Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat

Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat Biography

Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat is an Indian politician and the former first ‘First Gentleman’ of India. The husband of former President of India, Pratibha Patil he is the only male to decorate this position. He was in this role during 25 July 2007 – 25 July 2012, when his wife Pratibha Patil served as the first and only female President of the country. Noted Congress politician and former MLA Raosaheb Shekhawat is their son. The couple has one more daughter too. He was the principal of the school, Vidya Bharati Shikshan Sanstha before he became ‘First Gentleman’ of India. He also owns a successful political career and has served as the mayor of Amravati (1991-1992) and also MLA from the same constituency in the 1980s.

Dr. Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat hails from Amravati, Maharashtra. He was a Chemistry lecturer when he married Pratibha Patil in 1965. The couple has two children. He took PhD from the University of Bombay in 1972. An academician he got into politics in the 1980s, and has also served as mayor of Amravati in the early 1990s. Both Devisingh and his wife are active members of Indian National Congress. He got elected to Maharashtra state assembly for the first time in 1985. He represented Amravati constituency during the period 1985-1990 for a term of 5 years representing INC.

Soon after he was elected as the mayor of Amravati in 1991 and he served in this position for next one year. He unsuccessfully contested state assembly elections in 1995 from Amravati, and he faced a huge loss. He even lost his deposit. After he became the first ‘First Gentleman’ of India, he was accused of mentally harassing Kisan Dhage, a teacher in a school run by Vidya Prasarak Shiksan Mandal in Buldana district, and he committed suicide.

Published: February 27, 2019

Updated: February 27, 2019