Purushottamdas Tandon was  born  at Allahabad  on  1 August 1882. He graduated  from  the  Muir  Central  College, Allahabad in 1904, subsequently qualifying for  a degree in Law and a Master's Degree in History. He entered the legal profession in  1906 and joined the Bar of the Allahabad High Court in 1908 as the junior of Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru.  For some time, he worked as the Law Minister of the Nabha State but resigned in 1917. He also gave up his practice  in 1921 on account of his involvement in public affairs.

He joined the Indian National Congress in 1899 while a student and represented Allahabad at the All India Congress Committee in 1906. He had been imprisoned in  1921 for active participation in the Non-Cooperation Movement. Earlier, in 1918 he had organised the Allahabad District Peasants' Committee to improve the working conditions of the agriculturists. He also gave the lead in starting 'No Tax' campaign in 1930 which was appreciated by Jawaharlal Nehru. During his active participation in the freedom struggle, he was arrested several  times. His contribution was specially notable in the field of organising Kisan Sabhas to secure the cooperation of the peasantry to the cause of India's independence.

He worked for long years as the speaker of the Legislative Assembly of U.P. He was also elected to the Constituent Assembly in 1946, to the Lok Sabha in 1952 and to the  Rajya Sabha in  1956. He retired from  active  public  life  after  1956 due  to indifferent health though he continued to do  constructive   work for many years. He was intimately associated  with  many institutions like the Servants of the People Society the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan and the Rashtrabhasha Prachar Samiti.

His life was a saga of courage and sacrifice for the national cause and of resolute attachment to his beliefs even under the most adverse circumstances. Shri Tandon was fondly called 'Rajarshi' by Mahatma  Gandhi. In 1961, the title of 'Bharat Ratna' was conferred  upon him. He passed away on 1 July 1962.

India Posts and Telegraphs Department is privileged to issue a commemorative stamp on him.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India