Template:Infobox Political post Template:Politics of India First Lady of India or First Gentleman of India is the title given to the spouse of the President of India and is the official host/hostess of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. There are no official roles or duties assigned to the spouse but he or she generally attends the official ceremonies and functions.[1]
The position of First Lady of India is currently held by Savita Kovind, wife of President Ram Nath Kovind. She assumed the position after her husband took the oath of office to the post of president on 25 July 2017.[1]
The role should not be confused with the spouse of the prime minister of India.
History
Rajvanshi Devi, wife of India's first president, was the country's first first lady from 1950 until 1962.[1] Devi kept a very low profile during this era and did not attend public events with President Rajendra Prasad.[1]
Saraswati Bai, wife of the country's fourth president, V. V. Giri, was the first first lady to take a more public role.[1] Bai's role marked a change from the lower profile of her predecessors.[1] She attended and hosted public events and became a recognizable figure to the Indian public.[1]
Begum Abida Ahmed, India's first lady from 1974 to 1977, further expanded the public role of the first lady's position by organizing ceremonies and official functions at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.[1] She was also the first among the first spouses to hold a public office, when she was Member of Parliament between 1980 and 1989.
Usha Narayanan was the first first spouse of foreign origin.
Before Pratibha Patil was sworn in as the first female president of India, the role of the wives of the president were to act as the chief hostess of the Bhavan. In 2007, the office room meant for the first lady went for some minor changes to accommodate the husband of Pratibha Patil, Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat, the country's inaugural "first gentleman".[2]
Former first lady Suvra Mukherjee, the wife of President Pranab Mukherjee, died in office on 18 August 2015. The position of First Lady remained vacant for the remainder of President Mukherjee's term.[3]
The current first lady Savita Kovind has assumed the position since 2017.
Role
The role of a first spouse is largely ceremonial. The first spouse has no official duties, but he or she generally attends the official ceremonies and functions held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan along with the president. Most of the first spouses have maintained a low profile.[2]
Non-spouses in the role
In case of the absence of a spouse, another relative of the President may take up the role of host or hostess during official functions at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. However, this is not mandatory, and the role of hostess has been vacant during the tenure of A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.[2]
Zail Singh's daughter had served as hostess for some events.[4][2] Pranab Mukherjee's daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee served as hostess for some events, during her mother's illness.[5]
List of first ladies and gentlemen of India
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See also
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Savita Kovind enters Rashtrapati Bhavan, but India’s First Ladies are yet to make a mark. Indian Express(2017-07-26). Retrieved 2017-09-12.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The first ladies of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Live Mint. HT Media Ltd. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
- ↑ Suvra Mukherjee, President Pranab Mukherjee's wife, passes away. Times of India(23 August 2015). Retrieved 2015-08-23.
- ↑ President’s daughter turns politician. The Hindu(2014-07-27). Retrieved 2020-03-12.
- ↑ Sharmistha Mukherjee chose not to live in India's biggest house. Business Standard India(2013-04-05). Retrieved 2020-03-12.
- ↑ Dr. Rajendra Prasad –> 1st President of India. Rediff.com. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
- ↑ ZAKIR HUSAIN, DR.. Vice President of India. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
- ↑ Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy’s wife passes away. The Hindu(2010-01-12). Retrieved 2015-08-23.
- ↑ Giani Zail Singh's widow dead. The Tribune(12 May 2002). Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ↑ Zail Singh, 78, First Sikh To Hold India's Presidency. New York Times(1994-12-26). Retrieved 2015-08-23.
- ↑ President Pranab Mukherjee pays tributes to Shanker Dayal Sharma. Zee News. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
- ↑ The constant gardener. Hindustan Times(2007-08-16). Retrieved 2020-03-12.
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