Rijiju at Kovind autobiography launch: resilience that shaped a Republic
Synopsis
Former President Ram Nath Kovind's autobiography 'Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Life, My Struggles' was released at an event attended by PM Modi and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who framed Kovind's journey from a Dalit background in UP to Rashtrapati Bhavan as a story of national resilience.
Key Takeaways
Ram Nath Kovind , India's 14th President (2017–2022) , has released his autobiography titled 'Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Life, My Struggles' .
PM Narendra Modi spoke at the launch, reflecting on how adversity shaped Kovind's character and belief in unity, harmony, and democracy.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju attended the event and shared remarks framing Kovind's life as part of the larger journey of the Indian Republic.
Kovind was born into a Dalit family in Uttar Pradesh and was elected President in July 2017 , succeeding Pranab Mukherjee .
His presidency was associated with themes of constitutional values, social harmony, and representation for marginalised communities.
A life that began in hardship and rose to the highest constitutional office in the land — that is the story former President Ram Nath Kovind has now committed to the page. At the release of Kovind's autobiography, 'Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Life, My Struggles', Union Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju was among those present as Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflected on how adversity shapes character and deepens faith in unity, harmony, and democracy.
From a Dalit village in UP to Rashtrapati Bhavan
Ram Nath Kovind, India's 14th President, served from 2017 to 2022. Born into a Dalit family in Uttar Pradesh, his election to the presidency in July 2017 — succeeding Pranab Mukherjee — was widely read as a signal of representation for India's historically marginalised communities. His tenure was marked by an emphasis on constitutional values and social harmony, themes that run through the very title of the autobiography. The book's launch brought together senior voices of the BJP-led government to frame Kovind's journey not merely as a personal biography, but as a chapter in the larger story of the Indian Republic itself. Rijiju's post captured that framing directly: 'A remarkable life and a story of resilience that belongs to the journey of our Republic.'PM Modi on adversity and the making of character
At the event, Prime Minister Modi — himself no stranger to invoking personal struggle as a political and moral touchstone — reflected on how hardship had shaped Kovind's beliefs and his commitment to India's democratic fabric. The remarks fit a recurring motif in BJP-led commemorations: personal resilience narratives woven into the broader arc of national progress and constitutional pride. Such book launches, when attended by the Prime Minister and senior cabinet ministers, carry a weight beyond the literary. They function as moments of institutional affirmation — a sitting government honouring a former constitutional head, reinforcing continuity and the dignity of office. Kovind's story — a man who navigated poverty, social barriers, and the long climb through public life to occupy Rashtrapati Bhavan — offers the kind of arc that transcends party lines. The autobiography arrives at a moment when narratives of democratic resilience and constitutional pride are central to official discourse. Some struggles, as Rijiju put it, do not just shape a person. They hold up a mirror to a nation.Point of View
With PM Modi as the centrepiece speaker, is a deliberate act of political and institutional storytelling — the BJP-led government anchoring its governance narrative in the lived experience of a Dalit former President. It reinforces a long-running effort to project constitutional inclusivity and social mobility as defining achievements of the current political era. For Rijiju, a tribal leader from Arunachal Pradesh himself, amplifying a story of marginalised identity rising to the apex of constitutional office carries personal resonance and political utility in equal measure. The event signals that biography and memory are now active instruments of the ruling coalition's public communication.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ram Nath Kovind's autobiography called?
Ram Nath Kovind's autobiography is titled 'Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Life, My Struggles'. It documents his journey from humble origins in Uttar Pradesh to serving as India's 14th President from 2017 to 2022.
Who attended the launch of Ram Nath Kovind's book?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju were among the senior leaders present at the autobiography launch. PM Modi spoke about how adversity shaped Kovind's character and belief in democracy.
What is Ram Nath Kovind's background?
Ram Nath Kovind was born into a Dalit family in Uttar Pradesh. He was elected as the 14th President of India in July 2017, succeeding Pranab Mukherjee, and served until 2022.
What did Kiren Rijiju say about Kovind's autobiography?
Rijiju described Kovind's life as 'a remarkable life and a story of resilience that belongs to the journey of our Republic', framing the autobiography as part of the broader story of Indian democracy.
Why is Ram Nath Kovind's presidency significant?
Kovind's election as President in 2017 was significant because he came from a Dalit background, underscoring the representation of historically marginalised communities at the highest constitutional office in India.
