New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) Eulogising former president R. Venkataraman on the occasion of his birth centenary celebrations, Vice President Hamid Ansari Saturday said that he was a great son of India and remained a shiny example worthy of emulation.


"It is a privilege to attend a function commemorating the birth centenary of a great son of India. The late president Ramaswami Venkataraman had an extraordinary career in public life as an eminent lawyer, trade union leader, parliamentarian and statesman,” Ansari said.

"Venkataraman-ji believed in the Gandhian dictum that 'self-government is not a substitute for good government',” he added.

The vice president said that Venkataraman believed that doing the right thing was more important than catering to personal preferences or seeking popularity.

Congress leader Shivraj Patil, former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi and Venkataraman's daughter Lakshmi Venkataraman Venkatesan were also present on the occasion at the India International Centre.

“He knew the tapestry of world politics and international relations from the perspective of India. He was upright without being sanctimonious. He knew how to wield authority without flaunting it,” Gopalkrishna Gandhi said.