Pranab Mukherjee: An Officer, Statesman And A Gentleman
“If Pranab Da had been the PM instead of Rajiv Gandhi, the country would have been a better place,” this is what PM Narendra Modi was quoted as saying in a rally in Calcutta a few years back. Modi meant former president Pranab Mukherjee was sidelined from the Congress during the premiership of Rajiv Gandhi. That darkest reality will always be remembered as the nation mourns the passing away of Mr. Mukherjee on 31 August 2020, at the age of 84. This news came after hospital confirming his health deterioration early in the day stating he was in septic shock since a day earlier caused by the lung infection and was overseen by a team of specialists.
“India grieves the passing away of Bharat Ratna Pranab Mukherjee. He has left an indelible mark on the development trajectory of our nation. A scholar par excellence, a towering statesman, he was admired across the political spectrum and by all sections of society. I was new to Delhi in 2014. From Day 1, I was blessed to have the guidance, support and blessings of Shri Pranab Mukherjee. I will always cherish my interactions with him. Condolences to his family, friends, admirers and supporters across India. Om Shanti,” PM Modi said in his Facebook post.
It may be recalled that Pranab Kumar Mukherjee served as the 13th President of India from 2012 until 2017. In a political career spanning five decades, Mukherjee was a senior leader in the Indian National Congress and occupied several ministerial portfolios in the Government of India. Prior to his election as President, Mukherjee was Union Finance Minister from 2009 to 2012. In 2019, he was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind.
“He was a guide, a great motivator, a constant inspiration, and a mentor for the nation. CII was proud to benefit from his visionary leadership on innumerable areas of India's economic and social development. With his demise, I sincerely believe that the world has lost a truly noble and inspiring spirit. Indian industry expresses deep gratitude for his outstanding contribution. I am personally deeply saddened by the demise of Hon’ble Shri Pranab Mukherjee. Always immensely kind, helpful and supportive, his guidance helped me to deal with many challenges. A tall mentor, his sagacious advice to me will forever be missed, stated Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
Mukherjee got his break in politics in 1969 when the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi helped him get elected to the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of Parliament of India), on a Congress ticket. Following a meteoric rise, he became one of Gandhi's most trusted lieutenants and a minister in her cabinet in 1973. Mukherjee's service in several ministerial capacities culminated in his first stint as Finance Minister of India in 1982–84. He was also the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha from 1980 to 1985.
It is widely believed that Mukherjee had viewed himself and not the inexperienced Rajiv, as the rightful successor to Indira following her assassination in 1984. Mukherjee lost out in the ensuing power struggle. Thenceforth, he formed his party, the Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress, which merged with the Congress in 1989 after reaching a consensus with Rajiv Gandhi.
The latest news has trickled in that the government of India announced seven-day state mourning between 31 August to 6 September, whereby the national flag will fly at half-mast on all buildings wherever it is flown regularly.
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