Gyani Zail Singh, who served as the seventh President of the Republic of India, was the first Sikh to hold this post. He was a very religious person and had in-depth knowledge of the Guru Granth Sahib, even though he lacked formal secular education. He was a freedom fighter and social reformer who empathized with the downtrodden and did all he possibly could for the upliftment of society. He was interested in politics from an early age and was deeply influenced by the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh and his companions, who gave up their lives fighting for the country's freedom. Young Zail, who was just 16 at the time of their execution, resolved to follow in their footsteps and contribute to the welfare of his nation. He fervently participated in nationalist activities and was frequently imprisoned, even kept in solitary confinement. Yet, nothing could break the determined man’s spirit. As fate would have it, this aspiring politician soon joined the Indian National Congress and held several prestigious posts in the cabinet before being elected the President of India.