Varahagiri Venkata Giri (August 10, 1894 - June 23, 1980), commonly known as V. V. Giri, was the fourth president of the Republic of India (August 24, 1969 - August 23, 1974).
He was born in Berhampore in the Ganjam district in Orissa. In 1913 went to University College Dublin to study law, but was expelled from Ireland in 1916 after becoming involved with the Sinn Féin movement and came in close contact with De Valera, Collins, Pearee, Desmond Fitzgerald, MacNeil, Connolly and others. Upon returning to India, he became heavily involved in the labour movement, becoming general secretary and then president of the All-India Railwaymen's Federation and twice serving as president of the All-India Trade Union Congress. Giri first entered politics in 1937 when he became minister of labour and industries for the Congress Party government formed in Madras State. When the Congress governments resigned in 1942, he returned to the labour movement as part of the "quit India" movement and was imprisoned by the British.
After India gained independence, he was first appointed high commissioner to Ceylon and then successfully ran for parliament in 1952, serving as minister of labour until resigning in 1954. Over the next decade, he served as governor of Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Mysore, largely ceremonial positions, before being elected vice president in 1967. Giri became acting president of India in 1969 after the death of Zakir Hussain and decided to run for the position in the ensuing election. The Congress Party chose to support Indira Gandhi for the position, but he was able to prevail anyway, serving until 1974. He received the Bharat Ratna in 1975.
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Last updated: 10-11-2005 21:03:00
