K. R. Narayanan: Difference between revisions

| image = President Clinton with Indian president K. R. Narayanan portrait 3x4(cropped).jpg

| caption = OfficialK. portrait,R. 2000Narayanan

Narayanan is regarded as an independent and assertive president who set several precedents and enlarged the scope of India's highest constitutional office. He described himself as a "working president" who worked "within the four corners of the Constitution"; something midway between an "executive president" who has direct power and a "rubber-stamp president" who endorses government decisions without question or deliberation.<ref name="ram_int">{{cite news |title=Shri K. R. Narayanan, President of India, in Conversation with N. Ram on Doordarshan and All India Radio |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/nic/narayanankr.pdf |newspaper=The Hindu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051112190818/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/nic/narayanankr.pdf |archive-date=12 November 2005 |date=14 August 1998 |access-date=25 October 2015}}</ref> He used his discretionary powers as a president and deviated from convention and precedent in many situations, including – but not limited to – the appointment of the Prime Minister in a [[hung Parliament]], in dismissing a [[state government]] and imposing [[President's rule]] there at the suggestion of the Union Cabinet, and during the [[Kargil conflict]]. He presided over the [[golden jubilee]] celebrations of [[Indian independence movement|Indian independence]] and in the country's [[Indian general elections 1977-1999#1998|general election of 1998]], he became the first Indian president to vote when in office, setting another new precedent. As of 2023, he remains the last Indian to have been elected Presidentpresident, while serving as Vice President.

K. R. Narayanan was born at Perumthanam, Uzhavoor, as the fourth of seven children of Kocheril Raman Vaidyar, a practitioner of the traditional Indian medical system of [[Ayurveda]], and Punnaththuraveettil Paappiyamma.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Damodaran |first=Ashok K. |date=30 June 1997 |title=K.R. Narayanan's sweet and dull personality make him politically most acceptable |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/profile/story/19970630-k-r-narayanan-sweet-and-dull-personality-make-him-politically-most-acceptable-830267-1997-06-29 |access-date=16 April 2024 |work=[[India Today]]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=27 October 2022 |title=രാഷ്ട്രപതി സ്ഥാനത്തെത്തിയ ആദ്യത്തെ മലയാളി മാത്രമായിരുന്നില്ല കെ.ആര്‍ നാരായണന്‍ |trans-title=K. R. Narayanan was not just the first Malayali President of India |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/in-depth/features/former-indian-president-kr-narayanan-biography-history-1.7993366 |access-date=16 April 2024 |work=[[Mathrubhumi]] |language=Malayalam}}</ref> His siblings were Vasudevan, Neelakandan, Gowri, Bhaskaran, Bhargavi and Bharathi. His family, belonging to the [[Paravan]]Paravar|Paravar caste]] (whose members are involved in fishery, boat-building, sea trade<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thurston |first1=Edgar |title=Castes and Tribes of South India |chapter=ParavanParavar |chapter-url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Castes_and_Tribes_of_Southern_India/Paravan |website=wikisource}}</ref>), was poor, but his father was respected for his medical acumen.

Narayanan had his early [[education in India|schooling]] in Uzhavoor at the Government Lower Primary School, Kurichithanam (where he enrolled on 5 May 1927) and Our Lady of Lourdes Upper Primary School, Uzhavoor (1931–35).<ref name=":1" /> He walked to school for about 15 kilometres daily through [[paddy field]]s, and was often unable to pay the modest fees. He often listened to school lessons while standing outside the classroom, having been barred from attending because tuition fees were outstanding. The family lacked money to buy books and his elder brother K. R. Neelakantan, who was confined to home as he was suffering from [[asthma]], used to borrow books from other students, copy them down, and give them to Narayanan. He matriculated from St. Mary's High School, [[Kuravilangad]] (1936–37) (he had studied at St. John's High School, [[Koothattukulam]] (1935–36) previously). He completed his intermediate at [[C. M. S. College]], Kottayam (1938–40), aided by a scholarship from the [[Travancore royal family|Travancore Royal family]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kurian |first=N. J. |date=17 December 2005 |title=K R Narayanan: Making of a President |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4417548 |journal=[[Economic and Political Weekly]] |volume=40 |issue=51 |pages=5386-53875386–5387 |jstor=4417548 |access-date=16 April 2024 |via=[[JSTOR]]}}</ref>

