# Ramaswamy Venkataraman

_President of India from 1987 to 1992_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/ramaswamy-venkataraman
Last updated: 2026-10-21

> Ramaswamy Venkataraman, also known as R. Venkataraman, was an Indian lawyer, independence activist and politician who served as a union minister and as the vice president of india and president of India.
Venkataraman was born in Rajamadam village in Tanjore district, Madras Presidency. He studied law and practised in the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court of India. In his youth, he was an activist for the Indian independence movement, and he participated in the Quit India Movement. He was appointed as the member of the Constituent Assembly and the provisional cabinet. He was elected to the Lok Sabha four times and served as Union Finance Minister and Defence Minister. In 1984, he was elected as the vice president of India and in 1987, he became the president of India and served from 1987 to 1992. He also served as a state minister under K. Kamaraj and M. Bhaktavatsalam. He is referred to as the Father of Industrialisation of Tamilnadu

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 4 December 1910 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q297950#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Pattukkottai ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q297950#P19))
- **Died:** 27 January 2009 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q297950#P570))
- **Place of death:** New Delhi ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q297950#P20))
- **Citizenship:** India; British Raj ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q297950#P27))
- **Occupation:** lawyer; politician; autobiographer; judge ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q297950#P106))
- **Political party:** Indian National Congress ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q297950#P102))
- **Education:** Loyola College; University of Madras ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q297950#P69))
- **Spouse:** Janaki Venkataraman ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q297950#P26))
- **Positions held:** President of India (25 July 1987 – 25 July 1992); Vice President of India (31 August 1984 – 24 July 1987); Minister of Home Affairs (22 June 1982 – 2 September 1982); Minister of Defence (15 January 1982 – 2 August 1984); Minister of Finance (14 January 1980 – 15 January 1982); Member of the Lok Sabha; Member of the 7th Lok Sabha ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q297950#P39))
- **Awards:** Light of Truth Award ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q297950#P166))

## Questions

**When was Ramaswamy Venkataraman born?**  
Ramaswamy Venkataraman was born on 4 December 1910 in Pattukkottai.

**What positions has Ramaswamy Venkataraman held?**  
Positions held by Ramaswamy Venkataraman include: President of India (1987–1992); Vice President of India (1984–1987); Minister of Home Affairs (1982–1982); Minister of Defence (1982–1984); Minister of Finance (1980–1982).

**Where did Ramaswamy Venkataraman study?**  
Ramaswamy Venkataraman was educated at Loyola College, University of Madras.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Ramaswamy Venkataraman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramaswamy_Venkataraman) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q297950](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q297950) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Ramaswamy Venkataraman (2012 stamp of India) (cropped).jpg by India Post, Government of India (GODL-India)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ramaswamy_Venkataraman_(2012_stamp_of_India)_(cropped).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Ramaswamy Venkataraman, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Ramaswamy Venkataraman (2012 stamp of India) (cropped).jpg — India Post, Government of India, GODL-India.

## Cite this page

"Ramaswamy Venkataraman". DigiNepal. Last updated 21 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/ramaswamy-venkataraman. Retrieved 21 October 2026.