Shri Pranab Mukherjee

Shri Pranab Mukherjee, India's 13th President from 2012 to 2017, exemplified a five-decade political journey marked by economic stewardship and consensus-building across turbulent eras. Born into a freedom fighter's family in rural West Bengal, he rose from academia to the nation's highest office, earning the Bharat Ratna in 2019.

Early Life

Pranab Kumar Mukherjee entered the world on December 11, 1935, in Mirati village, Birbhum district, West Bengal, during British rule. His father, Kamada Kinkar Mukherjee, fought in the independence movement and served in the West Bengal Legislative Council as a Congress member from 1952 to 1964. Educated at Suri Vidyasagar College and the University of Calcutta, he earned master's degrees in political science and history plus an LL.B., working briefly as a teacher, journalist, and lawyer.

Political Rise

Mukherjee joined politics in 1969, entering the Rajya Sabha in 1969 and Lok Sabha in 2004. Mentored by Indira Gandhi, he held key roles like Deputy Minister for Industry and Shipping (1973-74), Cabinet Secretary, and Leader of the Rajya Sabha (1980-85). A brief fallout after Indira's 1984 assassination saw him form the Rashtriya Sanjay Manch, but he rejoined Congress in 1989 under Rajiv Gandhi.

Key Contributions

As Finance Minister (1982-84 and 2009-12), Mukherjee cleared India's final IMF loan installment, introduced the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula for Centre-State resource sharing, and chaired 95 Groups of Ministers on reforms like RTI, food security, and UIDAI. He established Regional Rural Banks (1975), EXIM Bank, and NABARD (1982), bolstering rural finance and exports. Euromoney named him the world's best Finance Minister in 1984.

Presidency

Elected President in 2012 as West Bengal's first holder of the office, Mukherjee hosted over 60 cultural events at Rashtrapati Bhavan and launched the 4S initiative for staff welfare: Samagam for seniors, Sparsh for disabled children, Sanskar for nutrition, and Sanskriti for young kids. He presented National Child Awards and promoted wellness programs.

Literary Works

A prolific author, Mukherjee penned diaries-turned-memoirs: "The Dramatic Decade: The Indira Gandhi Years" (2014), "The Turbulent Years: 1980-1996" (2016), and "The Presidential Years" (2021), offering insider views on crises like the Emergency and UPA governance.

Family and Legacy

Married to Suvra Mukherjee (1947-2015), he had three children: Abhijit (MP), Indrajit, and Sharmishtha (historian). Mukherjee passed on August 31, 2020, at 84 from complications post-brain surgery and septic shock. His pragmatic bridge-building across parties, from Indira to Modi eras, cements his status as a statesman par excellence.