Even though K. R. Narayanan was an Untouchable in his country, he managed to rise to the highest ranks in India's government. A Dalit — someone from the poorest and least educated group in India — Narayanan was determined to get an education; he walked miles to school each day, often listening to lessons while standing outside the classroom because he hadn't paid the tuition fees. His brother borrowed schoolbooks and copied them for Narayanan, helping him to eventually graduate with a degree in English literature from the University of Travancore. On this date in 1997, Narayanan became the first Dalit president of India.