Narayanan, Kocheril Raman (1920-2005), served as president of India from 1997 to 2002. He was the first untouchable—that is, member of India’s lowest social caste—to become the nation’s head of state (see Caste).
Narayanan was born on Oct. 27, 1920, in the state of Kerala in southern India. He received a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Travancore in 1943 and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the London School of Economics in 1948. He worked as a journalist for several Indian newspapers during the late 1940’s. He joined India’s foreign service in 1949.
Narayanan served as India’s ambassador to Thailand (1967-1969), Turkey (1973-1975), China (1976-1978), and the United States (1980-1984) before entering Parliament in 1984. He then held a number of government posts, including minister of state for planning, for external affairs, and for science and technology. He was vice president of India from 1992 to 1997. Narayanan died on Nov. 9, 2005.