When Narayanan returned to India in 1948, Laski gave him a letter of introduction to Prime ministerMinister [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]. Years later, he narrated<ref>Gopalkrishna Gandhi: {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090830200245/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=20051202005812900.htm&date=fl2224%2F&prd=fline& "A remarkable life-story"]}}, ''Frontline'' '''22''' (24), 5–18 November 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2006.</ref> how he began his career in the public service:<blockquote>When I finished with LSE, Laski, of his own, gave me a letter of introduction for Panditji. On reaching Delhi I sought an appointment with the PM. I suppose, because I was an Indian student returning home from London, I was given a time-slot. It was here in Parliament House that he met me. We talked for a few minutes about London and things like that and I could soon see that it was time for me to leave. So I said goodbye and as I left the room I handed over the letter from Laski, and stepped out into the great circular corridor outside. When I was half way round, I heard the sound of someone clapping from the direction I had just come. I turned to see Panditji [Nehru] beckoning me to come back. He had opened the letter as I left his room and read it. [Nehru asked:] "Why didn't you give this to me earlier?" [and KRN replied:] "Well, sir, I am sorry. I thought it would be enough if I just handed it over while leaving." After a few more questions, he asked me to see him again and very soon I found myself entering the Indian Foreign Service.</blockquote>

*Ambassador to [[Thailand]] (1967–69)<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015020142348?urlappend=%3Bseq=1045%3Bownerid=13510798896005338-1345 |title=The Times of India directory and yearbook including who's who |publisher=The Times of India Press |year=1968 |location=Bombay |pages=1015|hdl=2027/mdp.39015020142348?urlappend=%3Bseq=1045 }}</ref>

of question on his relationship with the Left front in {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071126123748/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2005030308811100.htm&date=2005%2F03%2F03%2F&prd=th& "Narayanan criticises Vajpayee for Gujarat riots"]}}, ''The Hindu'', 10 November 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2006.</ref> Subsequently, he was recalled from retirement to serve as [[Indian Ambassador to the United States]] from 1980–84, under the [[Indira Gandhi]] administration.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015019997702?urlappend=%3Bseq=1227%3Bownerid=13510798896917782-1281 |title=The Times of India directory and year book including who's who |date=1983 |publisher=The Times of India Press |location=Bombay |pages=917 |hdl=2027/mdp.39015019997702?urlappend=%3Bseq=1227 |access-date=16 April 2024}}</ref> Narayanan's tenures as Indian ambassador to China, the first such high level Indian diplomatic posting in that country after the 1962 [[Sino-Indian War]], and to the USA where he helped arrange Ms. Gandhi's landmark 1982 visit to [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] during the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan presidency]] helped mend India's strained relations with both these countries.<ref>His [http://pib.myiris.com/speech/article.php3?fl=010508171719 speech] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060630093120/http://pib.myiris.com/speech/article.php3?fl=010508171719 |date=30 June 2006 }} at Peking University while on a state visit, briefly describes his vision of relations between India and China. (Retrieved 24 February 2006.) Narayanan spoke Chinese, and had a scholarly knowledge of Chinese culture and history, particularly the cultural exchanges between the two countries. His visit as President eased tensions that had developed with China after the [[Pokhran]] nuclear tests.</ref><ref>His [http://pib.myiris.com/speech/article.php3?fl=D33180 banquet speech] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060630093102/http://pib.myiris.com/speech/article.php3?fl=D33180 |date=30 June 2006 }} welcoming Bill Clinton to Rashtrapati Bhavan briefly describes his vision of relations between India and the USA. . Retrieved 24 February 2006.</ref> Nehru, who had also been the Minister for External Affairs during his 16 years as PM, held that K. R. Narayanan was "the best diplomat of the country."(1955)

Narayanan entered politics at the request of [[Indira Gandhi]] and won three successive general elections to the [[Lok Sabha]] in [[Indian general elections 1977-1999#1984|1984]], [[Indian general elections 1977-1999#1989|1989]] and [[Indian general elections 1977-1999#1991|1991]], as a representative of the [[Ottapalam]] constituency in [[Palakkad]], Kerala, on a [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] ticket.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 April 1993 |title=Ottapalam: Cong still looking for a candidate |url=https://books.google.co.incom/books?id=3YVlAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA13&dq=k%20r%20narayanan%20indian%20express+r+narayanan+indian+express&pg=PA13#v=onepage&q=k%20r%20narayanan%20indian%20express&f=false |access-date=16 April 2024 |work=[[Indian Express]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=20 June 2017 |title=K R Narayanan to Ram Nath Kovind, a tale of two dalit presidents |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/k-r-narayanan-to-ram-nath-kovind-a-tale-of-two-dalit-presidents/articleshow/59235831.cms?from=mdr |access-date=16 April 2024 |work=[[The Economic Times]] |via=[[Press Trust of India|PTI]]}}</ref> He was a [[Minister of State]] in the Union cabinet under [[Rajiv Gandhi]], holding the portfolios of Planning (1985), External Affairs (1985–86), and Science and Technology (1986–89).<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 August 1986 |title=Parliament stifles official report on Mrs. Gandhi's death |url=https://books.google.co.incom/books?id=UapWAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA14&dq=k+r+narayanan+external+affairs&pg=PA14&article_id=5507,5032173&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjIsO7fs8eFAxWrZWwGHbEOCuYQ6AF6BAgKEAI#v=onepage&q=k%20r%20narayanan%20external%20affairs&f=false |access-date=16 April 2024 |work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1 January 1995 |title=Rajiv Gandhi, New Cabinet Sworn In |url=https://books.google.co.incom/books?id=LAckAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA2&dq=k%20r%20narayanan%20external%20affairs+r+narayanan+external+affairs&pg=PA2#v=onepage&q=k%20r%20narayanan%20external%20affairs&f=false |access-date=16 April 2024 |work=Ocala Star-Banner}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=7 December 1988 |title=India's quest for re-usable space launch vehicles |url=https://books.google.co.incom/books?id=W4hlAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA10&dq=k%20r%20narayanan%20indian%20express&pg=PA10#v=onepage&q=india's%20quest%20for%20re27s+quest+for+re-usable%20space%20launch%20vehicles+space+launch+vehicles&fpg=falsePA10 |access-date=16 April 2024 |work=[[Indian Express]]}}</ref> As a [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]], he resisted international pressure to tighten patent controls in India. He sat in the opposition benches when the Congress was voted out of power during 1989–91. Narayanan was not included in the cabinet when the Congress returned to power in 1991. [[K. Karunakaran]], Congress [[Chief Minister of Kerala]], a political adversary of his,<ref name="ptt_int" /> informed him that he was not made a minister because of him being a "Communist [[Fellow traveller|fellow-traveller]]<ref name="ptt_int" />". He did not, however, respond when Narayanan pointed out that he had defeated Communist candidates<ref name="ptt_int" /> ([[A. K. Balan]] and [[Lenin Rajendran]], the latter twice) in all three elections.<ref name=ptt_int />

