Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 1 October 2026, extended birthday greetings to former President Ram Nath Kovind, describing his decades in public life as marked by a 'steadfast commitment' to India's development, constitutional values, and the welfare of its citizens. Kovind turns 81 today.

What the Prime Minister Said

Taking to his official account on X, Modi wrote: 'Warm birthday greetings to former President Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji. His long years in public life have been marked by a steadfast commitment to the development of India, the values enshrined in our Constitution and the welfare of the people.'

Modi added: 'He has served the nation with passion and simplicity, due to which he is respected by people across all walks of life. May he be blessed with wonderful health, happiness and a long life.'

From Paraunkh Village to Rashtrapati Bhavan

Ram Nath Kovind was born on 1 October 1945 into a Koli family in Paraunkh village, Kanpur Dehat district, Uttar Pradesh. His trajectory from a small village in UP to the country's highest constitutional office is widely cited as one of modern India's notable stories of social mobility.

Kovind joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1991 and went on to head the BJP Dalit Morcha between 1998 and 2002, as well as the All-India Koli Samaj. His early electoral career saw setbacks — he lost the Ghatampur Assembly constituency and later the Bhognipur seat in the 2007 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. However, in April 1994, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh, a tenure he held for two consecutive terms totalling 12 years, until March 2006.

A Historic Presidency

Kovind served as the 14th President of India from 2017 to 2022, becoming the first person from Uttar Pradesh and the first from the BJP to hold the top constitutional post. Prior to his presidency, he served as Governor of Bihar from 2015 to 2017. His five-year term at Rashtrapati Bhavan was characterised by relatively low-profile but constitutionally significant interventions.

Autobiography Released Last Month

The birthday tribute comes weeks after Prime Minister Modi released Kovind's autobiography, titled 'Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Life, My Struggles'. The book offers a personal account of Kovind's journey — from his early years in Kanpur Dehat to his presidency — and reflects on the values and circumstances that shaped his public service. Notably, the book's release itself drew attention to Kovind's legacy as a figure who rose through India's democratic institutions from a marginalised community background.

With the autobiography now in circulation and the Prime Minister's public tribute on his birthday, Kovind's post-presidential profile remains in focus as a symbol of constitutional aspiration in Indian public life.