandigarh proud, Research on Rashtrapati Bhavan architecture

Coordinates: 28°36′52″N 77°11′59″E / 28.614342°N 77.199804°E / 28.614342; 77.199804

India (born March 9, 1969), known also as "La Princesa de la Salsa" (engl. "The Princess of Salsa"), is a singer of salsa and House music. She has been nominated for both Grammy and Latin Grammy awards.

Early years[link]

Caballero (birth name: Linda Viera Caballero) was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Her parents moved to New York City soon after her birth, and settled down in the South Bronx area of the city. They moved in with Caballero's grandmother, a woman who served as an important influence on Caballero's life. Her stage name "India" was given to Caballero by her grandmother because of her dark features and long straight black hair.^[1]

India[link]

In 1985, when Caballero was 14 years old, she was a founding member of the Latin freestyle group TKA and was featured on the cover of TKA's second single, "Come Get My Love". She left shortly thereafter.^[2]

Caballero signed a record contract with Reprise/Warner Bros. Records, which planned on marketing her as the Latin version of Madonna (who recorded for sister label Sire Records). After recording the album Breaking Night, Caballero decided that she didn't want to take that route in her career.^[1][2]

First salsa album[link]

An important event took place when she accompanied her husband to a studio recording. Salsa band leader Eddie Palmieri happened to visit the studio and was impressed with Caballero when he heard her singing. In 1992, Palmieri produced Caballero's first Spanish-language salsa album Llego la India via Eddie Palmieri (The India has Arrived via Eddie Palmieri), which was acclaimed as one of the best salsa albums of the year. From then on Caballero became known to all as India.^[2]

In 1994, India together with Louie Vega recorded a house-music single "Love and Happiness" (Yemaya y Ochún) that paid tribute to Santería (a syncretic religion based in the Caribbean). This up-beat house track was played heavily in dance club's internationally. India's involvement with Santería drew much criticism. She later recorded Dicen Que Soy (They Say that I Am) which was a 2x gold-certified Billboard hit and included the song "Vivir Lo Nuestro", a duet with Marc Anthony. Later this same year Combinación Perfecta. was released.^[1]

India, the Princess of Salsa[link]

External audio
	You may listen to India sing "Seduceme" here.

In 1996, India worked with Tito Puente on Jazzin, an English-language album of swing classics with a Latin twist on RMM Records. That same year she contributed the song "Banderas" to the album entitled Voces Unidas (United Voices), a multi-artist tribute to the 1996 Summer Olympics. She also released India: Mega Mix that same year before divorcing Vega. India sang a duet titled "La Voz de la Experiencia" (The Voice of Experience) with Celia Cruz, the late Queen of Salsa. It was then that Cruz gave Caballero her longer name: India the Princess of Salsa. In 1997, India recorded "Sobre el Fuego" (Over the Fire) with Puerto Rican salsa singer Kevin Ceballo as backup. The song was nominated for Best Latin Tropical Performance Grammy Award. In 1998, she won an ACE Award.^[2]

On May 31, 1998, India gave two sold-out concerts at the Luis A. Ferre Performing Arts Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She returned to the United States and Cable Channel UPN aired one of her shows. India also held concerts in New York's Madison Square Garden and in El Festival de la Calle Ocho in Miami, Florida. In September 1999, India released her album Sola, which earned her great reviews for the single "Sola" and for covers of two hits by the late Cuban sensation La Lupe "Que Te Pedi" and "Si Vuelves Tu."^[1]

On February 5, 2000, a full-page ad in Billboard Magazine congratulated India for her second Grammy Award nomination. In March 2000, she was featured in Vibe Magazine. In 2003, India released Latin Songbird: Mi Alma y Corazón. The album's lead single "Sedúceme" became a hit on the Latin charts and topped the U.S. Billboard Hot Latin Tracks for several weeks. This romantic salsa hit single was India's first number-one song. The song brought her a new fan base with many awards and nominations, including two Latin Grammy nominations for Best Salsa Album and Best Tropical Song in 2003, and her third Grammy Award nomination for Best Salsa Album in 2004.^[3]

