Which was V.V. Giri’s birth place?

               Varahagiri Venkata Giri was born in Berhampur in the present Ganjam district of Odisha on 10th August 1894. His father, V.V. Jogayya Pantulu, was a prominent lawyer and political activist while his mother, Subhadramma, was active in the national movement as well. He completed his initial education at the Khallikote College in Berhampur.

               In 1913, he went to Ireland to study law at the University College, Dublin. The same year, Giri met Gandhiji who influenced him deeply, and finally made him realize that the freedom struggle was far more important than studying law. At college, Giri became involved with the Sinn Fein movement, which led to his expulsion from Ireland in 1916, leaving him unable to complete his law degree.

               Upon returning to India, he also became a member of the Congress party. In 1920, he participated in Mahatma Gandhi’s non-cooperation movement. In 1926, he was elected president of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC). In 1942, he was imprisoned again for participating in the Quit India Movement.

               In May 1967, he was elected the third Vice President of India and remained in office for the next two years. After the death of the then President Zakir Husain, V.V. Giri became the Acting President and later, the President of India.

Picture credit: google