Giani Zail Singh, the late President of India, was born on May 5, 1916 in village Sandhwan in the erstwhile Princely State of Faridkot in Punjab. He learnt the essence of the Indian ethos through the study of Hindu, Muslim and Sikh scriptures. At the young age of 15, Gianiji entered the arena of the freedom struggle. From an ordinary rural lad he soon became an ardent champion of India's fight for emancipation from the feudal and the foreign yoke. He joined the Riyasti Praja Mandai in 1938 and formed a branch of the Congress Conunittee in Faridkot. He was physically assaulted by the Maharaja's Police, was arrested and in a sham trial was imprisoned for 5 years. Subjected to various types of torture, Giani Zail Singh did not yield his self respect and refused to apologize.

In April 1946, Gianiji launched a Satyagrah Movement. Pt. Jawharlal Nehru visited Faridkot and led a mass of people with Gianiji in the vanguard to hoist the tricolour. Gianiji declared an open revolt against the feudal rule and set up a parallel Government.

Gianiji was sworn in as a Minister in the first PEPSU Government in 1946, and was unanimously elected President of the PEPSU Congress in 1955. He became a Member of the Rajya Sabha in 1956 and in 1962, after being elected Member of the Punjab Assembly, he became a Minister in the State. In 1966, he was unanimously elected  President  of  the  Punjab Pradesh Congress and in 1972 became the Chief Minister of Punjab. After being elected to the Lok Sabha in 1979 he was included in Smt. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister's cabinet as Home Minister.

In 1982 Gianiji took oath as the Seventh President of the Republic. He was a champion of national unity and stood steadfastly on the principle of secularism. His orgins were humble, but his achievements were remarkable. He won the hearts of the masses and was described as the President of the People. He passed away on December 25, 1994 after meeting with an unfortunate road accident while returning from Anandpur Sahib to Chandigarh.

The Department of Post is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp in honour of the late Giani Zail Singh.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India