Giani Zail Singh remembered

NEW DELHI:The 100th birth anniversary celebrations of former President Giani Zail Singh were held at Rashtrapati Bhavanrsquos durbar hall here today

Updated At : 07:19 AM May 06, 2016 IST

Giani Zail Singh’s daughter Manjeet Kaur presents a book to President Pranab Mukherjee as Vice-President Hamid Ansari and ex-PM Manmohan Singh look on in New Delhi. Manas Ranjan Bhui

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 5

The 100th birth anniversary celebrations of former President Giani Zail Singh were held at Rashtrapati Bhavan’s durbar hall here today. President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice-President Hamid Ansari and former PM Manmohan Singh paid tributes and recalled their association with the 7th President.

A book titled ‘Fragrant Recollections’ and a documentary film on the life of Giani Zail Singh were also released on the occasion. India’s first Sikh President was born in Faridkot district of Punjab on May 5, 1916. Giani Zail Singh served as Punjab Chief Minister and Union Home Minister before he was appointed President in 1982.

Mukherjee recalled Zail Singh’s knowledge of Indian history, culture and civilisation and said: “I knew him as Chief Minister, Home Minister and President and spent many pleasant moments with him.” Appreciating his tenure as Chief Minister, former PM Manmohan Singh said: “He was very successful and as Chief Minister made tremendous contribution to Punjab.”