Pratibha Patil

Pratibha Patil is the first lady President of India. Before being elected the President of India. She was the Governor of Rajasthan. She was born on 19th December, 1934 at Nadgaon in Maharashtra. She belongs to a Maratha family. She won the Presidential election on 19th July 2007 by defeating her nearest rival by over 3 lakh votes.

Mrs. Patil had her early education at Jalgaon. She passed her M.A. from M.J. college and obtained law degree from Government Law College, Mumbai. She married at the age of 31. First of all she represented Edlabad Constituency as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1962. She was elected the Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha in 1986. She became a member of the Lok Sabha from Amrawati in 1991. Because of her Taithfulness to the party, she was appointed the Governor of Rajasthan.

She set up an educational institute Vidya Bharti Shikshan Prasarak Mandal. It runs a chain of schools and colleges. She also set up Shram adhna Trust. She founded a Co-operative Bank after her name-Pratibha Mahila Sahkari Bank. During her political career, she became deputy minister in the Vasantrao Naik Ministry. She was continually re-elected to the assembly tiII, 1985. She never lost an election that she had to the Assembly till, 1985. She never lost an elect contested.

Pratibha has been allegedly involved in a number in a number of controversies. After her nomination, Rajni Patil, the widow of of the murdered congressman from Jalgaon in a press conference alleged that Pratibha used her influence to shield her brother G.N. Patil in the murder case of her husband. It was also alleged that she misapproperiated funds of a bank controlled by her family. An advocate named Manohar Lal filed a PIL before a bench of the Supreme Court against her but it was rejected.

So far she has faced all odds with a firm hand. She never loses cool. She shows a rare balance of grace and poise. Her public appearances are very impressive and befitting. We can expect she will steer the country ably and efficiently.