Pratibha Devisingh Patil ( pronunciation (helpinfo)) (born 19 December 1934) is an Indian politician

who served as the 12th President of India from 2007 to 2012; she was the first woman to hold the
office. She was sworn in as President on 25 July 2007, succeeding Abdul Kalam, after defeating her
rivalBhairon Singh Shekhawat. She retired from the office in July 2012. She was succeeded as
President by Pranab Mukherjee.[1]

Patil is a member of the Indian National Congress (INC) and was nominated for the presidency by
the governing United Progressive Alliance and Indian Left.
Pratibha Devisingh Patil is the daughter of Narayan Rao Patil. [2] She was born on 19 December 1934
in the village of Nadgaon, in the Jalgaon district ofMaharashtra, India. She was educated initially at
RR Vidyalaya, Jalgaon and subsequently was awarded a Masters degree in Political Science and
Economics by Mooljee Jetha College, Jalgaon, and then a Bachelor of Law degree by Government
Law College, Mumbai. Patil then began to practice law at the Jalgaon District Court, while also
taking interest in social issues such as improving the conditions faced by Indian women. [3]
Patil married Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat on 7 July 1965. The couple have a son and a
daughter.[2]

Pratibha Patil's term as the President of India saw various controversies. [12] For example, during her
term as president, Patilcommuted the death sentences of 35 petitioners to life, a record among
them are those convicted of mass murder, kidnapping, rape and killing of children. The Presidential
office, however, defended this by saying that the President had granted clemency to the petitioners
after due consideration and examining the advice of the Home Ministry.[13][14]
Patil was noted for having spent more money on foreign trips, and having taken a greater number of
foreign trips, than any prior president.[15]

Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil is the twelfth President of India and the first
woman to be appointed to India's highest constitutional office. A former
member of the Indian National Congress Party, Smt. Pratibha Patil created
history when she succeeded Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to become the first
woman President of India. A lawyer by profession, she has also served the

post of Governor of Rajasthan. But that is not all. In her 28 years long political
career, Pratibha Patil has held several impressive ministerial portfolios, from
being the deputy minister of education to being the minister of social welfare,
tourism, and housing. With every position, Smt. Pratibha Patil has proved her
spunk and it is due to her extraordinary political career that she was appointed
as the President of India. Pratibha Patil got the motivation to step in the
politics from her father. With her determination, deeds and service, she etched
a name for herself in the glorious pages of Indian history that will be
remembered and revered in the days to come. Know all about her life, work,
and achievements in the write-up below.

Contribution
She has played a very important role in the development of India and for the
welfare of women and children and the neglected sections of the society. She
set up various institutions for the progress of them. She established hostels
for working women in Mumbai and Delhi, an Engineering College at Jalgaon
for rural youth, the Shram Sadhana Trust that is involved in several welfare
activities for the advancement of women. She also set up an Industrial
Training School in Jalgaon for the visually handicapped children, schools for
poor children of Vimukta Jatis (Nomadic Tribes) and Backward class children
in Amravati District. Moreover, she has opened a Krishi Vigyan Kendra
(Farmer's Training Centre) at Amravati, Maharashtra. She played a
revolutionary role in the foundation of Mahila Vikas Mahamandal, in which
Maharashtra State Government is responsible for the development of women.
She was also involved in organizing music, computer and sewing classes for
the poor and needy women at Amravati, Maharashtra.

President Prathiba Patil meets the 16th Asian Games champions in New Delhi.

In November 08, she was on a 10-day visit to Vietnam, Indonesia as a part of 'Look East'
policy initiative to expand bilateral ties with ASEAN neighbours. She had a 4-day stay in
Vietnam where she met with various Heads of Vietnam. She visited the Vietnam Museum of
Natural History in Ho Chi Minh City. Speaking at thedinner hosted in her honour by Chairman
of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Le Hoang Quan, she said that the foundation of the
friendship between India and Vietnam remains as solid as ever, amidst the changing world
around. Her visit is likely to bring before the Vietnam leadership about some of
theoutstanding issues of Indian industry, including the issue of TATA Steel with respect to the
allotment of land in Vietnam's Ha Tinh province and the need for granting visas to Indian
business visitors.

In September 08, she contributed a months salary to the Prime Ministers National Relief
Fund to help the victims of Bihar floods.

After information about the Mumbai attacks, she has cut short her visit to Indonesia and
headed to Mumbai to visit relatives of the police officials and survivors.

On June 5, 2009, she said that India is committed to contributing to the global endeavour
to deal with climate change.

President Patil greeted the countrymen on the occasion of Dussehra festival. She
eve participated in the celebrations of Ramlila where a drama based on the life of Lord Rama

.....is staged.

India's decennial Census Operation and preparation for the first ever National Population
Register was launched with the enumeration of President Patil on April 1, 2010.

In February 2010, Patil congratulated master blaster Sachin Tendulkar for his grand double
achievement in the Gwalior One-Day International Cricket match against South Africa.

In February 2010, the President greeted the nation on the eve of Holi and Milad-un-Nabi.
She paid homage to the Indians who died in the Kabul suicide attack.

In March 2010, Prince Philippe of Belgium, who was on a state visit to India to cement
bilateral ties, met President Pratibha Devisingh Patil.

In mid-March 2010, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met President Pratibha Patil as he
began his New Delhi visit eyeing upon boosting strategic and defence ties with India.

In March 2010, she greeted the nation on the auspicious occasion of Rama Navami. She
greeted the women across the country and conveyed her best wishes to them for their
continued success on the eve of International Womens Day.

Patil conferred Padma Awards to Nobel laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Oscarwinning music director A. R. Rehman and veteran theatre artiste Zohra Sehgal.

In April 2010, Patil conferred two Kirti Chakras and twenty five Shaurya Chakras to armed
forces personnel for their exemplary courage. She awarded the Shaurya Chakra to three
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officials during a ceremony held in Ashoka Hall of
Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Inaugurating the Action Cancer Hospital in April 2010, the President urged the corporate
world to contribute to the welfare of the deprived and the disadvantaged sections of the
society.

She took the initiative of having a crhche meant for the benefit of children of
labourers working inRashtrapati Bhavan. It was inaugurated by Chachimma Christy, the
spouse of the Secretary to the President, Dr. Christy Fernandez.

On April 9, 2010, Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, called President Patil to discuss
issues likely to come up in the upcoming session of Parliament.

Madam President was convinced that there was great potential for growth in India-China
relations, following her meetings with the Chinese leadership during her five-day visit to the
Peoples Republic of China.

In June 2010, seven envoys of different countries presented their credentials to the President
at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

During June 2010, the Vice President of Botswana, Lieutenant General Mompati Sebogodi
Merafhe made a four-day visit to India. He interacted with Captains of Indian Industry and
attend a state banquet at Hyderabad House. Later, Merafhe met President Patil.

South African President Jacob Zuma made a three-day visit to India and met President Patil.

On August 1, 2010, she condoled the death of Malayala Manorama Chief Editor K M
Mathew, who breathed his last at his residence in Kottayam.

On August 11, 2010, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, called on Patil at Rashtrapati
Bhavan anddiscussed issues of national and international significance.

On August 15, 2010, she conferred Certificate of Honour to 15 scholars of Sanskrit, one from
Sanskrit (International), two from Persian and three from Arabic languages for the year 2010
on the occasion of the 64th Independence Day.

On August 24, 2010 she met a number of children at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of
Raksha Bandhan.

On August 26, 2010, Mrs Patil unveiled an updated edition of Mother Teresa's biography on
the occasion of her 100th birth anniversary.