In 2005, India participated in the musical presentation Selena ¡VIVE!, a tribute to the late Tejano sensation Selena Quintanilla-Perez. In 2006, India released the album Soy Diferente, which contained two songs that became award-winning hits. The 2007 Annual Latin Billboard Awards honored India with Best Tropical Album of the Year Female for "Soy Diferente" (I Am Different), and Latin Dance Club Play Track of the Year for "Solamente Una Noche" (Just For One Night). In 2007, India collaborated with Latin sensation Gloria Estefan in a duet titled "90 Millas."^[3]

India is set to release her ninth studio album in 2010, which will propel her music to various European and Asian countries. India mentioned to the Associated Press, "I am reinventing myself...changing my physical image. India will return to become a Barbie. But more than that, I feel like a new woman because I have been blessed with many beautiful things. After many years, I have my family with me and I am not separated from my mother, in which I suffered greatly. I have her in my life and that brings inner peace that I haven't had in a long time."

On February 23, 2010, India's newest single "Estupida" was released on iTunes. The single was recorded in two versions, a salsa version and a ballad version.India filmed a video for both versions were been released. The song debuted on the tropical billboard charts at #10 and made it to #1 in just a couple of weeks. India's ninth studio album, Unica, was released June 1, 2010.

In 2011 India still continues to release new music. India's latest songs include a duet with Issac Delgado titled, "Que no se te olvide" which has four different versions, one salsa, another an extended salsa mix, one a bachata version, and another a New York Pop version. In 2011, India released a new house track titled, "Tacalacateo" which she worked on with Italian DJ, Peppe Citarella. Tacalacateo peaked at #13 on the Billboards dance tracks.

Awards and recognition[link]

On June 11, 2006, India was honored by Union City, New Jersey with a star on the Walk of Fame at Union City's Celia Cruz Park.^[4]

Discography[link]

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Among India's recordings are the following:

Studio albums (new material)[link]

• 1990: Breaking Night
• 1992: Llego la India Via Eddie Palmieri
• 1994: Dicen Que Soy
• 1996: Jazzin' with Tito Puente
• 1997: Sobre el Fuego
• 1999: Sola
• 2002: Latin Songbird: Mi Alma Y Corazón
• 2006: Soy Diferente
• 2010: Unica

Albums Chart performance[link]

Compilations[link]

• Love and Happiness EP (with River Ocean) (1993)
• India Megamix (1997)
• The Best of India (2004)
• Grandes Exitos + (2005)
• Cant Get No Sleep 09 EP (2009)
• Music is My Life Transalatins Fet: India (2009)

Contributions on other recordings[link]

