Pratibha Patil (born 19 December 1934) is an Indian politician and lawyer who served as the 12th President of India from 2007 to 2012. She was the first woman to hold the office. Before that she had spent more than four decades in public life as a Maharashtra minister, Member of Parliament and Governor of Rajasthan, where she was also the first woman in the role.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Pratibha Devisingh Patil |
| Born | 19 December 1934, Nadgaon, Jalgaon district, Maharashtra, India |
| Age | 91 |
| Office | 12th President of India (2007–2012) |
| Previous office | Governor of Rajasthan (2004–2007) |
| Party | Indian National Congress |
| Education | MA (Political Science and Economics); LLB, Government Law College, Mumbai |
| Spouse | Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat (d. 2023) |
| Children | Jyoti Rathore, Rajendra Singh Shekhawat |
Early Life
Pratibha Patil was born in Nadgaon in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district. She studied political science and economics in Jalgaon and law at Government Law College in Mumbai. As a student she was a table tennis champion. She practised law in Jalgaon before entering politics.
Political Career
At 27, Patil was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from Jalgaon in 1962. She went on to win several consecutive elections from Edlabad. She held ministries including public health, social welfare, education and tourism, and she served as Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly.
Patil entered the Rajya Sabha in 1985 and served as its Deputy Chairperson. In 1991 she was elected to the Lok Sabha from Amravati. In 2004 she became the first woman Governor of Rajasthan.
In 2007 the UPA nominated Patil for President, and she defeated Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. She was sworn in on 25 July 2007 as India’s first woman President. In 2009 she flew in a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet, becoming one of the first women heads of state to fly in a combat aircraft. She completed her term in 2012 and was succeeded by Pranab Mukherjee.
Personal Life
Patil married Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat, an educationist and former Mayor of Amravati, in 1965. He died in February 2023. They have a daughter, Jyoti, and a son, Rajendra, who has also been a legislator. Patil has long been involved in educational institutions and women’s welfare organisations in Maharashtra.
Key Offices Held
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Pratibha Patil born?
Pratibha Patil was born on 19 December 1934 in Nadgaon, Jalgaon district, Maharashtra, India.
