The President who dared: How K.R. Narayanan challenged caste and power

By Jag Jivan
As India continues to reflect on the legacy of its leaders, the name of Dr. K.R. Narayanan stands tall as a beacon of courage, integrity, and social justice. Born into a Dalit family in a thatched hut in Kerala in 1920, Dr. Narayanan rose from extreme poverty to become the 10th President of India – and the first from the Scheduled Castes.
His presidency wasn't ceremonial – it was transformative. One of the most defining moments of his tenure came when he returned a file recommending the appointment of 10 Supreme Court judges. His objection? Not a single nominee belonged to the SC, ST, OBC, or minority communities. His powerful question — “Why is there not even one judge from the marginalized communities?” — shook the corridors of power. It paved the way for the eventual appointment of Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, India's first Dalit Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Dr. Narayanan didn't stop there. He opposed the Vajpayee government's proposal to award Bharat Ratna to V.D. Savarkar. In another bold move, he rejected the Centre’s recommendation to impose President’s Rule in Uttar Pradesh. His principled stands made him one of the rare Presidents who used the power of the office to uphold constitutional morality.
Despite such a legacy, many in North India – particularly among SC, ST, and OBC communities – remain unaware of his contributions. His life disproves the narrative that Dalits were historically unfit for education or leadership. In fact, Dr. Narayanan completed his MA in English literature in first class in 1948 and later studied at the London School of Economics, where he finished a three-year course in just two years.
Upon returning to India, with a recommendation letter from LSE professor Harold Laski, he met Prime Minister Nehru, who appointed him to the Indian Foreign Service. Dr. Narayanan served as ambassador to several countries, including China and the United States, and later became the Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University and then India’s Vice President.
His early career was marred by caste discrimination. Despite academic excellence, he was denied a lecturer post at Maharaja’s College in Travancore simply because of his caste. Years later, he would address that same university as the Vice President of India, saying, “I don’t see any of those casteists here today who once denied me a job.”
In 1946, he met Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in Delhi, who helped him secure a position in the Foreign Office. This meeting marked the beginning of a career that would inspire generations of marginalized Indians.
During his presidency, there were even reports of a foiled attempt to poison him during a foreign trip, orchestrated allegedly by right-wing elements. Despite such threats, Dr. Narayanan continued to speak boldly for the downtrodden.
His refusal to run for a second term was perhaps a reflection of his unwillingness to compromise with the rising tide of majoritarianism and corporate servitude in Indian politics. He had contested and won the presidency as a general category candidate – a silent yet powerful assertion of his belief in equality.
Dr. K.R. Narayanan was not just a Dalit president – he was the people's president. He showed how the highest constitutional office could be a force for justice. His legacy calls upon today’s leaders, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, to rise with the same courage and clarity.
The present President – and indeed all in positions of power – would do well to learn from his example.

Comments

Grueling summer ahead: Cuttack’s alarming health trends and what they mean for Odisha

By Sudhansu R Das The preparation to face the summer should begin early in Odisha. People in the state endure long, grueling summer months starting from mid-February and extending until the end of October. This prolonged heat adversely affects productivity, causes deaths and diseases, and impacts agriculture, tourism and the unorganized sector. The social, economic and cultural life of the state remains severely disrupted during the peak heat months.

Concerns raised over move to rename MGNREGA, critics call it politically motivated

By A Representative Concerns have been raised over the Union government’s reported move to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), with critics describing it as a politically motivated step rather than an administrative reform. They argue that the proposed change undermines the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and seeks to appropriate credit for a programme whose relevance has been repeatedly demonstrated, particularly during times of crisis.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

MG-NREGA: A global model still waiting to be fully implemented

By Bharat Dogra When the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MG-NREGA) was introduced in India nearly two decades ago, it drew worldwide attention. The reason was evident. At a time when states across much of the world were retreating from responsibility for livelihoods and welfare, the world’s second most populous country—with nearly two-thirds of its people living in rural or semi-rural areas—committed itself to guaranteeing 100 days of employment a year to its rural population.

Why India must urgently strengthen its policies for an ageing population

By Bharat Dogra A quiet but far-reaching demographic transformation is reshaping much of the world. As life expectancy rises and birth rates fall, societies are witnessing a rapid increase in the proportion of older people. This shift has profound implications for public policy, and the need to strengthen frameworks for healthy and secure ageing has never been more urgent. India is among the countries where these pressures will intensify most sharply in the coming decades.

School job scam and the future of university degree holders in West Bengal

By Harasankar Adhikari The school recruitment controversy in West Bengal has emerged as one of the most serious governance challenges in recent years, raising concerns about transparency, institutional accountability, and the broader impact on society. Allegations that school jobs were obtained through irregular means have led to prolonged legal scrutiny, involving both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court of India. In one instance, a panel for high school teacher recruitment was ultimately cancelled after several years of service, following extended judicial proceedings and debate.

India’s Halal economy 'faces an uncertain future' under the new food Bill

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The proposed Food Safety and Standards (Amendment) Bill, 2025 marks a decisive shift in India’s food regulation landscape by seeking to place Halal certification exclusively under government control while criminalising all private Halal certification bodies. Although the Bill claims to promote “transparency” and “standardisation,” its structure and implications raise serious concerns about religious freedom, economic marginalisation, and the systematic dismantling of a long-established, Muslim-led Halal ecosystem in India.

Women’s rights alliance seeks NCW action against Nitish Kumar over public veil incident

By A Representative An alliance of women’s rights activists has urged the National Commission for Women (NCW) to initiate legal action against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over an incident at a public function in Patna that they allege amounted to a grave violation of a Muslim woman’s dignity and constitutional rights. In a detailed complaint dated December 18, the All India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA), part of the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), sought the NCW’s immediate intervention following an episode on December 15 during the distribution of appointment letters to newly recruited AYUSH doctors in Patna.

Search This Blog