PM Modi releases autobiography of former President Kovind
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A living chapter of India's constitutional history opened on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the autobiography of former President Ram Nath Kovind at a live event — a moment that brought together two of the country's most prominent political figures in a rare ceremonial setting. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma shared the live broadcast of the event, drawing attention to the occasion.
Kovind's journey from Kanpur's lanes to Rashtrapati Bhavan
Ram Nath Kovind served as India's 14th President from 2017 to 2022, making him one of the few leaders from the Scheduled Castes to hold the country's highest constitutional office in recent decades. Born in Uttar Pradesh, Kovind built his career in law before entering politics — a trajectory that the autobiography is expected to chronicle in his own words.
His presidency was marked by quiet constitutional stewardship during a period of significant political and social change in India. An autobiography in his own voice offers a rare first-person account of those years from inside Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Modi at the podium — a tradition of presidential honour
Prime Ministers attending book launches for former presidents is an established practice in Indian public life — part ceremony, part political recognition of constitutional roles that transcend party lines. Prime Minister Modi's presence at this release underscores the continuity of that tradition under the current BJP-led government.
The event was streamed live, making it accessible to a national audience — a signal that the autobiography is intended not just for political circles but for the wider reading public.