In memoriam: Kocheril Raman Narayanan
On August 15, 1997, the golden jubilee of Indian independence, then Prime Minister I K Gujral addressed the nation with these words: 'When Gandhiji dreamt of India's future, he said that the country would attain real freedom only on the day a Dalit would become President. This is our great fortune that today, in the person of Shri K R Narayanan, we have been able to fulfil Gandhiji's dream...'
It was indeed a dream. Born to a poor physician, the boy who had to walk 15 kilometres to school daily grew up to be the tenth President of the Indian Republic.
Kocheril Raman Narayanan is no more. But his story won't die in a hurry.
Image: Artist Sanjan Bhattacharya completing the official portrait of outgoing President K.R. Narayanan in New Delhi.
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