President Kovind, PM Modi/File Image
President Ram Nath Kovind turned 73 on Monday. He was born on October 1, 1945 in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. He was the governor of Bihar before being elected as India's 14th president.
Kovind, who has been described variously as low profile, unassuming and affable, had an easy win to the country's highest constitutional post, securing more than 65 per cent of the votes in the electoral college.
On being sworn in as the president, Kovind knew the top post wil bring with it constant scrutiny that comes with being the country's first citizen. He was picked for the job by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) from Raj Bhavan in Patna, where he had struck an easy working relationship with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Kovind is married and has a son and a daughter. It was a measure of his public persona that though his wife Savita was by his side during the weeks of campaigning, his children were not seen much or written about.
President Kovind is a commerce graduate who also studied law at Kanpur University, practised in the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court. He was also the central government's standing counsel in the apex court from 1980-93.
As an advocate, Kovind took the lead in providing free legal aid to weaker sections, especially the SC/ST women, and poor and needy girls under the aegis of the Free Legal Aid Society in Delhi.
Known for his work in the field of education, he served as a member on the board of management of the Dr BR Ambedkar University, Lucknow, and was a member of the board of governors of the Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata.