• With Tony Humphries
  • Keith Thompson - Rhythm of Life

• With Masters At Work
  • 1992 - Ride On The Rhythm by Louie Vega & Marc Anthony (Wrote/Background vocals)
  • 1993 - When You Touch Me and I Can't Get No Sleep (from "The Album")
  • 1994 - Voices In My Mind by Voices (India, Carol Sylvan, Michael Watford)
  • 1994 - Vibe P.M. (Masters at Work Remix) (featured with Mondo Grosso)
  • 1998 - To Be In Love (MAW Remix) (from MAW Records: The Collection Volume I)
  • 1998 - Runaway (from "Nuyorican Soul")
  • 2002 - Backfired (from "Our Time Is Coming")
• RMM Combinacion Perfecta
  • 1994 - Vivir Lo Nuestro (duet with Marc Anthony)
• Li'l Mo Ying Yang
  • 1995 Reach (Samples "Love & Happiness")
• Voces Unidas: The Atlanta Olympics
  • 1996 - Banderas
• JohNick - Play The World EP
  • 1996 - Play The World (Samples "Love & Happiness")
• With Oscar D'León
  • 1997 - Hazme El Amor (from "En Nueva York")
• The Last Days of Disco Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  • 1998 - I Love the Nightlife (Disco Round)
• The 24-Hour Woman Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  • 1999 - India Con La Voe (Viva Puerto Rico)
• Haus-A-Holics - Latin Spice EP
  • 2001 - Que Pasa by Haus-A-Holics (Samples from "Oye Como Va" with Tito Puente Jr.)
• Empire Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  • 2003 - Empire, Imperio
• With Tito Nieves, Nicky Jam, and K-Mil
  • 2004 - Ya No Queda Nada
• Tribute to Selena
  • 2005 - No Debes Jugar (from "Selena Vive")
• With Marlon Fernández
  • 2006 - Usted Abusó (from "Mi Sueño")
• With R.K.M & Ken-Y, Polaco, Nicky Jam, and Carlitos Way
  • 2006 - Tocarte Toda
• With Gloria Estefan
  • 2007 - 90 Millas (from 90 Millas)
• With Michael Stuart
  • 2007 - Un Amor Tan Grande (from Sentimiento De Un Rumbero)
• With Yolandita Monge
  • 2008 - Mala (Tropical Remix) (from "Mala")
• With Tito "El Bambino"
  • 2009 - El Amor (Salsa Remix) (from "El Patron")
• Single "Estupida"
  • 2010 - Estupida (Salsa Version) (Single from 2010 album, Unica)
  • 2010 - Estupida (Ballada Version) (Single from 2010 album, Unica)
• With Issac Delgado
  • 2011-Maxi Single "Que No Se Te Olvide"
• With Peppe Citarella
  • 2011-Maxi Single "Tacalacateo"
• With Tito Rojas
  • 2011- "Maldito Y Bendito Amor" (Salsa Version)
  • 2011- "Maldito Y Bendito Amor" (Ballad Version)

See also[link]

	Puerto Rico portal
	Biography portal

• List of Puerto Ricans

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Popular Culture

Pratibha Devi Singh Patil
President of India
Incumbent
Assumed office 25 July 2007
Prime Minister	Manmohan Singh
Vice President	Mohammad Hamid Ansari
Preceded by	A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Governor of Rajasthan
In office 8 November 2004 – 23 July 2007
Chief Minister	Vasundhara Raje
Preceded by	Madan Lal Khurana
Succeeded by	Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai
Personal details
Born	(1934-12-19) 19 December 1934 (age 77) Nadgaon, Bombay Presidency, British India (now in Maharashtra, India)
Political party	Indian National Congress
Spouse(s)	Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat
Alma mater	Mooljee Jetha College, Jalgaon Government Law College, Mumbai
Profession	Lawyer
Religion	Hindu

Pratibha Devisingh Patil ( pronunciation (help·info)) (born 19 December 1934) is the 12th President of the Republic of India and first woman to hold the office.^[1] She was sworn in as President of India on 25 July 2007, succeeding Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and after defeating her rival Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.^[2][3] She is a member of the Indian National Congress (INC), was nominated for the presidency by the ruling United Progressive Alliance and Indian Left.

Early life[link]

Pratibha Devisingh Patil was born in Jalgaon District, Maharashtra. She received her early education from RR Vidyalaya, Jalgaon.^{[citation needed]}. She completed her Masters in Political Science and Economics at the Moolji Jaitha College, Jalgaon. She obtained her Bachelor of Law degree from Government Law College, Mumbai.^[1]

Career[link]

Pratibha Patil started her professional career^[when?] as a lawyer at the Jalgaon District Court.

She was elected for the Jalgaon Assembly constituency in February 1962 when aged 27.^[4] She was elected four times consecutively for Muktainagar (formerly Edlabad), Maharashtra, as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly between 1967 and 1985.^[1] Thereafter, she served as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from 1985 to 1990. In 1991 she was elected as a Member of Parliament in the tenth Lok Sabha, representing the Amravati constituency and stayed in the role until 1996.^[1]

She was the 24th Governor of Rajasthan between 2004–2007,^[1] and the first woman to hold that office.^[5]

Presidential Election 2007[link]

