V.V. Giri was India’s first High Commissioner to Ceylon (Sri Lanka). He held the position from 1947 to 1951. In the first general election of independent India in 1951, he was elected from the Pathapatnam Lok Sabha Constituency, in the Madras State.
On being elected to Parliament, Giri was appointed minister of labour in 1952. In 1954, he resigned from his cabinet position as the government opposed his famous ‘Giri Approach’.
From June 1956-1960, he served as Governor of Uttar Pradesh, from 1960-1965, he was Governor of Kerala and from 1965-1967, he served as Governor of Karnataka.
Giri was elected the third Vice President of India on 13th May 1967, a post he held for nearly two years till 3rd May, 1969. Giri was the first Vice President not to complete his full term in office, on account of being elevated to the office of the President, and was the third Vice President to be elected to the presidency.
As an Acting President, he promulgated the ordinance that nationalized 14 banks and insurance companies. Later, Giri was sworn in as President of India on 24th August 1969, and held office till 24th August 1974.
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