The simple and unassuming Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed took over from V V Giri as India's fifth President.

Born on May 13, 1905, he completed his graduation from Punjab University. He then studied at Cambridge and was called to the Bar from London's Inner Temple.

A meeting with Jawaharlal Nehru changed his life. Nehru's way of thinking impressed the 20-year-old lawyer who joined the Congress and became an enthusiastic activist for India's freedom, enduring imprisonment for about five years in its cause.

After dual stints in the Assam assembly and a tenure as the state's advocate-general, he moved to Delhi at his mentor Nehru's request.

Many years after serving as a senior official in the Congress organisation and as a minister, Indira Gandhi offered him the Presidency to which he was elected on August 20, 1974. Alas, he died in office on February 11, 1977.

His tenure was marked by the controversial promulgation of internal emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution on June 25, 1975, which suspended democracy and civil liberties in the Republic for 19 dark months.

January 5, 1976. President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, accompanied by Vice-President B D Jatti, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker G G Swell, B N Banerjee, then the secretary-general, Rajya Sabha, and S L Shakdher, then the secretary-general, Lok Sabha, arrives to address Parliament.

Also see: Parliament: Winter Session