Sri Prakasa Biography 
Sri Prakasa was a prominent administrator who served as India's first High Commissioner to Pakistan from 1947 to 1949. He has also acted as governor to the states of Assam, Bombay and Madras. He was an active politician and a leader of India’s freedom struggle movement. He has also served as cabinet minister. Indian government honoured him with Padma Vibhushan in the year 1957. He was imprisoned during Quit India Movement from 1942 to 1944.
Sri Prakasa was born on August 3, 1890 in Varanasi. He had his schooling at Varanasi and graduated from Cambridge. In his early days, he participated in the Indian independence movement. After Indian independence, he was appointed as India's first High Commissioner to Pakistan where he served during the period - 1947 to 1949. Communal riots were common in those days and he had to deal with Indian refugees as well. He represented India's diplomatic interests during Pakistan's invasion of Kashmir. Sri Prakasa served as the Governor of Assam from February 16, 1949 to May 27, 1950. During his tenure, he secured the accession of Manipur.
He served as the Governor of Madras from 1952 to 1956. It was during this time when he invited C. Rajagopalachari to form a Congress government in the state, despite having majority. However, Rajagopalachari resigned in two years due to strong opposition to his leadership among party members. He had to face serious criticisms for this process as well. Prakasa served as the Governor of Bombay from 1956 to 1962. He was honoured with Padma Vibhushan in the year 1957. Sri Prakasa died in 1971 at the age of 80.
Published: N/A
Updated: February 11, 2014
