Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma

Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma ( 19th August,1918 - 26th December 1999) was the ninth President of the Indian Republic and served his tenure from 1992 to 1997. Before he was elected to the post of President, he served as the eighth Vice President of India.

Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma completed his education at St. John's College, Agra, Allahabad University, Lucknow University, Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University, Lincoln's Inn and Harvard Law School. Apart from these he also completed his Master's Degree in English Literature, Hindi and Sanskrit. He received his LL.M. degree from Lucknow and completed his Ph.D. in Law at Cambridge.

From the1940s, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma participated in the struggle for Indian Independence and became a member of the Indian National Congress. In the year 1952 he became the Chief Minister of the former state of Bhopal.

In the 1960s Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma served as a Communication Minister from 1974-77 in the cabinet of Indira Gandhi.

Throughout his political career he had held a plethora of ceremonial posts. He held many portfolios such as- Education, Public Works, National Resources and Revenue, Law, Industry and Commerce and so in. He also became the President of the Indian National Congress in 1972-1974.

He was elected as the President of India after receiving 66% of the votes in the Electoral College.

Get to know more about Indian Politicians and Government Officials:
Inder Kumar Gujral Indira Gandhi Biju Patnaik Jyoti Basu Dr. Rajendra Prasad A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Pramod Mahajan P. Chidambaram Lalu Prasad Yadav Sarojini Naidu T.N. Seshan J.M. Lyngdoh