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Known for dignity and fairplay, Ramaswamy Venkataraman, popularly known as RV, will go down in history as the President who had the distinction of working with four prime ministers, appointing three of them--V P Singh, Chandrashekhar and P V Narasimha Rao-- during his five-year term.
He was chosen for the top post when late Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister but some comments made by him a decade ago at the height of BJP's ascendancy in national politics earned him the wrath of Congress.
Elevated from Vice Presidency, Venkataraman succeeded Zail Singh, who had given some anxious moments to Rajiv Gandhi with reported threats of dismissing the government.
The stint of Venkataraman, the country's eighth President who held office from July 25, 1987, coincided with the period when the Indian electorate threw up a fractured mandate and politically the country was yet to accept coalition governments as a means of governance.
A lawyer by profession and an intellectual, Venkataraman, a die-hard Congressman from Tamil Nadu did have a testing time as never before the tenure of an Indian President been so eventful, thorny and also challenging.
The trying times demanded RV's decisions on a gamut of tricky constitutional and political issues-- Sri Lankan crisis, Bofors Gun deal, assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, Stock Scam and the Defamation Bill.
Steeped in the Gandhi-Nehru tradition, Venkataraman had propounded the theory that the President in the Indian context was like the 'emergency light' which automatically came on when the normal flow of power was broken and went out after normal working was restored.
Venkataraman had also made a conscious suggestion for establishing a national government during a fractured verdict.
There were repeated controversies on the role of Governors, questions relating to the split and disqualification of members in Parliament even as debate surfaced from time to time on the discretionary powers of the president-- several constitutional issues that have normally eluded answers.
In fact, these thorny subjects set the stage for his biography 'My Presidential Years' published after he relinquished office.
Again, ever since out of office RV chose to make news a number of times suggesting drastic constitutional amendments and major changes in the country's political chessboard.
All these - he preferred to speak up despite the fact that Venkataraman himself has been the member of constituent assembly that drafted country's constitution.
Once at a function attended among others by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he spoke against coalition form of government and mooted the idea that the Constitution should be framed in a manner to have two-party governance. "We should find means by which splinter parties do not enter Parliament and ruin democracy," he had said.
Another time RV suggested a national government consisting of all the parties in the Lok Sabha in order to ensure political stability. He made the first proposal in 1991 and Narasimha Rao's closer ties with BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee only fuelled speculations for such a possibility.
He made yet another suggestion, which later looked quite relevant. He suggested constitutional amendment to provide in the Rules of Procedure of the Lok Sabha that a motion of no confidence against the ministry should in the same motion name the Prime Minister to succeed the present incumbent if the motion carries.
President Patil condoles Venkataraman's death
President Pratibha Patil expressed deep condolences over the demise of former President R Venkataraman.
In her message, Patil said the nation has lost a true patriot and distinguished luminary. The 98-year old former President, who was admitted to the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) on January 12 with complaints of Urosepsis (a toxic condition caused by the extravasation of urine into bodily tissues), breathed his last at 1430 hours.
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we all faculty members of SHRI GURU RAVIDAS SEWA DAL distt.MANSA from PUNJAB gives their condolence on the passing away of shri r venkataraman (the vice president of india), but he is still alive among us with a great working power and strength.
A great personality of Tamil Nadu passed away. I cannot forget my last talk with him in the year 2006 at Malai Mandir in New Delhi. Inspite of his ripe age, he was kind to stop by and spent a few minutes with me. It is a great loss to the nation. The Indian industry would always remember him. He was the architect of the industrial estate in Guindy, Chennai. May the departed soul rest in peace.
Congress party will definitely do what it did to PVNarasimha Rao. But the public feel they have lost a man worth mourning for .I join them
Truly a sad loss to the BJP
R.Venkataraman was a dignified politician ,and was responsble for establishing a number of industries in Tamilnadu. May his soul rest in peace.
Today india has really lost a jewel(diamond), let his soul rest in peace
heart felt condolonce to one of the clean politician and former president of india shri R.Venkatraman demise. may his soul rest in peace
28TH JAN. SHOULD BE DECLARED A NATIONAL HOLIDAY TO MOURN THE LATE PRESIDENT'S DEATH. ALL SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES TO BE CLOSED AS A MARK OF RESPECT.
With full respect to him as a high ranking leader I must add that he was a pseudo sikular congress stooge.Truth can be bitter.Fortunately he served during the formative years of the BJP.
May the Giver of Life grant eternal rest to our late former President RV.
Our deepest condolence to His Family members.Our hon'ble former president was belongs to our village RAJAMADAM near Pattukkotai. My husband was one among the best friend to him here.
Our entire Family Was shocked to heared. Our hon'ble former president was belongs to our hamlet RAJAMADAM near Pattukkottai. My husband was his one among the best friend here.Our Deepest Condolence to his family members
he was a great man and a great leaderwill there be a government holiday??
very sorry to hear the bad news of raman i pray god to give peace
Always he was thinking of the Nation's development only.During his tenure as President he did his job which was appreciated by all the itellectuals.After leaving the office, if his advice and suggessions were followed bythe rulers with out the ego many good things would have done to the Nation.His demise is a heavy loss for the Nation.TamilNadu people will never forget his role in development of industries in the state.
The moment one thinks of President of India first thing that comes to the mind is a dignified person, sans any controversial statements/actions, holding the office in highest tradition of India’s first citizen. All the Presidents of India left a lasting impact in public. R. Venkataraman is no exception to these unwritten and unspoken rules. In most difficult and testing times of Indian democracy he held the office. It is high time Indian democracy tried some of the suggestions he made in the context of single party not winning parliamentary elections with majority. The same can save political instability, electoral expenses of millions of taxed rupees that are burden not only to the tax payers but also to all citizens of country. Former President R. Venkataraman is no more but, long live the President of India.
His soul may rest in the peaceMay his path teach some lessons to present leaders
He was legendary Politician and true congressman. A gandhian chaper is closed. My deep condolences for this son of mother India.
a man with real decency and we can say he is a pioneer in coalition politics in india,and he is the one who used to raise the voice of common man,say he once told,if he is a dictator he would revamp the education system since he believed education is a good business today,let us pray his soul rest in peace
Losing a stateman like RV is a great loss to our mother country INDIA. He brought Tamil Nadu under the industry belt during his days as Industry Minister of Tamil Nadu.
He was a very Good Leader. and a Gandhian
we deeply condole the death of Hon'ble R.Venkataraman.He lived for 98 years of healthy life.He practised all along in life pure vegetarian food habits which made him calm quite and peaceful in life for him as well as for others who were in his contact.The Indian Vegetarian Congress condoles and pray god let her soul rest in Peace.
Condolence : RV was a great leader who guided the indian politics in crucial period of dirty politics.He was also a Trade Union leader of madras trom car employees association. In fact he was one of the persons suitable for PM post. My deepest condolence to the a leader of dignity and pride. We lost a legendary politician, a true statesman and a Gandhian. .Had his suggestion was implemented, too many parties were not seen in Lok Sabha e.g. RJD, RLD, Shiv Sena, SP and other fanatics. I agree with all the above.
I was shocked to know about his death.I will prey God that "HIS SOUL MAY REST IN THE PEACE"
The rapid progress in industrialisation in Tamil Nadu is due to seeds shown by Mr. Venkatraman those days. He was the trade Union Leader. Realising his potential, Late Kamaraj choosen him for key posts and later by Mrs. Indira Gandhi. His period was contrast from the present day bafoony, criminal and caste based politicians.