New Delhi [India], December 3 (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi paid tribute to the first President of India Dr Rajendra Prasad on his birth anniversary on Saturday.

The Congress leader also quoted a speech of the first President, who on November 26, 1949, the day the Constitution of India was formally adopted by the Constituent Assembly, had said: "Successful working of democratic institutions requires in those who have to work them - willingness to respect the viewpoints of others, capacity for compromise and accommodation.""Humble tributes to the great freedom fighter, eminent scholar, visionary leader, and the first President of India, Bharat Ratna Dr Rajendra Prasad, on his birth anniversary," Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet.

Earlier, President Droupadi Murmu paid floral tributes to Dr Rajendra Prasad on his birth anniversary at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar remembered the former President on his birth anniversary and said he had played a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of the country.

"Remembering former President Dr Rajendra Prasad on his birth anniversary. One of the chief architects of modern India, Dr Rajendra Prasad played a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of our nation. He will always be remembered for his simplicity, integrity and compassion for all," the Vice President tweeted.

Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid rich tribute to India's first President Dr Rajendra Prasad on his birth anniversary and called him a legendary leader who epitomized courage and scholarly zeal.

The Prime Minister said Prasad was firmly rooted in India's culture and also had a futuristic vision for the country's growth.

"Remembering Dr Rajendra Prasad Ji on his birth anniversary. A legendary leader, he epitomized courage and scholarly zeal. He was firmly rooted in India's culture and also had a futuristic vision for India's growth," said Modi in a tweet.

Born in 1884 in Bihar, Rajendra Prasad was the first President of India from 1950 to 1962.

He was a politician and lawyer by training, who joined the Indian National Congress during the Independence Movement.

He was an avid supporter of Mahatma Gandhi and was imprisoned by British authorities during the Salt Satyagraha of 1931 and the Quit India movement of 1942.

All India Radio will be broadcasting the annual Edition of the Rajendra Prasad Memorial Lecture on Saturday, December 3, 2022, in memory of Prasad.

The lecture series from AIR has been a tradition since 1969. In the past, former President Dr Shankardayal Sharma, former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, former Vice President M.Venkaiah Naidu, besides doyens of Indian literature like Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, Mahadevi Verma, Harivansh Rai Bachchan are among those who have delivered this prestigious memorial lecture on wide-ranging subjects on India's cultural ethos and its strides.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will deliver the address this year from 9.30 pm onwards across the entire network. The lecture will be telecast on Doordarshan from 10.30 pm onwards on the same day as has been done every year.

The theme of the year is "Amrit Kaal Mein Bhartiyata" which will coincide with the 75 years of India's independence. (ANI)