First President’s savings sermon for politicians

RAJENDRA PRASAD’S ACCOUNT IN PNB SHOWS RS 1745 AS TOTAL AMOUNT TILL DATE

INCREDIBLE INDIA HAS CHANGED. SO HAS THE POLITICAL WILL TO SERVE THE NATION.

July 2, 2011, Patna: At a time when civil society activists have taken the government by the collar to bring back black money stocked in Swiss banks, a paltry sum of Rs 1,745 in the bank account of Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, justifies the austerity, politicians back then, practiced.

The amount includes the bank interest, till date.

Recently, the debate over black money deposited in Swiss bank accounts took centrestage with civil activists like Anna Hazare and yoga televangelist Baba Ramdev giving clarion calls to bring back the black money deposited in Swiss banks.

Ramdev has even said that Indian money deposited in Switzerland, if distributed among the people of India, each citizen can get money in lakhs.

Dr Razi Ahmad, an eminent Gandhian, said: “The difference in the financial balance in bank accounts of Dr Rajendra Prasad and that of the present day politicians reflects the personality of Prasad with leaders of today.”

Ahmad added: “Prasad’s paltry saving is a tribute to his austerity and honesty in his private as well as public life. It seems our current politicians have completely forgotten the ideals Prasad stood for.” 

Prasad’s bank account bearing number “038000010030687” in Punjab National Bank on Exhibition Road was opened on October 24, 1962 after Prasad returned to Bihar serving as the President of India till May 23, 1962.

According to bank sources, if an account is non-functional for a period of one year it is declared dormant. However, Prasad’s account is still “alive”, as officials of the bank feel that it is an asset for the bank.

Prakash Chandra, the manager of the bank, said: “The account is an asset. We claim to be the proud banker of the first President of India.”