K. R. Narayanan was elected as the [[Vice-President of India|vice-president of India]] on 21 August 1992, under the presidency of [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]]. His name had been proposed initially by [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh|V. P. Singh]], former Primeprime Ministerminister and the then leader of the [[Janata Dal]] parliamentary party.<ref>{{Cite news |title=V P Singh roots for Narayanan to be made President |url=https://m.rediff.com/news/mar/28naraya.htm |access-date=16 April 2024 |work=Rediff}}</ref> The [[Janata Dal]] and the parliamentary left parties had jointly declared him as their candidate, and this had later garnered support from the Congress under [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]], leading to a [[unanimous]] decision on his election.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.abhilekh-patal.in/jspui/handle/123456789/3855095 |title=Swearing-in ceremony for the Vice-President-elect (Sh. K.R. Narayanan) |publisher=[[Ministry of Home Affairs]] |year=1992 |location=New Delhi |pages=37, 102 |access-date=16 April 2024 |via=[[National Archives of India]]}}</ref> On his relationship with the Left front, Narayanan later clarified<ref name="ptt_int" /> that he was neither a devotee nor a blind opponent of Communism; they had known of his ideological differences, but had supported him as vice-president (and later as president) because of special political circumstances that prevailed in the country. He had benefited from their support, and in turn, their political positions had gained acceptability. When the [[Babri Masjid]] was demolished on 6 December 1992, he described the event as the "greatest tragedy India has faced since [[Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi|the assassination of]] [[Mahatma Gandhi]]".<ref name="ram_int" />

;Appointment of the Primeprime minister and dissolution of Parliament

One of the coalition partners supporting the minority government (the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] under [[J. Jayalalithaa]]) wrote a letter to the President withdrawing support on 14 April 1999, and Narayanan advised Vajpayee to seek a [[vote of confidence]] in the Lok Sabha. This motion was defeated (17 April). Both Vajpayee and the [[Leader of the Opposition (India)|Leader of the Opposition]], Congress president [[Sonia Gandhi]], then staked claims to form the government. Narayanan asked the NDA and the Congress party to show proof of support since the loss of the confidence vote. When evidence from neither party was forthcoming, Narayanan informed the Prime ministerMinister that fresh elections seemed to be the only way to resolve the crisis in governance. The Lok Sabha was then dissolved at Vajpayee's advice<ref>K. R. Narayanan: {{cite web|url=http://alfa.nic.in/rb/pr119.htm |title=Rashtrapati Bhavan communique concerning the dissolution of the twelfth Lok Sabha |access-date=2017-04-03 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010220235512/http://alfa.nic.in/rb/pr119.htm |archive-date=20 February 2001 }}, 26 April 1999. Archived Feb. 2001.</ref> (26 April). (In the ensuing general elections, the NDA secured a majority and Vajpayee was reappointed Prime ministerMinister<ref>K. R. Narayanan: {{cite web|url=http://alfa.nic.in/rb/pr160.htm |title=Rashtrapati Bhavan communique concerning the appointment of the Prime minister |access-date=2017-04-03 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001012185035/http://alfa.nic.in/rb/pr160.htm |archive-date=12 October 2000 }}, 11 October 1999. Archived Oct. 2000</ref> (11 October 1999) in a straightforward manner.)