Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma was the ninth President of Indian Republic and served his tenure from 1992 to 1997. Prior to his presidency Dr.Sharma had been the 8th Vice President of India. He was born in the city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. He was a journalist and wrote on diverse topics, from history to literature, philosophy to comparative religions, and many more articles. He also held the portfolios of Education, Law, Public Works, National Resources, Separate Revenue, Industry and Commerce. Additionally, he was also a renowned freedom fighter who was actively involved in the Indian Freedom Movement and took part in various campaigns. After India’s independence, the Nawab of Bhopal expressed his wish to retain the Bhopal princely state as a separate unit. Dr. Sharma led public agitations against the Nawab in December 1948, leading to his arrest. Under public pressure, the Nawab later released him, and signed the agreement for merger with the Indian Union on 30th April 1949. In 1952, Dr. Sharma became the chief minister of the Bhopal state (1952-56) and served in that position until the state reorganization of 1956, when Bhopal state merged with several other states to form the state of Madhya Pradesh.