The Constitution says the President of India shall address both Houses of Parliament assembled at the commencement of the first session after each general election to the Lok Sabha and also at the commencement of the first session of each year.

The first to do so was Dr Rajendra Prasad.

A simple man who lived austerely, he gave rare dignity to the highest office in the land.

Dr Prasad was an ideal foil to the energetic and often impulsive Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

February 14, 1961. Dr Rajendra Prasad arrives to address Parliament. Accompanying him are Vice-President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Lok Sabha Speaker M Ananthasayanam Ayyangar, S N Mukherjee, then the secretary, Rajya Sabha, and M N Kaul, then the secretary, Lok Sabha.

Photographs: Kind courtesy, Rashtrapati Bhavan

Concept: Pankaj Upadhyaya. Text: R Swaminathan.

Also see: One Year in Rashtrapati Bhavan