Former Indian President Narayanan dies

NEW DEHLI, India, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Former Indian President K.R. Narayanan has died of pneumonia and renal failure.

He was 85.

Narayanan was the first member of the Dalit or untouchable caste to become president, a position he held from 1997 to 2002.

Analysts say Narayanan's rise to the presidential office from the Dalit caste was seen by many as an affirmation of India's democratic roots. The caste system was banned in 1950 but centuries of tradition made it difficult to break entrenched attitudes, the Press Trust of India reported.

Narayanan's rise to an important if largely ceremonial role was considered a remarkable achievement.

Before becoming president, Narayanan served as Indian ambassador in Beijing and Washington D.C.