President Murmu Pays Floral Tributes to Former President V.V. Giri on His Birth Anniversary

President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, paid floral tributes to Shri V.V. Giri, the fourth President of India, on his birth anniversary at Rashtrapati Bhavan today, according to a press release from the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

The tribute is part of an annual tradition observed at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the sitting President honours the memory of past occupants of the office on their birth anniversaries.

Who Was V.V. Giri?

Varahagiri Venkata Giri served as the fourth President of India, succeeding Zakir Husain, and held office from August 24, 1969, to August 24, 1974. He had earlier served as the country's Vice-President from 1967 to 1969 before rising to the presidency.

Giri holds a unique distinction in Indian political history: he remains the only person to have been elected President as an independent candidate, a fact that reflected the broad, cross-party acceptability he commanded at the time.

Born on August 10, 1894, in Berhampur, Odisha, Giri emerged as a significant figure in India's political landscape, particularly known for his deep involvement in the labour movement and his advocacy for workers' rights. He completed his early education in India before travelling to Ireland to study law and social science at University College Dublin, where he also became involved in the Irish freedom movement, an experience that shaped his lifelong commitment to labour and social justice causes. On returning to India, he threw himself into the freedom struggle.

A Career Rooted in Labour Rights

A trained lawyer, Giri remained closely associated with India's labour and trade union movement throughout his career and served as the Union Minister of Labour from 1952 to 1954. He championed a consultative approach between management and workers to resolve industrial disputes, an approach that came to be known as the "Giri approach" to industrial dispute resolution.

Before becoming President, Giri also served as governor of three states, giving him wide administrative experience across different regions of the country. His presidency was marked by significant developments in India, including the nationalisation of banks and the abolition of privy purses.

In recognition of his contributions, Giri was awarded Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in 1975.

Today's Observance

Today's floral tribute at Rashtrapati Bhavan follows the same format as in previous years, with the President and Rashtrapati Bhavan officials laying flowers in remembrance of Giri's service to the nation.