Birth Anniversary of Bharat Ratna Shri V.V. Giri

The nation and his hometown Berhampur pay tributes to Bharat Ratna Shri V.V. Giri on his birth anniversary today.

Varahagiri Venkata Giri (10 August 1894 – 23 June 1980), known as V. V. Giri, was the fourth President of the Republic of India. Born in Berhampur city of Odisha, Giri completed his education at Khallikote College, Berhampur and University College, Dublin, Ireland in 1916. Appointed India's High Commissioner to Ceylon in 1947, Giri became a Member of Parliament in 1951 and served as Union Minister for Labour under Prime Minister Nehru during 1952-1954. Having served as Governor of the states of Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Mysore between 1957 and 1967, he was elected Vice President of India in 1967. Following the death of President Zakir Hussain, Giri also served as Acting President of India from 3 May 1969 to 20 July 1969. In the Presidential election of 1969, he won as an independent candidate defeating Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, the nominee of the ruling Congress Party. V.V. Giri received India's highest civilian decoration, the Bharat Ratna, in 1975.