First Citizen- Pictorial Record of President Ram Nath Kovind's Term

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Shri Ram Nath Kovind, the fourteenth President of India, is dignity and propriety personified. This thematically arranged selection of photographs from his term in the Rashtrapati Bhavan is a visual record of contemporary history. The photographs in this volume show the President at ceremonial functions of the Republic, during his visits across the country and abroad, and on historic occasions. As a record of a period for India's polity, it will be of interest to scholars and citizens alike.

The President of India, as the Head of the State and the Commander-in-Chief of the armed T forces, occupies a position in the Republic that is as crucial as it is unique. About this role, Dr. BR Ambedkar had said during the Constituent Assembly debates, "He is the head of the state but not of the Executive. He represents the Nation but does not rule the Nation. He is the symbol of the Nation."

Ever since I was chosen to hold this high position, it has been my earnest endeavour to live up to Babasaheb expectations of being "the symbol" of this great nation. As I understand it, it calls for discharging the duties of the position in accordance with what the framers of the Constitution had envisaged. I have, thus, striven to keep the interests of all fellow citizen upper-most in my mind.

My stay in the Rashtrapati Bhavan has been marked by ceremonial occasions as well as intense sessions of diligent work, as a witness of the unfolding history but also in quiet moments of contemplation. There have been memorable meetings and thought-provoking conversations with some of the most remarkable individuals too. As one of my priorities has been to make this majestic monument more accessible to people and ensure that they learn more about it, the idea came up of compiling photographs recording the life of the President in all its aspects. This book is less about an individual and more about the myriad moments an individual was fortunate to have participated in while "representing the nation". It is in this spirit that many visual facets of the President's office are offered in this volume. I hope the book - and the spirit behind it - will be widely appreciated.

Shri Ram Nath Kovind is not only the first citizen of India; in many respects, he is also the quintessential citizen of India. Born in a village in pre-independence days, his was a difficult childhood marked by daily struggles to make ends meet and also overcome social prejudices. He persisted, keeping his faith in the power of democracy, of which he is now a living testimony.

Those memories of deprivation of varied natures also make Shri Kovind compassionate to those on the margins. Even while living in the most opulent residence in the country, he remains untouched by the trappings of power and keeps a little bit of Paraunkh - his native village near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh-close to his heart.

Once, ahead of taking oath of office, when it was raining outside, he had said, "This season of monsoons reminds me of those days of my childhood when I was living in my village. The house was ramshackle, its walls were earthen. The roof, made of dry grass, could not stop the rainwater, and all of us siblings would huddle in the corner waiting for the rains to stop." It became clear that the remarks were not provoked by nostalgia when he went on to add, "Who knows how many Ram Nath Kovinds are getting wet in the rain right now... to them, I want to say that Ram Nath Kovind of Paraunkh village is going to the Rashtrapati Bhavan as their representative."

These words were to define his term as the President. The Rashtrapati Bhavan, with its imposing architecture, may seem far removed from the humble life of India's villages, but he has striven to bridge that gap. With his firm belief that the real India lives in its villages, he not only takes active interest in rural development, but also makes it a point to travel to villages whenever he can.

In 2021, he visited his native village, a journey that was as memorable as it was emotional.

The trip from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to Paraunkh was accomplished in a few hours. The earlier trip from Paraunkh to the presidential palace, however, took several decades.

**Contents and Sample Pages**