Early Life and Education

Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was born on May 19, 1913, in Illur village, Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, into a Telugu-speaking Hindu peasant family. He received his early education at the Theosophical High School in Adyar, Madras, and later attended the Government Arts College in Anantapur. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi‘s visit in 1929, Reddy left college in 1931 and joined India’s freedom struggle. He actively participated in the Quit India Movement and endured multiple imprisonments between 1940 and 1945.

Political Career

Reddy began his political career in 1946 when he won a seat in the Madras Legislative Assembly as a Congress candidate. From 1949 to 1951, he served as Minister for Prohibition, Housing, and Forests in the Madras State. In 1951, he took over as President of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee. After Andhra State was formed in 1953, he assumed office as Deputy Chief Minister under T. Prakasam. In 1956, when Andhra Pradesh was newly created, he became its first Chief Minister.

Reddy held several key roles in the Indian National Congress. Between 1960 and 1962, he served as the party’s President. In 1964, the government appointed him as Union Minister of Steel and Mines. Later, from 1966 to 1967, he led the Ministry of Transport, Civil Aviation, Shipping, and Tourism.

Presidency

In 1969, Reddy contested the presidential election as the official candidate of the Congress Party, but he lost to V. V. Giri, who received support from Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. After taking a brief break from politics, he returned in 1975 and joined the Janata Party. In the 1977 general elections, he became the only non-Congress candidate to win a seat from Andhra Pradesh. He briefly served as Speaker of the Lok Sabha before he became the sixth President of India in July 1977—he was the only person in Indian history to be elected President unopposed.

During his presidency (1977–1982), Reddy earned a reputation for upholding constitutional norms and demonstrating political neutrality, especially in the volatile period after the Emergency.

Legacy

Neelam Sanjiva Reddy died on June 1, 1996, in Bangalore at the age of 83. He left behind a legacy that includes his contributions to India’s freedom movement, his leadership in the formation and development of Andhra Pradesh, and his presidency defined by integrity and impartiality. To honor his service, officials named the Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy Stadium in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, after him.

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