On 14 June 2007, United Progressive Alliance (UPA), the ruling alliance of political parties in India headed by the Indian National Congress, and the Indian left nominated her as their candidate for the Presidential Election to be held in July that year.^[6] She emerged as a compromise candidate after the Left parties would not agree to the nomination of former Home Minister Shivraj Patil. UPA chairwoman Sonia Gandhi proposed her: her loyalty to the Nehru-Gandhi family was widely perceived to be a major factor in her nomination.^[7] With the possibility that she might become the first female President of India, Sonia Gandhi described her nomination as a "historic occasion".^{[citation needed]}

Before leaving Jaipur for New Delhi, she thanked Gandhi for choosing her and said that her first job as president would be to make the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) started by UPA a success.^[8] In Delhi she asserted that she would not be a rubber stamp president.^[7]

She faced Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the NDA candidate,^[9] The Leader of the Opposition, L K Advani, unsuccessfully sought the intervention of Election Commission of India to force Patil to declare her assets,^{[clarification needed][10]} citing allegations of misconduct. Advani said that people contesting elections are required to disclose their assets per the Election Commission rules, which Patil had not done.^[11]

Shiv Sena, an important NDA ally, declared its support of Patil on the grounds that she would be the first Maharashtrian to hold the office.^[12] The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) opposed her candidature for president.^[13] While it tried to build a strong moral opposition to her nomination, it was advised not to challenge the nomination on legal grounds in order to preserve the dignity of the President of India, adding to the presidential immunity that the President of India enjoys during his/her tenure.^{[citation needed]}

Presidency[link]

Presidential styles of Pratibha Patil
Reference style	Her Excellency Pratibha Patil, President of the Republic of India
Spoken style	President Patil
Alternative style	Madame President

She won the presidential election held on 19 July 2007 defeating her nearest rival Bhairon Singh Shekhawat by over 300,000 votes. She took office as India's first woman president on 25 July 2007.

This section requires expansion.

Philanthropy[link]

Along with her husband, she set up Vidya Bharati Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, an educational institute which runs a chain of schools and colleges in Amravati, Jalgaon and Mumbai.^[14] She also set up Shram Sadhana Trust, which runs hostels for working women in New Delhi, Mumbai and Pune; and an engineering college in Jalgaon.^[14] She also founded a cooperative sugar factory known as Sant Muktabai Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana, Mukta Nager and a cooperative bank named after herself as Pratibha Mahila Sahakari Bank. The bank ceased trading in February 2003 due to having its license revoked as a consequence of financial irregularities.^[15]

Divine indication[link]

Patil claims to have spoken to the spirit of the deceased leader Baba Lekhraj^[16] at the Brahmakumari's headquarters in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.^[16]

"Dadiji ke shareer mein baba aye... Maine unse baat ki" (Baba entered Devi’s body and he communicated to me through her).^[17] Reporters began to report on the message she received of a "divine indication" of great responsibility coming her way.^[18]

Controversies[link]

Pratibha Patil's term as the President of India was marred by various controversies.^[19]

An allegation was also made that Patil had protected her brother, who had been named in connection with the Vishram Patil murder case,^{[20][clarification needed]} while another alleged that as a Member of Parliament for Amravati between 1991 and 1996 Patil diverted Rs 36 lakh (Rs 3.6 million) from her MPLADS fund to a trust run by her husband Devisingh Shekhawat. This was in violation of Government rules which barred MPs from providing funds to organisations run by their relatives.^[21] The parliamentary affairs minister denied any wrongdoing on Patil's part, and noted that the funds utilized under MPLADS are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India^[22] In addition, some of her past pronouncements were criticized, including one made on 10 December 1975, when she was the Health Minister of Maharashtra and advocated in the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra that people with hereditary diseases should be compulsorily sterilised.^{[23][clarification needed]}

Positions held[link]

Pratibha Patil in North-east India.

See also[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pratibha Patil

• Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat
• Indian presidential election, 2007
• Pratibha Mahila Sahakari Bank
• Sant Muktabai Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana

References[link]

External links[link]

• profile at Indian Government website

v t e Presidents of India Prasad Radhakrishnan Hussain Giri Ahmed Reddy Singh Venkatraman Sharma Narayanan Kalam Patil